NFL Draft Notebook: Chiefs Add Even More Weapons in Mock Draft

Now that the Kansas City Chiefs have won the Super Bowl, the question is can repeat next year. One way they can guarantee future success is with a strong 2023 NFL Draft. The team should be able to add a couple of difference makers and plenty of depth in this year’s draft considering they have a projected 12 draft picks, which will be confirmed in March with compensatory pick assignments.

Along with taking a look at what the Kansas City Chiefs may do in the 2023 NFL Draft this week’s article also takes a look at a draft prospect the Atlanta Falcons should target, the top NFL Combine snubs, and much more.

NFL Draft Notebook: Kansas City Chiefs Mock Draft

Round 1, 31st Overall: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

The Chiefs snag a player who will instantly upgrade their running game with the selection of Jahmyr Gibbs out of Alabama. Gibbs is an explosive runner who can take any carry the distance and also is the best receiver of any back in the 2023 NFL Draft, which fits perfectly in Kansas City’s offense.

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Round 2, 63rd Overall: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Kansas City again addresses the offensive side of the ball when offensive tackle Broderick Jones falls to them in the second round. Jones is a physical offensive lineman who can play either tackle position or shift inside to offensive guard.

Round 3, 95th Overall: Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech
The Chiefs will likely lose Frank Clark this offseason and they try and replace him with Keion White. White is a big defensive end who also displays the athletic ability to attract scouts’ attention.

Round 4, 122nd Overall: Jay Ward, S, LSU
In the fourth round Kansas City adds some depth in the secondary with the selection of Jay Ward. Ward is a versatile defender who has played both cornerback and safety in college. He also was a standout on special teams which will be a key role he will play in the NFL.

Round 4, 134th Overall: Habakkuk Baldonado, DE, Pittsburgh
After taking Keion White in the third round the Chiefs take another defensive end in the fourth round. Habakkuk Baldonado had a down year this season only recording two sacks but in 2021 he was one of the most feared pass rushers in the ACC recording nine sacks.

Round 5, 168th Overall: Puka Nacua, WR, BYU
The Chiefs could lose JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Justin Watson this offseason so drafting a couple of wide receivers would be a wise choice. Puka Nacua is a good-sized wide receiver who has the speed to stretch a defense.

Round 6, 197th Overall: Davis Allen, TE, Clemson
Kansas City adds some depth at the tight end position with their first of three sixth-round picks. Davis Allen is a good receiver whose coaches rave about his potential.

Round 6, 217th Overall: Richard Gouraige, OT, Florida
With their second sixth-round pick in the NFL Draft, the Chiefs add more depth on their offensive line with the selection of Richard Gouraige.

Round 6, 219 Overall: Dante Stills, DT, West Virginia
West Virginia’s Dante Stills had a stellar Shine Bowl and would be a great value in the sixth round. Stills is an explosive undersized defensive tackle who finished his West Virginia career with 53 tackles for loss.

Round 7, 227th Overall: Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
Despite being one of the more impressive quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl, Fresno State’s Jake Haener falls to the seventh round. He should be able to compete for the number three job next year.

Round 7, 251st Overall: Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
With their second seventh-round pick Kansas City adds an athletic linebacker with the selection of Isaiah Land. At the bare minimum Land should be able to at least contribute on special teams next year.

Round 7, 258th Overall: Jalen Cropper, WR, Fresno State
The Chiefs spend their last pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by taking another wide receiver. Last year, Jalen Cropper recorded 84 receptions which was his second consecutive year of over 80 catches.

Atlanta Falcons Should Target USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu

The biggest question for the Atlanta Falcons going into the offseason is who will be the starting quarterback next season. However, close behind that is how will they upgrade one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

Last season, the Falcons finished with just 21 sacks which ranked 31st in the NFL, and also gave up the eight most passing yards giving up an average of 230 yards per game. In addition to seeing their struggles defending the pass, the team also gave up the 10th-most rushing yards and also gave up 23 points a game which ranked 21st in the NFL.

The Falcons have already started changing up their defense by bringing in a new defensive coordinator in Ryan Nielsen from the New Orleans Saints. During his time in New Orleans, the Saints had at least 42 sacks in each of the six seasons he was with the team. In addition, to bringing in several new coaches on the defensive side of the ball the Falcons have over 50 million dollars in salary cap room which should give them the chance to bring in several defensive playmakers.

Even if Atlanta brings in some high priced free agents who can instantly upgrade the defense look for them to also address this need in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Falcons currently have the eighth pick in the draft and while they could add a player like defensive end Tyree Wilson it might be the wiser move to wait until the second round to address their front seven. One player the team would be wise to target in the second round is USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu.

This past season was a breakout year for Tuipulotu as he recorded 13.5 sacks and was named the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year. When looking at how his game will transition to the NFL, his speed and athleticism should make him an ideal one-gap penetrating defensive tackle in the NFL. This combination also would make him a great fit alongside Grady Jarrett on the Falcons defensive line.

Top Five NFL Combine Snubs

1. Monte Pottebaum, FB, Iowa
While Iowa’s Monte Pottebaum might not be much of a threat with the ball in his hands only having touched the ball six times last year, he is one of the best blocking fullbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft. In addition to opening up running lanes on offense, Pottebaum also has the mentality to be a standout on special teams.

2. Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin
Last week, we mentioned how Xavier Gipson was a player who opened eyes at the NFLPA Bowl. However, this was not enough to earn him an invite to the NFL Combine. One of the main reasons why Gipson is not seeing more interest is due to his 5-foot-9 size, but despite his size, he is still a playmaker with the ball in his hands. Over the past two seasons, he has averaged over 17 yards per catch and has also been a dynamic return man.

3. Jahleel Billingsley, TE, Texas
The last two seasons have been very disappointing years for Jahleel Billingsley. In 2021 he saw limited playing time for Alabama, despite looking like a potential high-draft pick in 2020. Then last season he transferred to Texas but only played in four games and came with just three receptions. While there are some major red flags with Billingsley he has the physical skills to make a team if he comes in focused.

4. Devonnsha Maxwell, DT, Chattanooga
While Devonnsha Maxwell might be a bit on the small side his production in college was tremendous. He was named to the All-Southern Conference first team all four years of his college career and also set the conference record with 37.5 sacks.

5. Kedrick Whitehead, S, Delaware
Another small school player who didn’t get invited to the NFL Combine was Delaware safety Kedrick Whitehead. This past season Whitehead was named a first-team All-American after registering 73 tackles and five pass breakups. When looking at how he projects to the next level he should fit in as a backup strong safety who can also be a core special teams player.

NFL Draft Scouting Notes

— One player scouts will be paying close attention to at the NFL Combine is Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson will likely post some of the more impressive numbers at the event as he shows the explosive game-breaking speed to be in the Lamar Jackson category. However, he will also need to impress scouts with his arm especially when it comes to accuracy. If he has the elite showing people expect him to look for him to solidify himself as a first-round prospect.

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— On the defensive side of the ball a prospect who can help himself is Iowa linebacker, Jack Campbell. There is no doubt Campbell is an elite football player having recorded over 120 tackles the past two seasons, but there is some concern about his athletic ability. If he can post a solid 40-yard dash and pro agility time it will likely lessen scouts’ concerns about his potential at the next level.

— A possible sleeper in this year’s tight end draft class is Brenton Strange of Penn State. Despite only having one year of good production he has the talent to be a good H-back in the NFL. As a receiver, he shows the hands and strength to catch the ball in traffic. In addition to that, he also has the agility to make the diving reception. While Strange lacks the size to be an in-line tight end he does show good aggression when blocking and does a nice job blocking on the move. These skill sets should allow him to be a mid-day three pick and someone who can make an impact as a backup tight end next year.

Quote of the Week

“In everything we are going to do, we are going to attack. That’s in all phases of the defense. Attack at every position. We want to be going forward and attacking.”

– Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen on the type of defense he wants to run next year