Photo credit Steve Sanders/KC Chiefs

Chiefs Draft 2019

By Sam Kombrink

When the season ended in January, I would have to say we did not see any of this coming. LSU Football coach, Ed Orgeron tells his team in the locker room to “block out the noise”, which is something the Chiefs will have to keep trying to do during this busy offseason. For now, let’s take a look at the positive side, the 2019 NFL Draft.

Round 1:

To kick Draft week off the Chiefs went ahead and traded their First Round Draft pick (#61) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for pass rusher, Frank Clark.

So, what type of football player did the Chiefs trade for? Let’s take a look!

Frank Clark – Defensive End

• 25 years old, Height: 6’3 Weight: 245 Hometown: Bakersfield, California Drafted:  Seattle Seahawks, Round 2(#63 overall), 2015
• Career Stats: 4 years with Seattle, 36 Sacks, 8 Forced Fumbles, 137 Total Tackles, 93 Solo Tackles, 1 Interception
• 2018 Stats: 14 Sacks, 4 Forced Fumbles, 42 Total Tackles, 34 Solo Tackles, 1 Interception

So instead of gambling on a young defensive talent or wide receiver that would have to be paid first round money, the Chiefs went after a pro-bowler. I’ll take that kind of move any day.

While other news was circulating, regarding Tyreek Hill, people seemed to look past it in wake of the “noise”. I saw that the Chiefs had interest, and they made the move. Frank Clark will be joining fellow Defensive End’s, Alex Okafor and Emmanuel Ogbah on a revamped Defensive Line in 2019. The Chiefs will be rolling with a new 4-3 Defensive scheme, coordinated by new Defensive Coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo. Spags, as Andy likes to call him was Defensive Coordinator for the New York Football Giants back in 20018 when they took down the undefeated Patriots back in 2008.

Round 2:

With not one but two draft picks in Round 2, (pick #61 & pick #63) the Chiefs get on the phones, and it was time for the Chiefs to go after a PLAY MAKER. The Chiefs Traded up with the LA Rams and drafted that play maker, Mecole Hardman Jr. With the 63rd pick the Chiefs then took the best Defensive Back available, Mr. Juan Thornhill, out of the University of Virginia.

Pick #56: Mecole Hardman Jr. – Wide Receiver, Georgia

• Height: 5’11 Weight: 183 -Ran a 40-yard dash time of 42.7 Hometown: Bowman, Geogia
• College Stats: 3 Years, 29 Games, 50 Receptions, 11 Touchdowns, Averaged 15.5 Yards Per Reception
• Chiefs General Manger, Brett Veach thought that he was the best returner in the Draft.
• Will be a key piece of the offense, in bubble screens, as well as another verticle weapon for Patrick Mahomes.

Pick #63: Juan Thornhill – Safety, Virginia

• Height: 6’0 Weight: 210 Hometown: Altavista, Virginia
• College Stats: 4 Years, 38 Games, 208 Total Tackles, 141Solo Tackles, 12 Tackles for a Loss, 13 Interceptions, 26 Passes Defended, 1 Forced Fumble, 1.5 Sacks

Round 3:

Pick #82: Khalen Saunders – Defensive Tackle, Western Illinois

• Height: 6’2 weight: 310 Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri  
• Career stats: 4 years, 47 Games Played, 204 Total Tackles, 127 Solo Tackles, 18 Sacks, 34.5 Tackles for loss, 4 Forced Fumbles
• Outperformed First Round Offensive Lineman at the Senior Bowl
• Can do a backflip

Round 6:

Pick #201: Rashad Fenton – Cornerback, South Carolina

• Height: 5’11 Weight: 188 Hometown: Miami, Florida
• Career Stats: 4 years, 43 Games Played, 122 Total Tackles, 95 Solo Tackles, 5 Tackles for a loss, 5 Interceptions, 1 Forced Fumble

Pick #214: Darwin Thompson – Running Back, Utah State

• Height: 5’8 Weight: 200 Hometown: Jenks, Oklahoma
• Career Stats: (Transferred from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M to Utah State in 2018) 13 Games, 1044 Rushing Yards, 14 Rushing Touchdowns, 2 Receiving Touchdowns, Averaged 6.8 Yards Per Rush, Averaged 15.3 Yards Per Reception

Round 7:

Pick #216: Nick Allegretti – Center, Illinois

• Height: 6’4 Weight: 320 Hometown: Frankfort, Illinois
• Career Stats: 47 Games Played
• Known to be “nasty”

Free Agent Invites:

WR Joel Blumenthal – Southwestern Oklahoma State

WR Jamal Curtis – Syracuse

WR Felton Davis – Michigan State

WR Jody Fortson Jr. – Valdosta State

WR Justin Hobbs – Tulsa – Overland park native

WR Jamire Jordan – Fresno State

WR Andre Lindsey – Sacramento State

WR Cody Thompson – Toledo

WR Julius Wingate – Stony Brook

TE Logan Parker – Southern Utah

RB James Williams – Washington State

RB Marcus Marshall – James Madison

LB Gary Johnson – Texas

DE Parker Hesse – Iowa

CB Dakari Monroe – San Jose State

CB Mark Fields – Clemson

CB Jalen Burrell – New Mexico

S Gaje Ferguson – Utah State

OL Maurice Simba – Concordia

C Alex Fontana – Kansas

C Bruno Reagan – Vanderbilt

QB Kyle Shurmar – Vanderbit – Son of New York Giants Head Coach, Pat Shurmar.

QB John Lovett – Princeton

QB TJ Linta – Wagner

LS Austin Frey – Texas A&M

K Austin Errthum – Northern Iowa

P Jack Fox – Rice

The Kansas City Chiefs addressed needs, and most importantly they added depth. I am personally excited to see what Wide Receiver Mecole Hardman, and Running Back Darwin Thompson can do on offense as well as Special Teams. I am also excited for Juan Thornhill at Defensive back. Will they try him at corner? Or put him next to Tyron Mathieu. There is also a lot of talent that did not get Drafted that the Chiefs invited in for workouts. Remember last season the Chiefs were able to find Linebacker Ben Nieman, and RB Darrell Williams in post draft free-agency, and they were able to produce. It will be very interesting to watch all of this new young talent compete with the veteran players on the roster for starting jobs, during OTA’s and Training Camp up in St. Joe.