The 2020 NFL Draft is in the books, and with the marquee event of the offseason now in the rear-view mirror, the various experts from around the web are offering up their opinions on how each team did.
Here's a look at some of those opinions on the Chiefs' draft class.
1. Tailback Clyde Edwards-Helaire is an absolute playmaker
The consensus amongst experts is that Edwards-Helaire, who led the SEC in rushing touchdowns last season as the workhorse for the 2019-20 National Champion LSU Tigers, was among the very top offensive playmakers available in the draft. He rushed for 1,414 yards in 2019, averaging 6.68 yards-per-rush, while racking up seven 100-yard rushing games over the course of the year.
And, in addition to his elite skills as a runner, Edwards-Helaire's dynamic abilities in the passing game make him an ideal fit for Head Coach Andy Reid's offense.
One coach told me new #Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the best player he saw on tape in this draft: "He's such a playmaker. He’s a good ball-carrier, but his value in the pass game is pretty substantial. He never gets tackled by the first guy."Another toy for Andy Reid.
Here's a look at just how productive Edwards-Helaire was in 2019 on both the ground and through the air.
LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the only player in SEC history with 1,000+ rushing yards and 50+ receptions in a single season. A crazy stat to consider when factoring in that the SEC has had 95 RB drafted to the NFL just since 2000, including 15 first rounders.
It's for those reasons that Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager called Edwards-Helaire "the biggest playmaker in the entire draft."
The folks at Yahoo! Sports were fans of the pick, too. Here's a portion of their analysis:
"Edwards-Helaire could be a monster in this offense, able to split out (68 career catches, three drops, make people miss as a runner and also gain tough yards. He's clutch, feisty and electric."
And Chiefs' fans will probably like this player comparison from NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.
2. Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. was one of the top athletes in the draft
Gay Jr. missed eight games in 2019 due to a violation of team rules, but when he's been on the field, the guy has produced. He amassed 48 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions as a sophomore in 2018, setting career-highs in each category, while ranking fifth among all SEC linebackers in pressures (17) and missing just five tackles across 455 snaps.
He tallied 28 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, an interception and a forced fumble in five games of action last season, and over the course of his last nine games in college, Gay Jr. contributed to a takeaway in seven of them.
Additionally, Gay Jr. is a phenomenal athlete, exemplified by his eye-popping numbers at the 2019 NFL Combine, and those measurables have translated to the field. Here's more from Pro Football Focus:
"He tested out on Isaiah Simmons levels of freaky at the combine with a 4.46-second 40 time, 39.5-inch vertical, and 11-foot-4 broad jump at 6-foot-1, 243 pounds. That would be one thing in a vacuum, but we've already seen it translate to the field with his 93.9 career coverage grade being the highest of any player in the draft class, regardless of position."
Willie Gay is one of the most athletic LBs in the entire draft, nice pick for KC.
Gay. Jr.'s 40-time was the second-fastest among linebackers behind only Simmons while his broad jump ranked first and his vertical jump ranked second. The guy is an athlete.
It's also worth mentioning that Reid and General Manager Brett Veach said they did their homework on Gay Jr.'s suspension and felt comfortable bringing him to town.
3. Offensive lineman Lucas Niang could be a steal in the third round
Niang missed part of last season due to a hip injury, but prior to being sidelined, he was one of the top offensive tackles in all of college football. In fact, the six-foot-six, 315-pound Niang didn't allow a sack in 27 career starts at TCU.
Scouts believe he possesses the versatility to play inside, as well. In fact, Veach mentioned on his web call with the media that Niang will likely start at guard in Kansas City.
With their third round pick, the Chiefs select TCU OT Lucas Niang. A scout I spoke to said he's a guy who can start at guard and eventually move out to tackle.
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Drew Davison of the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram went as far to say this about Niang, who the Chiefs selected at No. 96 overall:
"When people look back on the 2020 NFL Draft, TCU right tackle Lucas Niang may go down as one of the steals of the draft."
4. Defensive back L'Jarius Sneed has elite speed and is versatile in the secondary
Sneed ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the Combine, which ranked as the fourth-best time among all participants. That speed has translated to game action, too, as no player in the FBS tallied more pick-sixes over the last four years than Sneed.
He also has experience playing all over the field, lining up at cornerback during his first three years at Louisiana Tech before moving to safety as a senior.
Another potential value play in the draft, Louisiana Tech's L'Jarius Sneed.-Ran 4.37 at combine-Solid free safety prospect, BUT has played CB. -Potential conversion to CB w/size, speed, ball skills
According to PFF, Sneed played significant snaps at slot cornerback, free safety and box safety in 2019 alone. The six-foot-tall, 192-pound Sneed has said he feels most comfortable at corner, but that versatility to play anywhere is valuable, to say the least.
And as it turns out, Sneed was the Chiefs' guy as soon as the fourth round began.
"If we had the first pick in the fourth round, (L'Jarius) Sneed would've been our pick," Chiefs GM Brett Veach said. Veach said Sneed was their guy from the beginning, had to sweat out the fourth round while being patient, which paid off.
5. Defensive end Mike Danna is a year removed from a monster season at Central Michigan
Danna, who tallied one season at Michigan as a grad transfer, recorded 38 tackles, 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble for the Wolverines, playing mostly as a reserve. It was just a year ago that he was one of the best pass-rushers in the nation, however, as a standout senior at Central Michigan.
With their fifth-round draft choice, the Chiefs selected Michigan edge rusher Mike Danna.
Danna, a Detroit native, had a killer 2018 with Central Michigan, logging 9 1/2 sacks. He transferred to Michigan and rotated in on a good d-line and finished with three sacks.
According to PFF, Danna earned the top pass-rushing grade of any returning player in the country in 2018 while earning PFF First-Team All-American honors. There's also this from The Athletic's Dane Brugler:
"Overall, Danna had a very quiet senior season for a grad transfer, but there is untapped talent there that can be unleashed in the right situation."
The Chiefs seem to believe that they can be that team for Danna.
A two-year starter at Tulane, Keyes racked up 85 tackles, 18 passes defensed and two picks over his last 24 games for the Green Wave. Standing at six-foot-one and with a wingspan more than 32 inches wide, Keyes brings additional length to the Chiefs' secondary.
Thakarius "BoPete" Keyes was a late comer to football but has length -- nearly 6-foot-1 -- that the Chiefs covet at corner. Still a bit raw but broke up 18 passes last two seasons with two picks.
The Chiefs actually traded into the seventh round to select Keyes, who they figured would be coveted by numerous teams as an undrafted free agent.
There was going to be a "bidding war" for CB BoPete Keyes if he would have gone undrafted, per #Chiefs area scout Willie Davis.Said trading back into this draft to select him was only way they were going to get him.
All six players make up what appears to be an exciting class as the Chiefs prepare to defend their Super Bowl title.