On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper published his third mock draft, which sent a tackle to the Kansas City Chiefs with the 31st pick of the first round.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: T Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
This could easily be Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr., who is right behind Banks on my offensive tackle rankings and a potential first-rounder. Honestly, either player would be a good pick. The Chiefs’ pass protection issues were on full display during the Super Bowl, and signing Jaylon Moore — a backup in San Francisco before getting a two-year deal with the Chiefs — is no guarantee to solve anything. Wanya Morris, Kingsley Suamataia and D.J. Humphries weren’t the answers, and Joe Thuney — who was a stopgap fix in moving outside from guard — is now in Chicago.
Banks has the traits to help fortify Patrick Mahomes’ protection. Perhaps Banks wins the left tackle job over Moore. Maybe he replaces Jawaan Taylor on the right side. And maybe he even kicks inside to Thuney’s vacated guard spot. Regardless of where he plays, Banks’ experience (42 college starts), quickness and power would be welcomed in Kansas City.
In his 1.0 mock in January, the longtime ESPN draft analyst had the Chiefs taking Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen. In his next one at the end of February, he thought Kansas City would get Minnesota tackle Aireontae Ersery.
But in this 3.0 edition, both Nolen and Ersery are still on the board when the Chiefs go on the clock. Nolen goes to the Philadelphia Eagles with the 32nd pick, while Ersery remains available for the second round — and Kansas City gets a tackle that no other analyst has picked for the team this season.
Honestly… I’m not buying it. If the Chiefs had signed D.J. Humphries or Donovan Smith to a one-year deal for $5-10 million, I could see them spending their first-round pick on a tackle. But the team gave Moore a two-year, $30 million contract — and it’s almost universally understood that now, its biggest priority is along the defensive line. Would Kansas City pass on Nolen at 31? Would it fail to go after DT Kenneth Grant (taken by the Buffalo Bills at 30) or pass rusher James Pearce Jr. (selected by the Detroit Lions with the 28th pick)? I don’t think so.
National Mock Draft Positions
Position Pct
Offensive line 50%
Defensive tackle 25%
Edge rusher 10%
Defensive back 6%
Wide receiver 6%
Tight end 4%
National Mock Draft Picks
Pos Name School Pct
T Josh Conerly Jr. Oregon 15%
T Josh Simmons Ohio State 12%
G Donovan Jackson Ohio State 10%
T Aireontae Ersery Minnesota 6%
DT Derrick Harmon Oregon 6%
DT Tyleik Williams Ohio State 6%
DT Walter Nolen Mississippi 6%
DT Kenneth Grant Michigan 4%
DT Darius Alexander Toledo 4%
EDGE Nic Scourton Texas A&M 4%
WR Emeka Egbuka Ohio State 4%
T Cameron Williams Texas 2%
G Marcus Mbow Purdue 2%
T Kelvin Banks Jr. Texas 2%
G Grey Zabel N. Dakota St. 2%
EDGE Mike Green Marshall 2%
EDGE Jared Ivey Mississippi 2%
EDGE James Pearce Jr. Tennessee 2%
CB Azareye’h Thomas Florida State 2%
CB Shavon Revel Jr. East Carolina 2%
CB Maxwell Hairston Kentucky 2%
WR Matthew Golden Texas 2%
TE Colston Loveland Michigan 2%
TE Mason Taylor LSU 2%
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