Through all the smokescreens and cliches, I believed Brett Veach at his Combine press conference when he explained how difficult it is to “find” the worthwhile players at premium positions. He named defensive linemen as an example, but the “premium” tag extends to offensive tackles, wide receivers and cornerbacks, as well as quarterbacks. He made the point that they “don’t really become available in free agency.”
Veach backed up this logic by using free agency to strengthen the team’s non-premium positions, with running back Kenneth Walker III and safety Alohi Gilman. That sets up the premium positions as the team’s focus at the top of the draft.
Among the “premium” positions Veach could be eyeing at pick No. 9, cornerback is simply not treated that way by the organization. I think it’s safe to eliminate that as one of the possibilities with the first pick.
My prediction: the Chiefs invest in two of the remaining three premium positions of need with the two Day 1 selections. Two of these three will be picked by Kansas City on Day 1:
Defensive end Rueben Bain Jr.
Right tackle Blake Miller, Clemson
One of the many wide receivers projected to go on Day 1