2013 NFL Draft Grades: Kansas City Chiefs

The 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now it’s time for some reflection. While some teams traded around to get who they want, others stood pat to see who would slide to them — and if there’s one thing to remember about this draft it’s players that slid around the rounds. But now that the draft is behind us, the all important grading phase has begun, so lets take a look at how the Kansas City Chiefs did in this year’s NFL Draft.

Draft Picks

• Eric Fisher, offensive tackle, Central Michigan — Round 1 (1)
• Travis Kelce, tight end, Cincinnati — Round 3 (63)
• Knile Davis, running back, Arkansas — Round 3 (96)
• Nico Johnson, linebacker, Alabama — Round 4 (99)
• Sanders Commings, cornerback, Georgia — Round 5 (134)
• Eric Kush, center, Cal (PA) — Round 6 (170)
• Braden Wilson, fullback, Kansas State — Round 6 (204)
• Mike Catapano, defensive end, Princeton — Round 7 (207)

Best Pick: Nico Johnson

Johnson is a perfect fit inside the Chiefs 3-4 defense alongside Derrick Johnson. Nico Johnson may not be the most athletic linebacker or a player who will be able to effectively drop back in pass coverage, but he is a downhill, physical defender that will come up and make the big hits for the Chiefs defense. In some schemes he may be considered a limited player, but his attitude and skill set is exactly what the Chiefs need. Sanders Commings of Georgia is another excellent pick for the Chiefs defense.

Worst Pick: Knile Davis

If the Chiefs were going to add a running back to compliment Jamaal Charles, they could have gone for a player that didn’t solely rely on his speed. There are also injury concerns for Davis, so it was a questionable pick to take him in the third-round, especially with a player as talented as Johnathan Franklin still on the board.

Analysis: Overall, it was an excellent draft class for the Chiefs. Even though Davis wasn’t the greatest pick in my eyes, he is still an incredibly talented player that could contribute on offense and special teams if he stays healthy. Then you have the immediate impact of Eric Fisher and the two defenders (Nico Johnson and Sanders Commings) who were previously mentioned. When you add in Travis Kelce who is a match up nightmare for defenses, the Chiefs were able to fill their roster with talented impact players. It was a successful job by Andy Reid, John Dorsey and company.

2013 Draft Grade: A