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2018 NFL Draft: Biggest need for each team

By Conor Dorney

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 02: Louisville Cardinals cornerback Jaire Alexander (10) warms up before the college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Louisville Cardinals on September 2, 2017, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 02: Louisville Cardinals cornerback Jaire Alexander (10) warms up before the college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Louisville Cardinals on September 2, 2017, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Kansas City Chiefs: Cornerback

The Kansas City Chiefs have a whole host of needs on the defensive side of the ball, but the most glaring is that at cornerback, a position that has undergone quite a few changes already this offseason.

The team’s trade of Marcus Peters to the Rams, especially the return, was puzzling to some, but they will now have to find viable replacements via the draft in order to avoid a dropoff in production from last season. Kansas City has no first-round pick in 2018 after shipping it to Buffalo last season in the move up to take quarterback Patrick Mahomes. They may find it worth it to have their new franchise QB in Mahomes, but it means they’ll have to get creative on draft day to acquire the talent they need.

Kendall Fuller is an up-and-coming young player and offered a nice return from the Alex Smith deal with Washington, but more depth at corner is needed. With no picks until the middle of the second round, the Chiefs could look at players like Louisville’s Jaire Alexander and LSU speedster Donte Jackson to help bolster their cornerback rotation. The team has also met with Auburn’s Carlton Davis, however it’s likely that he hears his name called towards the end of the first round.

Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton figures to be on the hot seat if he isn’t able to rectify the Chiefs’ defensive struggles in 2018, and adding another talented young cornerback to the Kansas City secondary will be crucial in engineering that turnaround.

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