Fansided

2019 NFL Mock Draft: Dexter Lawrence continues to rise

By Rucker Haringey

CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 2: Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence #90 of the Clemson Tigers #90 celebrates a tackle against the Kent State Golden Flashes on September 2, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Todd Bennett/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 2: Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence #90 of the Clemson Tigers #90 celebrates a tackle against the Kent State Golden Flashes on September 2, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Todd Bennett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
27 of 32
Next
STARKVILLE, MS – SEPTEMBER 01: Johnathan Abram #38 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs defends during a game against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at Davis Wade Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS – SEPTEMBER 01: Johnathan Abram #38 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs defends during a game against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at Davis Wade Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

27. player. 124. . Safety. Mississippi State. Johnathan Abram

The Chiefs are scoring more than enough points this season to win a Super Bowl. What they aren’t doing, is stopping opponents from engaging them in shootouts. There’s little doubt the Chiefs will spend significant draft capital on improving their defense this offseason.

The unit could use help all over the place, but the secondary, in particular, could use an infusion of talent. A top cornerback could certainly be a consideration here, but the value lines up best at safety. Kansas City could go in a few different directions, but picking a ball hawk like Johnathan Abram seems like the best choice.

He’s not the biggest safety out there, but his ball skills separate him from the competition. He isn’t going to mash people from the strong safety spot, but he can patrol the deep third of the field from the free safety position. Eric Berry fills that role now, but the two can be on the field a lot together in nickel packages.

It’s also possible the Chiefs could simply start both of them together. What they’d lack in physicality, they’d more than make up for in speed. The truth is Kansas City just needs to add the most defensive talent possible now and worry about fit later. Abram would be solid value late in round one.

Home/NFL Mock Draft