5 players Chiefs should draft in the first round

3. Lewis Cine

Kyle Hamilton is the only safety prospect in this year’s draft class who might be able to grow into the sort of difference-maker that Tyrann Mathieu has been for the Chiefs defense. Unfortunately for Kansas City, he’ll be off the board well before they go on the clock at No. 30.

That doesn’t mean the Chiefs can’t find a starting safety with their first-round pick. Cine is a guy with the talent and experience to help an NFL team as a rookie. The fact that he can play equally well as a deep free safety in pass coverage or a blitzer at the line of scrimmage should really appeal to the team’s defensive coaching staff.

One mild knock on Cine as a prospect is that he doesn’t show a real affinity to make plays on the ball in the air. He’s a big hitter with good speed, but no one should expect him to make a lot of interceptions at the next level. He’s a piece of a good secondary rather than the superstar who elevates everyone around him.

Cine can’t replace all the things Mathieu has been doing for the Chiefs’ defense but he can take his place in the starting lineup right away. That’s good enough value for Kansas City at No. 30 if a clear difference-maker at another position doesn’t fall into their laps.