5 players Chiefs should draft in the first round
2. Jalen Pitre
Most mock drafts have Pitre pegged as a second-rounder, but his playmaking ability is going to tempt a lot of teams in the back half of Round 1. He’s a defensive back who shows an uncanny ability to make plays no matter where he lines up on the field.
Some defensive coaching staffs will shy away from him because of his lack of a consistent position. The Chiefs are smarter than that. They’ll see Pitre’s ability to play as both a deep safety and a slot corner as a massive positive.
Athleticism scores for the 2022 safety class are set.@UMichFootball's Daxton Hill posted the highest NGS athleticism score among the safety group (96), followed by @ToledoFB's Tycen Anderson (89) and @BUFootball's Jalen Pitre (84).#NextGenScores pic.twitter.com/M036vhTcke
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 7, 2022
Pite might represent the best potential stylistic replacement for Mathieu. He isn’t going to cover quite as much ground as The Honey Badger, but he might be slightly better as a pure cover guy in the slot. That’s a crucial talent for a defense like Kansas City’s that wants to bring pressure with blitzes on a lot of passing downs.
Drafting Pitre at No. 30 might be classified as a reach, but Kansas City is one team that needs to find some more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. The former Baylor star fits that definition and should be a strong consideration for the Chiefs at the end of Round 1.