NFL Mock Draft: 3 first-round mistakes Chiefs can’t afford to make

1. Chiefs can’t afford to miss on the EDGE in the NFL Draft

The most critical departure from the Chiefs roster this offseason is Frank Clark. The defensive end was as integral to the Super Bowl run as any player on defense with 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss and four QB hits in the playoffs.

Kansas City released Clark in March in after failing to restructure his contract. The move saved $21 million in cap space but it’ll only be truly worth it if the team finds another way to replace his impact as a pass rusher.

With Chris Jones returning and George Karlaftis coming off a six-sack rookie season, it makes sense to search out reinforcements in the draft rather than the free agent pool. And there are some stellar options out there.

Alabama’s Will Anderson will surely be gone before the Chiefs can move up in the first round but they could end up with the likes of Likas Van Ness out of Iowa, Nolan Smith out of Georgia or Tyree Wilson out of Texas Tech if they find the right spot in the middle of the round.

Smith feels like the most realistic EDGE for Kansas City to get their hands on. Whether they move up or stay put, he should be a target.