2020 NFL Mock Draft: Kansas City Chiefs choose a cornerback

Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

MY PROCESS

Having the last pick in the round offers its own kind of unique situation. By nature, Super Bowl winners don’t typically have a ton of glaring holes to fill, and this is certainly true of Andy and the Chiefs. But they do have a few holes, and only 5 picks in this year’s draft to address as many of them as they can. So, I basically prioritized those positions of need, figured out the top 3, and then determined which players at those positions were still on my board when it was my turn to pick. Then, the best player option from those 3 positional needs that was still available at pick 32 would be my move. Easy-peazy, lemon-squeezy.

THE TOP 3 POSITIONAL NEEDS

Here’s what I settled on (in reverse order):

3) Running back - The Chiefs are loaded at offensive skill position players, except when it comes to running back. The best they can do right now for a lead back is Damien Williams. He’s OK, but just OK. Imagine instead, adding a stud back who could rip off big plays both running and receiving. Someone like D’Andre Swift would be perfect. Except he went at 26 to Miami, and I don’t think that J.K. Dobbins or Jonathan Taylor are worthy of the pick, as neither is all that accomplished in the passing game. Besides, it started to feel like a luxury pick anyway.

2) Inside linebacker - The Chiefs play a 3-4 defense, and to make this work you need at least one fast, thumping linebacker, ideally in the middle to stop the run. Last year they did not get the job done, and finished 26th against the run. To keep the Super Bowl window open, they need to do better. Kenneth Murray would have been a perfect solution. But he was already taken, as was Patrick Queen. My next highest rated guys who were available were nowhere near first-rounders, so I moved on.

1) Cornerback - It seems like every year the Chiefs need corner help (sounds familiar, right?). This year is no different. If anything, it is more of a desperate need than ever. Last year the Chiefs corners were iffy at best (there’s a reason the Chiefs started all 3 of their post season games in the hole by double-digits). And from that group they’ve lost Kendall Fuller and have not resigned Bashed Breeland, and really don’t have any cap space to do so now. The only real corner on the team to speak of is Charvarius Ward. It’s time that they stop screwing around and finally solidify their weakest position. And the perfect guy is still available.

THE PICK

Roger Goodell walks to the fake television studio podium this year and announces: “With the 32nd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama.”

ABOUT TREVON DIGGS

Strengths:

With incredible size for a cornerback (6’ 02#, 207 lbs.), Diggs is the perfect specimen for teams who are looking for physicality, length and strength. His 32 3/4” arms allow him to fight through the catch point and get his wide receiver hands on the football. There are some outstanding plays on tape where he locates the ball and attacks it with the timing down to perfection. His overall size makes for an intimidating factor at the line of scrimmage.Diggs is experienced in both man and zone coverage. The results were consistently good for him in both looks. In press, he’s extremely physical right off the snap, getting his hands on his man to suffocate their route. In zone, he has a pretty good feel for what’s going on around him., a benefit of playing wide receiver before switching to corner. (Diggs originally came to Alabama as a wide receiver).

Trevon Diggs is more than just a height, weight, length prospect. He’s an above-average athlete given his tremendous size. He regularly showed his deep speed on tape to keep pace with the faster deep threats. He will be an excellent addition to round out a Honey Badger / Thornhill / West / Diggs posse.

Value added:

Can also return kicks, though the Chiefs are in good shape with that already. But will make for a fine backup kick returner if needed.

Trevon is the brother of former Vikings and now Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, which is an excellent pedigree.

Weaknesses:

While being lauded for his physicality, there are some negatives that comes with that as well. That aggression leads to more penalties than you’d like to see, and some that he got away with will be called at the next level. His aggressive mindset also leads to him losing some reps early in the process. He has to clean that up and play with better control. He also needs to be a little more consistent in the run game. He doesn’t always play to his size when he’s defending the run.

What they are saying:

Joe Marino - The Draft Network

Standout in zone coverage. Love his ability to squeeze zones and flip from the field to the boundary. Has an astute understanding of coverage spacing and how to layer zones. Do some impressive things in press coverage and he’s willing to crowd routes early? Has redirect pop in his hands and generally does well to jam at the release. Patient footwork and he rarely gets antsy. Has made some alpha plays on the ball breaking forward on it. More fluid than expected for a corner of his size. Length, size, range and play strength are assets in coverage. J

Jordan Reid - The Draft Network

Battling through plenty of adversity prior to his senior season, it all came together for Trevon Diggs during his final season in Tuscaloosa. As a converted wide receiver, his ball skills are clear in his game, but it’s his length and athleticism that make him very appealing. One of the taller cornerback prospects in this class, he still remains twitchy and shows to have slightly above average technique.

Lance Zierlein/NFL.com

Talented prospect with rare combination of size, strength and ball skills. As a former receiver, Diggs has an instinctive feel for his opponent’s plans and uses his size and athleticism to disrupt the blueprint when possible. He’s a future starting press-man corner with the hands and ball tracking to take it away and should benefit from more help over the top as a pro. Future consideration at free safety is possible considering his size and skill set. Pro comparisons: Aqib Talib, Darius Slay

2020 BGN Mock Draft Order

1) Bengals (grantspectations): QB Joe Burrow
2) Washington (ablesser88): EDGE Chase Young
3) Lions (CMG97): CB Jeff Okudah
4) Giants (selgae aihpledalihp): LB Isaiah Simmons
5) Dolphins (dceagles): WR CeeDee Lamb
6) Chargers (dapeltz13): QB Tua Tagovailoa
7) Panthers (wardbell92): DT Derrick Brown
8) Cardinals (drc242): OT Mekhi Becton
9) Jaguars (Palaniappan K M): OT Tristan Wirfs
10) Browns (WentzAndFolesFan): WR Jerry Jeudy
11) Jets (Dr_Horrible): OT Jedrick Wills
12) Raiders (Phillysolo): WR Henry Ruggs III
13) 49ers (eagles0132): OT Andrew Thomas
14) Buccaneers (BuckeyedEagles): DT Javon Kinlaw
15) Broncos (J. Wil): S Xavier McKinney
16) Falcons (Kephas): EDGE A.J. Epenesa
17) Cowboys (PhillyBirdGang): S Grant Delpit
18) Dolphins (dshelton5): QB Justin Herbert
19) Raiders (fredhugo): CB Kristian Fulton
20) Jaguars (ItownBallers22): EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson
21) Eagles (20Safety_Hazards): CB C.J. Henderson
22) Vikings (SadJediShark): CB Jeff Gladney
23) Patriots (Phoenix X Minimus): LB Kenneth Murray
24) Saints (big DUB): LB Patrick Queen
25) Vikings (MrW254): EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos
26) Dolphins (SemperFilly): RB D’Andre Swift
27) Seahawks (mattywils): OT Josh Jones
28) Ravens (Dirtybirdy47): WR Justin Jefferson
29) Titans (mr_england): OT Austin Jackson
30) Packers (Nishant R SambhiReddy): LB Zack Baun
31) 49ers (Fly Like An Eagle): WR Denzel Mims
32) Chiefs (Leo Bedio): CB Trevon Diggs

Now it’s time for you to vote for who YOU think the Chiefs should pick in the 2020 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft.

2020 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft

1) Bengals: QB Joe Burrow
2) Washington: EDGE Chase Young
3) Lions: CB Jeff Okudah
4) Giants: LB Isaiah Simmons
5) Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa
6) Chargers: QB Justin Herbert
7) Panthers: DT Derrick Brown
8) Cardinals: OT Mekhi Becton
9) Jaguars: OT Tristan Wirfs
10) Browns: OT Andrew Thomas
11) Jets: OT Jedrick Wills
12) Raiders: WR CeeDee Lamb
13) 49ers: WR Jerry Jeudy
14) Buccaneers: DT Javon Kinlaw
15) Broncos: WR Henry Ruggs III
16) Falcons: EDGE A.J. Epenesa
17) Cowboys: CB C.J. Henderson
18) Dolphins: OT Josh Jones
19) Raiders: CB Kristian Fulton
20) Jaguars: EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson
21) Eagles: WR Justin Jefferson
22) Vikings: CB Jeff Gladney
23) Patriots: QB Jordan Love
24) Saints: LB Patrick Queen
25) Vikings: WR Denzel Mims
26) Dolphins: S Xavier McKinney
27) Seahawks: EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos
28) Ravens: LB Kenneth Murray
29) Titans: OT Austin Jackson
30) Packers: WR Jalen Reagor
31) 49ers: WR Tee Higgins
32) Chiefs: