After their dream season last year ending up with a Superbowl, the Chiefs will enter the draft 2020 within a few hours where they will look to address their top needs.
This time of the off season is always the time for all the lists of top players, all time fantasy draft so let’s do one of our own!
Which former Chiefs player would be perfect to solve the few issues the Kansas City Chiefs have before next season?
Linebacker position: Derrick Thomas
That is an easy one. Derrick Thomas remains a legend in Kansas City because of the tragedy that struck him but he was also a monster of a linebacker, one of the best. The linebacker position could use an arrival of talent. Anthony Hitchens played well last season, but it isn’t enough. With Reggie Ragland gone to the Lions, the Chiefs need more players to stop the run and not collapse during key games.
Derrick Thomas was among the future NFL stars selected early in the 1989 NFL draft. Taken right after Barry Sanders, at No. 4, the Kansas City Chiefs took Thomas, a linebacker from Alabama, with the fourth pick. He didn’t disappoint at all.
Thomas was selected to the Pro Bowl in his first year with the Chiefs and then the next eight years as well.
Very quick for his size, Thomas finished with 126.5 sacks in a career that was cut short by tragedy.
Cornerback position: Albert Lewis
The Cornerback position is the obvious need for the Chiefs right now. It would be wise for them to select one early and select more than one. Fuller is gone to the Redskins, Breeland has been resigned but that would be great reinforcing the secondary anyway.
The Chiefs have found a tremendous amount of success in the third round over the years, selecting for example the two-time All-Pro defensive back Albert Lewis.
Arrived at Kansas City in 1983, Albert Lewis was named as the Chiefs MVP for the 1986 season after he recorded 69 tackles (61 solo), four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one blocked punt. During his time in Kansas City, the Chiefs made the playoffs five times.
Lewis was known for his excellent acceleration and speed-at one point running a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. At 6′ 2″, he was usually the tallest or one of the tallest cornerbacks in the NFL. His strong determination and work-ethic made him one of the most admired players of the Chiefs organization.
Running Back: Jamaal Charles
The back room is pretty crowded at the Chiefs, but their top running back, who could have won easily the Superbowl MVP trophy Damien Williams has had a rollercoaster of a season last year. Someone to back him up would be great for next season. And in the Running back position, the Chiefs has had great players through the years, but Jamaal Charles will stay one of the best contributors.
He ran for 5 or more yards-per-carry in his first eight seasons, with a high of 6.9 in 2011. But above all, he was super explosive and fun to watch.
Interior Offensive line position: Will Shields
It’s pretty clear that the Kansas City Chiefs are loaded on offense. However, the offensive line is very important to protect one of the new face of the NFL Patrick Mahomes. They’ve even got a solid pair of bookends, and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz is one of the best in football right now.
Their one weakness is the interior offensive line. One of the big reasons that the Chiefs struggled in the Super Bowl was that the 49ers defensive line could create quick pressure, and a big part of that falls at guard and center.
And objectively, one of the best guard that ever played at the Chiefs is Will Shields. Drafted in 1993 in the third round, he continued that great offensive line play with the Chiefs and he was durable playing 223 straight games. He was actually one of the main reasons that Priest Holmes had such big holes to run through, and that’s not something to overlook.
The draft 2020 will begin in a few hours and we will see what will be the choices the Chiefs organization and front office will make to face this new season and repeat another Superbowl run.
Let’s hope for the best.
Rachel Coltz
