Mock Draft Round-Up 6.0: Who do the Experts Have the Chiefs Taking in the First Round?

Here’s a look at who is projected to the Chiefs in the latest mock drafts

Apr 17, 2020 at 09:14 AM

Matt McMullen

Chiefs Reporter

The 2020 NFL Draft is less than a week away, which means the experts from around the web are putting together their final predictions and mock drafts before things finally happen for real on April 23.

Peter Schrager of NFL.com has the Chiefs selecting Michigan interior offensive line prospect Cesar Ruiz with the No. 32 selection, citing that the former Wolverine's value at that spot may be too good to pass up.

As we've covered in previous editions of Mock Draft Round-Up, the versatile Ruiz - who saw action as a starter in all three of his seasons on campus - possesses the ability to play either guard or center at the next level, according to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.

Here's what Schrager had to say about Ruiz:

"The Chiefs are returning 20 of 22 starters next season. In other words ... watch out! If they opt to go best player available, Ruiz may very well be that guy. Capable of playing either center or guard, he's an intelligent player who can both help protect Patrick Mahomes and be a mauler in the run game. Kansas City can go anywhere with this pick, but offensive line is never a bad choice."

Sports Illustrated's Kevin Hanson also has the Chiefs selecting Ruiz in his latest mock while providing some additional metrics on the two-time All-Big 10 selection.

"…A three-year starter at both center (26 games) and guard (five games), Ruiz sits atop my interior offensive rankings and has allowed just 19 pressures on 895 pass-blocking snaps since 2018, per PFF."

Elsewhere, NFL.com's Bucky Brooks believes the Chiefs will select Ohio State tailback J.K. Dobbins with their first selection. Dobbins, who earned Second-Team All-American honors in 2019, found the end zone 23 times and was one of just three FBS tailbacks with 2,000+ rushing yards on the season.

Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins runs against Oklahoma during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. Oklahoma won 31-16. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports also has the Chiefs going running back, but he instead opted for Georgia tailback D’Andre Swift. The five-foot-eight, 212-pound Swift, a popular projection to Kansas City over the last several weeks, earned First-Team All-SEC honors in 2019 after rushing for 1,218 yards and seven scores.

Here's what Trapasso had to say about the pick:

"Swift would give the Chiefs an absolutely terrifying offense because of his receiving chops."

Lastly, the folks at Bleacher Report think the Chiefs will bolster their pass-rush at No. 32 with Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos. A big, athletic pass-rusher, Gross-Matos tallied 9.5 sacks and 15 tackles-for-loss in 2019.

That's it for the mock drafts as Kansas City prepares to do this thing for real next week.