3 Players the Chiefs Need to Avoid With Their First Round Draft Picks

A number of NFL teams have the time to develop draft prospects to fit their system and become capable starters. On the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs should be looking to add immediate impact players given the fact that they have made the AFC Championship game in four straight years.

General manager Brett Veach has two opportunities to do just that at the end of the month since the Chiefs own both the No. 29 and No. 30 overall picks. He needs to be careful and methodical, though. Here's a look at three players Kansas City needs to avoid with their first round draft picks.

Kansas City Chiefs NFL Draft

1. David Ojabo, DE

Normally grabbing a consensus top-10 talent in the late 20s would be seen as a steal, but defensive end David Ojabo suffered an Achilles injury during Michigan's pro day. That means he will not be ready for the start of the 2022 season and will need some time to get back to full health. That doesn't bode well for a Chiefs defensive line that is in need of a reliable pass rusher. Keep in mind there's no guarantee that Ojabo comes back with the same explosiveness and tenacity, either. While it would be smart for Kansas City to grab a defensive end at this spot, Ojabo simply isn't worth the risk.

2. George Pickens, WR

The trade of Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyreek Hill leaves the Chiefs searching for a capable replacement. Free agents Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling do bring some juice to the position. However, Veach has shown he loves to draft offensive weapons early. It's not a bad idea if it isn't George Pickens out of Georgia. Pickens only played in 12 games for the Bulldogs over his final two seasons due to injury and isn't considered a burner. Although his crisp route-running skills would fit in nicely, quarterback Patrick Mahomes needs another deep threat. Someone like Jahan Dotson or Skyy Moore makes more sense at this point in the draft.

3. John Metchie, WR

The Chiefs cannot afford to reach for a player in the first round simply because of positional need. Alabama's John Metchie has been rumored as a potential fit with the team despite being regarded as a second or third round pick in most cases. The 21-year-old's success at the NFL level is going to be determined by his ability to create space from his defenders. He doesn't have the size (6-foot, 190 pounds) or power to work through physical coverage. Head coach Andy Reid has built a reputation for finding those diamonds in the rough when it comes to pass-catchers, but Metchie's downside greatly outweighs his upside.

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.