A Look at Kansas City’s 2021 Draft Picks

The NFL’s most important annual recruiting event, the NFL Draft, has recently wrapped up after being held in Cleveland, Ohio from April 29th to May 1st.

Franchises throughout the league have selected talented rookies by the dozens to join them in their pursuit of victory in the 2021-2022 season. One organization in particular, the Kansas City Chiefs, have chosen a diverse group of athletes that they hope will support them in their chase of a third Vince Lombardi.

Although Brady and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad stole the title opportunity from the Chiefs this past season, defeating them 31-9 in the Championship game and preventing them from becoming back-to-back victors, things are looking bright for the AFC West division leaders as they prepare for a fresh set of matchups. In fact, industry experts support this, with NFL betting odds pointing to the Kansas City Chiefs as future Super Bowl winners right behind the Bucs.

In this article, we take a look at the six players who have been selected to join the team and what we can expect them to contribute to the organization’s dynamic and the big leagues as a whole.

Nick Bolton

The Chiefs have gained Nick Bolton, an SEC linebacker for the University of Missouri who has proven to be a top-performing powerhouse in this role. The player will largely replace their previous asset in this position, Damien Wilson, and join veteran Chiefs Anthony Hitchens and Willie Gay. Bolton is known for his tackling abilities, leading the Tigers with more than 90 successful tackle plays in his last college season. There’s no doubt that the Chiefs could make serious use of this hitting power on their defensive side.

Creed Humphrey

Creed Humphrey is another addition, being chosen as a Round 2, No. 63 overall pick at the recent NFL Draft. The center, who hails from the University of Oklahoma, was the Sooner’s ex captain and three-year starting. Analysts are already saying that Humphrey could strengthen the Chiefs’ center greatly by anchoring down the offensive line.

Joshua Kaindoh

Florida State defensive end Joshua Kaindoh will make his NFL debut with the Chiefs come September, stepping up into a position that has the potential to make or break the team’s overall defensive dynamic. Although prior injuries have taken him off the grass for spurts of time throughout his college career, if Kaindoh can stay healthy he has great potential to thrive in the NFL.

Noah Gray

The Chiefs have also opted for Noah Gray, the Duke tight end that is the first of his position to be chosen by the organization since the 2015 Draft event. The player’s size and his ability to advance quickly are undoubtedly his biggest assets, but Gray also knows his way around the field, as is evident in the way he seeks out open spaces with alertness and speed. The Chiefs hope the athlete will be able to do the same for them, making plays that exemplify his running routes and natural talent for the game.

Cornell Powell

Wide receiver Cornell Powell was the No. 181 overall pick by the Chiefs in the fifth round. Although he did not have much on-field action as a Clemson alumni, when he did he proved himself to be an available target with great football aptitude and intelligence. As he goes up a level in the big leagues, Powell will most likely have to earn his spot as a starter, but just as he moved from the bench to the grass during his last season in South Carolina, so can he too at Kansas City.

Trey Smith

Last but not least, Tennessee alumni Trey Smith was selected in the sixth round to join the Chiefs as an offensive guard. Coming in at an impressive 6-foot-6, 321 pounds, Smith is the definition of a powerhouse athlete that has previous experience playing both tackle and guard. Since he is a rookie, he might not see as much playing time as other members of the offensive line, but once he gets his shot as a starter the Chiefs will undoubtedly benefit.