3 Draft Picks the Chiefs Gave up on Way Too Early
By Michael Luciano
The selection of quarterback Patrick Mahomes is testament enough to Brett Veach's scouting eye, but the Kansas City Chiefs were able to win Super Bowl LIV because of a deep roster thanks to the team finding stars like Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill in the third and fifth rounds.
While Kansas City has done a masterful job of drafting and retaining players, these three guys would've been massive boons for the 2020 Chiefs if they didn't trade them away or let them leave in free agency.
3. OL Mitch Morse
Morse was a rock solid lineman out of Missouri who helped shore up what was a weak interior OL at the time, starting for the better part of four seasons from 2015-2018. In free agency, the financially-rigid Chiefs had to let him walk to Buffalo, where he became the Bills' best offensive lineman. Looking at a weak interior line, the Chiefs might be regretting not making a better effort to keep Morse.
2. C Rodney Hudson
The guy the Chiefs drafted Morse to replace is clearly the better player, and his departure probably stings more. Hudson not only left for the hated Raiders in free agency, but he became one of the best centers in football along the way, making three Pro Bowls during his five years in the black and silver. The former Florida State center became one of the most expensive linemen in the league, but you can bet that Kansas City is kicking themselves for letting him leave and go to a division rival.
1. CB Marcus Peters
No position is a bigger need right now for the Chiefs than cornerback, and they had the best corner in the game when it comes to causing turnovers. Peters was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for a second-round pick -- which ended up netting KC Juan Thornhill -- and helped LA get to the Super Bowl. Peters was then traded to Baltimore in 2020, and he was named a First-Team All-Pro. While he certainly has some character issues, a playmaker of his caliber would've left the Chiefs with no holes to fill this offseason.