The Kansas City Chiefs were 26th in sacks last season, so there's an obvious need for pass rush help in this year's NFL Draft. Luckily for them, there's a perfect fit for them just down the road in Columbia.
After a dominant Senior Bowl showing, edge rusher Zion Young has been flying up draft boards. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Mizzou Tiger makes all the sense in the world for the Chiefs, but his path to joining Kansas City might need to take some interesting turns.
Kansas City's spots in the first and second round may make a Young pick tricky, but they should absolutely do what it takes to land the local star.
The Chiefs have a great opportunity to stay local with Zion Young
The Chiefs hold the No.9 and No. 40 picks in the first and second round. Young's range seems to be anywhere from 20-50 at the moment, making him a potentially tough player to land for Kansas City. They could wait until 40 and hope Young still sits on the board, or they make get aggressive and move back up to land the Tiger.
Young enjoyed a breakout season with the Tigers, notching 6.5 sacks on his way to MVP honors at the Senior Bowl. He's got great size for the position, and would be a great run defender and reliable pass-rusher for the Chiefs who are in desperate need of help opposite of George Karlaftis.
The Chiefs also have needs at running back, wide receiver and potentially tight end, so they may opt to use their top picks at those positions, but if Young is still available at 40 he might be too good to pass up. Young will be showcasing his skills at the NFL Combine this week, though, and another strong display could propel is stock even higher. Still, the Chiefs should do whatever it takes to bring in the local star.