Mocking up a dream Chiefs draft
Tyler Brown
Mock drafts are getting tossed around left and right these days and while it is ultimately just fan fiction, it can be both informative and fun. Many of these mocks can be unrealistic but what they do is it allows fans to develop draft crushes and helps them learn more about the players that might be selected by their team and the teams they root against.
The Chiefs have starter-level needs at left tackle and wide receiver. Kansas City always has positional depth needs at running back, along the interior offensive and defensive line. They could also add at the tight end and in the defensive backfield to continue to infuse talent at those spots.
I thought it would be interesting to create a mock draft utilizing the
KCSN Draft Guide (which you can purchase on this link). I am not going to go through a mock draft simulator, but I am going to use the guide's round-grades to create a dream, but realistic scenario. I attempted to complete that task while keeping in mind the consensus boards to keep it as real as possible.
Here is what I came up with.
Round 1, pick 32: WR – Ladd McConkey, Georgia
The dream scenario, in my opinion, is having Ladd McConkey or Xavier Worthy fall to pick 32. After setting the 40-yard-dash record at the NFL combine though, I just do not see Worthy lasting to 32 with so many teams needing wide receiver and him being more than just a speed guy.
Even if Worthy was there, I still would strongly consider taking McConkey here at pick 32. McConkey is as close as it gets to a can’t-miss prospect and that is exactly what the Chiefs need. Patrick Mahomes has proven he does not need a true number-one receiver after winning two Super Bowls without Tyreek Hill.
McConkey profiles as a slot receiver, but has enormous experience playing along the outside at Georgia as well. If McConkey can get all of the starter reps that Justin Watson received a year ago, along with his ability to be a mismatch out of the slot when Rashee Rice kicks outside, the Chiefs' offense would be uber-dynamic with the addition of Hollywood Brown as well.
McConkey is an absolute technician of a route runner and has 4.39 speed to go along with it. He is not a huge guy, which will limit him, but with his quick releases and ability to get open, he will fit right into an Andy Reid offense. He runs the entire route tree already which helps him get open against zone or man coverage. He can step in on day one.
There is one other option I would consider a really good scenario for the Chiefs at pick 32. If defensive tackle out of Illinois, Johnny Newton fell to this spot, I would think long and hard about it. If Newton is available, I might pick him to sure up my defensive interior and pick two wide receivers later on in the draft. Newton does not necessarily profile as a nose tackle, which the Chiefs need badly, but he would give Chris Jones a high-quality rotational piece to pair with and allow Jones to kick outside on passing downs.
Round 2, pick 64: DT – Kris Jenkins, Michigan
It is no given Kris Jenkins will fall to the Chiefs at pick 64, but I think this is a nice pocket to find talent along the defensive line. Even if the Chiefs wanted to go defensive end here, they could pick Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland, who fits the Steve Spagnuolo profile perfectly.
At six-foot-three, 299 pounds, Jenkins can get on the field on day one, given that the Chiefs starting one-tech is currently Derrick Nnadi. He should be able to start alongside Jones as his run-stopping ability should play early on in his career. He does have some juice in the pass rush area as well, but that could take time. He is lauded for his athleticism, especially with his first-step quickness.
If the Chiefs cannot nab Jenkins here, there are a few guys that should be available at defensive tackle as well. LSU’s Maason Smith is a massive human being, comparable to the size of Jones and moves well. Michael Hall Jr. out of Ohio State is too small to be a three-down one-tech but he could be groomed to play behind Jones. Texas’ T’Vondre Sweat profiles as a massive run-stopping one-tech but he comes with some red flags off the field. This is a great time to snag a nose tackle in a decently deep class.
Round 3, pick 95: OT – Kiran Amegadjie, Yale
This would be considered a steal more than likely but he does grade out as a third-round pick. He was not at the combine and he played in the Ivy League so there is a possibility the Chiefs could grab Kiran Amegadjie this late.
He is six-foot-five, 323 pounds and moves like the wind in that massive frame. It is tough to tell, as like a lot of prospects, if his ability will translate to the NFL, but after the first four or five tackles in this class, they are all projects, albeit with some great talent. Amegadjie is no exception.
The Chiefs should have left tackle Donovan Smith on speed dial after not being able to land a round-one tackle, but Amegadjie should be able to compete with Wanya Morris as the swing tackle in year one. The Yale product is dominant against the run and has all the traits to develop into an NFL left tackle in 2025 or 2026. He does have some technical things to work out, but that should be a fun project to work on if you are offensive line coach Andy Heck.
If Amegadjie is not available, the Chiefs could look at several players such as Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnot, Colorado State edge rusher Mo Kamara and Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart. I do not love the tackle pocket here, so if they cannot grab Amegadjie here, I would prefer they wait till the fourth round for a three-year starter out of Mizzou in Javon Foster who should be a high-quality backup or developmental prospect.
Round 4, pick 131: OG – Mason McCormick, South Dakota State
Picking Mason McCormick would be an eventual Joe Thuney or Trey Smith replacement. He is a massive FCS prospect out of South Dakota State, who the KCSN comps to Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz. Meinerz is a tough, mauler of a guard and that is the type of player the Chiefs would be getting here.
Kansas City must address the guard position in this draft due to Thuney’s $27 million cap hit next season and Smith being in a contract season. The Chiefs can save $16 million by releasing Thuney and the Chiefs have to extend center Creed Humphrey as well. To make this even more of a need, their only backup interior lineman right now is Mike Caliendo after Nick Allegretti just signed with the Washington Commanders.
McCormick profiles as a tremendous athlete with top-notch explosion and good lateral quickness. He is a smart and a pile mover all at the same time. Much like our third-round pick, you do have to wonder about college competition, but McCormick has all the tools to be a solid Andy Heck offensive lineman. He is a lot like Smith in terms of his physicality.
The Chiefs could dip into the running back market at this point in the draft as long-time Clemson running back Will Shipley profiles to be selected around here. Shipley would be a nice fill-in for Jerick McKinnon. The same can be said for Georgia’s Daijun Edwards. Zak Zinter, a guard out of Michigan is another option here as well if the Chiefs want someone from a more competitive program.
There is also a fun wide receiver that could be selected around here in Malik Washington out of Virginia. He profiles as a nuanced route-runner and has that quick twitch ability and speed to play both the slot and can do a lot out of the backfield and in motion. He would be a dynamic weapon in Reid’s toolbox and had a boatload of college production last year. He would complement the scheme and the wide receiver room well, even after selecting McConkey.
Round 5, pick 159: CB – Elijah Jones, Boston College
Elijah Jones here is the annual add to the cornerback room that general manager Brett Veach loves to accomplish. He is old, already 25 but has an incredible amount of traits. He is the typical Steve Spagnuolo press-man corner that would be good to add after losing L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans.
Last season quarterbacks throwing against Jones had an 18.1 passer rating. While some of that could have to do with Jones' massive amount of college experience, Sneed was also considered old coming out of college and look how that turned out. He is a sure tackler, which is valued in Kansas City as well.
He tested extremely well at the combine, posing a 4.44-second 40, as well as dominant vertical and broad jumps. He is a little light at 185 pounds, but he is six-foot-two, which is not all that different from Sneed’s build. At the very least, you are looking at a special teamer here.
Another direction to go, if they wait till round seven for the cornerback spot, is they could look at Luke McCaffrey out of Rice, brother of Christian and son of Ed. The NFL pedigree is strong here and it is hard to imagine a McCaffrey as not being useful. He can run a full route tree and can get open at all levels of the field. Again, at the very least would be a useful weapon and special teams guy.
If you are looking for a tight end here, Illinois Tip Reiman would give the Chiefs some juice at this spot. It is also a great time to draft a running back, but luckily, Kansas City has two fifth-rounders this year.
Round 5, pick 173: RB – Bucky Irving, Oregon
There are many options the Chiefs could go with here at the running back position, but I landed on Bucky Irving. Irving is a smaller back, but the Chiefs already have their bruiser in Isiah Pacheco. Irving also does not have breakaway speed, but he is superior at all other parts of his game.
Just because he does not have great long speed, which was evident by his 4.55 40, does not mean he is not athletic in all of the other areas. According to the draft guide, his short-area quickness is elite and can cut at any moment, which is something the Chiefs do not currently have in the running back room.
He has good vision, can find the open hole when they arise and can help the Chiefs run zone, which they love to do. Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire perform better running gap-scheme. He also has displayed great hands and ability to run routes out of the backfield. He will need to learn to block a bit better before being a true third-down back, but that can be said for almost any rookie. Willingness is not the reason for his shaky pass-blocking ability and that is half of the battle.
The Chiefs have many options for many different reasons at the running back spot. Those backs include but are not limited to New Hampshire’s Dylan Laube, Louisville’s Isaac Guerendo and Purdue’s Tyrone Tracy. Tracy in particular is a former wide receiver and would be a weapon out of the backfield. All of these guys bring different traits, and some others projected earlier may fall, but the fact of the matter is the Chiefs need help at this position, regardless of play style. Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire are the only two at the top of the depth chart.
Round 7, pick 221: S – Tyler Owens, Texas Tech
After losing Mike Edwards to free agency and with 2024 being a contract season for Justin Reid, it certainly would not hurt for the Chiefs to dip into the safety market in the upcoming draft. Owens is a former star track athlete and has not played football all that long. He has decent size at six-foot-two, 216 pounds coming out of Mahomes Alma Mater. You know Mahomes always loves those Red Raiders.
There is no doubt that Owens will play on special teams as a gunner or something alike but he has the size, speed and reported intangibles that NFL coaches covet. He is big enough to put his nose in the run game and has enough coverage skills to hold his own. That sounds like a Justin Reid replacement if you ask me. Owen's issues simply stem from a lack of experience, such as being caught flat-footed, being out of position, etc.
We will see what happens this weekend, but if the board broke to the Chiefs like this, they would acquire a starting receiver and interior defensive lineman and an offensive tackle of the future. In this scenario, Donovan Smith would be back starting at LT for 2024, too. A lot of big holes are filled here in just the first three rounds.
On top of that, they would have acquired a 2025 starting guard, a running back that would be useful beginning this year and a couple of defensive backs that the Chiefs always find room for either now or in the future. This is the type of draft that might not be too splashy, but it would keep the train moving cost-effectively. After hitting on all these draft picks the past few years, the bill comes due some time, which makes it even more important to draft well. Let’s see what happens starting Thursday evening.
