What if the Chiefs took a 2025 approach to the draft?
Tyler Brown
It is not sexy or splashy, but with how filled out the Chiefs roster currently is, the Chiefs may take a futuristic approach to next week's NFL Draft. It will not have Chiefs fans overly excited following the draft, but it might be the most prudent approach, even knowing Kansas City has a chance to three-peat for the first time in NFL History.
There is not a single pick the Chiefs could make at pick 32 on the defensive side that would take over a starting role, outside of a round-one nose tackle. While the same cannot be said for wide receivers on the offensive side, 2025 will have just as big of a need at receiver as they have in 2024. Hollywood Brown is only under contract for 2024 after all.
The Chiefs could draft a starting offensive tackle as well, but more than likely only if they trade up to take one of the top five or six tackles in the draft, which is not likely. If the Chiefs stay put at pick 32 to draft a left tackle such as Kingsley Suamataia, they are looking at a Donovan Smith signing to compete with him.
It is entirely likely that no rookie from the 2024 draft is starting week one, other than a rookie receiver that will be filling in for the presumably suspended Rashee Rice. Even that may be unlikely if they choose to sign a veteran receiver.
So if we look ahead at 2025, who do the Chiefs have expiring contracts on that they may want to fill with depth behind them one year before they hit the free agent market? Looking at the running back room, they have Pacheco under contract for two more years, but no one is signed behind him. With J.K. Dobbins off the market, I would guess the Chiefs try to fill the Jerick McKinnon role through the draft.
I am not so sure general manager Brett Veach is willing to spend a second-rounder on Texas’ Jonathon Brooks, but he would add a whole other element into the Chiefs offense as the consensus top-rated back. He is explosive, has great hands and can miss tackles, which is something Kansas City does not have right now in terms of that one-cut-and-go type of back.
If the Chiefs wanted to wait a bit and go after just a passing-down type of tailback, they could go with Oregon running back Bucky Irving, Washington running back Dillon Johnson or Clemson’s Will Shipley. Irving is a highly decorated back who has posted two straight 1,000-yard seasons and receives the ball exceptionally as well. Shipley has a similar skill set with less explosion and strength. Johnson is a late-round flyer who is not great at anything but is good at everything. He is a larger back who profiles best as a third-down back with exceptional blocking and catching skills.
The receiver position has been beaten like a dead horse in Chiefs mock drafts and to be honest, it would not shock me if they took two of them. They could either take one early and one late or take two in the middle rounds, depending on what falls to them at pick 32.
Tight end is a hot topic every year because pundits are constantly aging Travis Kelce. They are honestly set for this year with three solid tight ends with Kelce, Noah Gray and Irv Smith Jr. and it is far from a loaded tight end draft class. This past season was the first in many years of Kelce not tallying 1,000 yards and he was banged up for much of the year, so it would theoretically be a good time to start looking. Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott is an exciting athlete and the Chiefs have visited with him and Iowa’s Eric All. We will see if this is the year they try to find a future Kelce replacement.
Offensive tackles have also been a major topic of conversation as well, but if they do not take a receiver at pick 32, they are still looking at a project of a left tackle at that spot. That spot could be Suamaitaia or Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton who would be set to be the left tackle of the future, but are very raw. They may be better off taking Houston’s Patrick Paul or Yale’s Kiran Amegadjie, who are also projects, but great athletes at a much lower price tag. Mizzou’s Jevon Foster is a projected fourth or fifth-round pick and is a three-year starter at a premier SEC program. Any one of these players would be battling against Wanya Morris and a veteran free agent, probably.
Then there is the interior line position. Most mock drafts have the Chiefs selecting one, but with Joe Thuney and Trey Smith somewhat likely to not be on the 2025 roster, the Chiefs may even draft two interior linemen. With multiple guards getting $20 million per year or close to it in free agency this season, they would be wise not to dip into that market, especially with them also having to extend Creed Humphrey before the next offseason as well.
If the Chiefs are absolutely in love with Arizona tackle/guard Jordan Morgan, you could see them dip into this market in round one, but that does not sound like Veach’s M-O. It is more likely they target local Kansas State product Cooper Beebe, South Dakota State’s Mason McCormick, Boston College’s Christian Mahogany or Michigan’s Zak Zinter in the middle rounds.
The Chiefs currently have seven picks and we have already named four to six different positions they need on the offensive side. It is no secret the offense is in a much dire state than the defense, but taking six out of seven picks on the offensive side is not likely. This is why trading back from 32 to accumulate more picks could be a wise move.
In terms of the defense, the edge position is largely set after inking Mike Danna to a three-year deal, which likely took the Chiefs out of the running of drafting a first-round edge for the third straight year. With that being said, Charles Omenihu is recovering from a torn ACL in the AFC Championship game and 2024 is his final year on his current deal.
If the Chiefs went that direction in the draft Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland is an exciting round-two prospect and is a defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo prototype. If it is not Kneeland, I would not be surprised to see Kansas City nab a big and long pass rusher to complement last year's speed rusher picks in Felix Anudike-Uzomah and B.J. Thompson.
The interior rushers are probably the biggest need on the entire defensive unit. There is no nose tackle under contract in 2025 and all could be beat out in 2024. Unless Texas’ Byron Murphy falls within the trade-up range, the Chiefs will not have a one-tech that is worth a first-round pick. Michigan’s Kris Jenkins could also be a trade-up candidate in the second round, but it is more likely they wait a bit and add one of the several mid-round prospects. There are several coming out of LSU and Khristian Boyd is a local kid who could fall to the Chiefs later in the draft. Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro is talented and experienced too.
The three-tech position is occupied by Chris Jones for the next five seasons, but with Tershawn Wharton in a contract season, there could be a need there. Veach could add some juice by adding someone who can rush the passer alongside Jones. There is a chance Jer'Zhan Newton falls to them in the first round, but they could wait till the second or third round to draft a prospect such as Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr or Oregon’s Brandon Dorlus.
With the Chiefs resigning Drue Tranquill at linebacker for three years, a high probably of doing the same for Nick Bolton and Leo Chenal on the books for two more, I do not foresee the Chiefs taking a linebacker in the draft. They also have core special teamers Jack Cochrane and Cam Jones on the roster.
Put money on the Chiefs drafting a corner because they lost L’Jarius Sneed and they always do. Unless an insane value falls to them early, I would bet they wait to take one till the last three rounds to take care of this.
Unless Kansas City feels strongly about extending Justin Reid, they could also look at drafting a safety, although they do not have to. Bryan Cook and Chamarri Conner still have plenty of years left on their contracts and the safety market is not exactly robust in free agency.
If I were a betting man, and the Chiefs kept all seven of their picks I would say the Chiefs take a pick on a running back, a wide receiver, a left tackle, a guard, an interior defensive lineman and a corner. That leaves just one pick to double dip at receiver, guard, interior defensive lineman or draft their one edge or tight end. The draft is almost upon us and it will be must must-watch TV here in a week.
