The draft is the perfect opportunity for teams to fill gaps in their lineups, and for the Kansas City Chiefs, it is no different. After losing the likes of safety Justin Reid, defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton, wide receiver Deandre Hopkins, offensive guard Joe Thuney and more in free agency, it has created clear and obvious gaps that Andy Reid and the Chiefs need to fill.
So, here we take a look at the positions of need for KC and who they might take with the 31st pick in round one.
Positions of need
- Offensive Line
As previously mentioned, holes have appeared in the Chiefs’ lineup, becoming apparent after a disappointing Super Bowl paired with free agency outgoings. Their offensive line was flimsy and lacked depth, as shown in the Super Bowl in which the Philadelphia Eagles easily dismantled them, despite never rushing more than four. Add to that the loss of four-time Super Bowl champ Joe Thuney, and the Chiefs’ O-line is desperate for a rebuild.
- Defensive Line / Edge
The loss of Tershawn Wharton to the Carolina Panthers means Chris Jones, with all the talent he possesses, has sort of been left on his own in the interior. Equally, they lack the elite quality and depth at the edge to compete with the league’s best. The loss of Josh Uche also hurts. So, in a deep D-line and edge rusher class, there are plenty of good options that will still be able for the 31st pick, and even on days two and three.
- Wide Receiver
The Chiefs haven’t really had an elite wide receiver since the days when they had Tyreek Hill rocking the red and white. The likes of Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown, who they resigned for another year this offseason, have shown promise, and they added more speed at the position in round one of last year’s draft in 40-yard dash record holder Xavier Worthy, who had a very impressive rookie season. However, with legendary tight end Travis Kelce’s career looking like it’s coming to an end sooner rather than later, and an unclear WR1 on the team, the Chiefs could be eyeing up some young talent at the position in a deep wide receiver class.
Other positions the Chiefs could look to add to are running back, with Isiah Pacheco’s fitness in question, and defensive back – which could do with a boost to support the likes of Trent McDuffie and Jayden Hicks.
Who could they target in Round 1?
After losing to the Eagles at Super Bowl LIX in devastating fashion, the Chiefs hold the 31st pick in round one of the draft. So, who are the potential players that could fall to them, based on their positional needs?
Well, at O-line there is a plethora of options to fill the holes left by player departures. Josh Simmons of Ohio State was on course to be one of the classes premier tackles before an injury ended his season, meaning he has slid down draft boards, with some even predicting him to fall to day two. Alabama’s Tyler Booker is one of the top guards in this year’s class, however, the Chiefs may need luck on their side if Booker is to fall to them. Grey Zabel of North Dakota State has quietly risen up draft boards as of late, with his versatility to play guard or center at the next level and Josh Conerly Jr of Oregon could see himself chosen on day one by Chiefs GM Brett Veach.
On defense, the Chiefs can pick up some talent at the defensive tackle position, to fill the void left by the departures of Derrick Nnadi, Khalen Saunders and, of course, Tershawn Wharton. The likes of Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon and Michigan’s Kenneth Grant are all projected to go around the Chiefs’ pick.
Equally, across the D-line, at the edge position, we are seeing the likes of Shemar Stewart and Mike Green move up and down mock drafts, with them either being the first edge rusher off the board or as low as the 32nd pick, however, more recently, they have fallen to around the mid to late 20s, meaning there is a chance of them falling even further between now and draft day. James Pearce Jr out of Tennessee was once considered one of the best edge rushers in the draft, but after reported attitude problems, his draft stock has fallen off a cliff. Despite this, there is undeniable talent there, and if the Chiefs are willing to take a risk, and he’s willing to clean up his act, this could be a huge steal.
Overall, the Kansas City Chiefs need to improve on their front seven, to replenish lost talent and get back to Super Bowl contention. With the penultimate pick in the first round, there are plenty of quality players to choose from at positions of need to help Patrick Mahomes and company
The 2025 NFL Draft begins on the 24th of April in Indianapolis.
