Final 2023 Chiefs Mock

[kccrow]

Hang onto your porta-potties boys ...

1-14. LT BRODERICK JONES | Georgia (6'5" 311)
KC sends 1-31, 3-95, 2024 1st to NE for 1-14.
My magic 8-ball tells me that Veach is going to push his chips in to finalize this offensive line and he's not going to do it for a 2nd-rate prospect. He's going to do his usual balls-deep approach and get a guy he wants. Veach hasn't been shy about spending multiple premium assets on a single player before and I think he does it again for a guy that I think has the most upside of any LT prospect in this draft. He also happens to be one of only a handful of prospects the Chiefs have knowingly met with multiple times (W. McDonald, D. Wright, A. Bradford, R. Bell, and B. Thompson being the others I'm aware of).

2-63. DE ISAIAH FOSKEY | Notre Dame (6'5" 264)
In my opinion, there isn't a more "Spags'-style" DE in this draft than Foskey. He's been getting fairly consistent bottom-of-two grades as things come to a close and that's an insane value. If he's there, he's a Chief in my opinion. He fits long-term into the rotation to give KC a really stellar unit that can move any of the three of him, Omenihu, or Karlaftis down inside.

3-102. WR RASHEE RICE | Southern Methodist (6'0" 205)
KC sends 4-122, 5-166, and 6-217 to SF for 3-102.
I have a feeling the 49ers are going to package 2 of their 3 late-third-round picks to move up much higher in the 3rd to at least get a top-75 player. If they do that, they may be looking to recoup some assets and KC is a prime player to give it to them. Veach makes the boss happy by making a huge splash in round 1 then putting a capstone on day 2 with the draft in KC. Rice has seemingly settled into late 3rd/early 4th rankings and so I see KC wanting to pounce on a guy that can get it done in a similar role as JuJu.

4-134. DT CAMERON YOUNG | Mississippi State (6'3" 305)
It took every ounce of my being not to put Zacch Pickens at 63, so consider it a caveat that he's probably my 2b. Anyhow, the Chiefs have to address the DT position at some point in this draft and perhaps a couple of times. Young is a stalwart plugger that could find himself a very DJ Reader-esque career if he meets his projection. He's tough at the point of attack and gets off the ball well, which is a big knock on so many of the DTs in this draft.

6-178. RB EVAN HULL | Northwestern (5'10" 209)
It seems like Veach always likes to hone in on a Senior Bowl standout and Hull was exactly that. He's a good runner with patience and contact balance and the speed to take it home when he gets the opportunity. He's also an extremely good receiver out of the backfield and led all FBS backs with 55 receptions last year. He needs some technique work in pass blocking as a 3rd down back but he doesn't lack effort there.

7-249. DT DESJUAN JOHNSON | Toledo (6'2" 285)
Johnson is a rocket it off the line that creates havoc in opposing backfields. He did so to the tune of 65 tkls, 16.5 tfl, and 5.5 sacks en route to an All-MAC selection. The Chiefs took notice and I think he's an ideal long-term replacement for Wharton. He can add value right now as a rush package guy and hopefully put on a little more mass. He has some rotational value at DE as well but his lack of length is the lone major wart.

7-250. FS JERRICK REED II | New Mexico (5'10" 196)
Reed is much like Nazeeh Johnson as a nickel/safety hybrid that's a bit undersized but he has the reaction skills to keep phase and the aggressiveness and IQ that puts him in position with good outcomes. I think Veach will want to keep pumping guys in that can be multiple if they lose Sneed. Reed can also be a valuable special teams guy with this speed and tackling.

Roster

QB P. Mahomes II, B. Gabbert, S. Buechele
RB I. Pacheco, C. Edwards-Helaire, E. Hull
WR K. Toney, M. Valdez-Scantling, S. Moore, R. Rice, R. James, J. Ross
TE T. Kelce, N. Gray, J. Fortson, B. Bell
OT B. Jones, J. Taylor, L. Niang, P. Tega-Wanogho
IL J. Thuney, C. Humphrey, T. Smith, N. Allegretti, D. Kinnard

DE G. Karlaftis, C. Omenihu, I. Foskey, M. Danna, M. Herring
DT C. Jones, D. Nnadi, C. Young, T. Wharton, D. Johnson
LB N. Bolton, D. Tranquill, L. Chenal, W. Gay, J. Cochrane
CB L. Sneed, T. McDuffie, J. Watson, J. Williams, N. Johnson
DB J. Reid, M. Edwards, B. Cook, D. Bush, J. Reed

ST H. Butker, T. Townsend, J. Winchester

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

As I said elsewhere, if I'm making deals involving 2024 draft capital, I'm adding it - not subtracting it. I'll take that trade out of the 1st this year for someone's 1st next year. Quickly, in fact.

It's the one thing that Veach hasn't done yet. Maybe this is the year.

[kccrow]

The 2024 draft isn't going to be near as good as you guys think it is. It has a handful of outstanding prospects at the top and it's going to be better for QBs than this year in all likelihood. Other than that, don't get your hopes up.

As for Jones, yeah, I might be in the minority but he is going to be the next Trent Williams or Laremy Tunsil caliber LT in my opinion.

[Direckshun]

Johnson from Toledo is uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunderrated. I love him.

[Dunerdr]

Originally Posted by kccrow

The 2024 draft isn't going to be near as good as you guys think it is. It has a handful of outstanding prospects at the top and it's going to be better for QBs than this year in all likelihood. Other than that, don't get your hopes up.

As for Jones, yeah, I might be in the minority but he is going to be the next Trent Williams or Laremy Tunsil caliber LT in my opinion.

Like all drafts we won’t have a chance at a blue chip from 32.

[TambaBerry]

I feel like Jones is going to struggle with pass protection in the NFL. I'm not sure if it's a fixable technique thing or it's bad habits but it's why I don't want anything to do with the guy.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by kccrow

The 2024 draft isn't going to be near as good as you guys think it is. It has a handful of outstanding prospects at the top and it's going to be better for QBs than this year in all likelihood. Other than that, don't get your hopes up.

As for Jones, yeah, I might be in the minority but he is going to be the next Trent Williams or Laremy Tunsil caliber LT in my opinion.

But again, doesn't adding 6-8 guys who would all go in the top 10 of this year's draft greatly improve the back of the round through a simple transitive property?

Or do you believe that next years draft, after those first 6-8, is actually WORSE through the next 20 picks? Because I certainly don't see it that way.

It isn't about believing we'll get a shot at any of those top 5-10 picks, it's simply a belief that their existence will improve the quality of the prospects available where we're drafting.

And that's to say nothing of my general opposition to spending two 1st round picks on an OT when I think we have a guy in Taylor that will be quite good at LT and RT simply doesn't require that degree of draft capital.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

But again, doesn't adding 6-8 guys who would all go in the top 10 of this year's draft greatly improve the back of the round through a simple transitive property?

Or do you believe that next years draft, after those first 6-8, is actually WORSE through the next 20 picks? Because I certainly don't see it that way.

It isn't about believing we'll get a shot at any of those top 5-10 picks, it's simply a belief that their existence will improve the quality of the prospects available where we're drafting.

And that's to say nothing of my general opposition to spending two 1st round picks on an OT when I think we have a guy in Taylor that will be quite good at LT and RT simply doesn't require that degree of draft capital.

I don't think it's necessarily worse through the top 20. I think the positional makeup is more balanced. I think it's a better draft at DT. I don't think it's as deep at OT. I don't think it's a really great draft either, to be honest. There are a handful of prospects that are better than some prospects in this class but that doesn't mean it increases the volume of quality prospects. In fact, I don't think it's going to present itself any differently in that regard.

I have no issues personally giving up draft capital for a guy you think is going to lock down your left side at a high level for the next decade. The only warts for Jones are in technique and those are easily fixable/attainable. His athletic ability is outstanding. He's a better prospect than Cross, Darrisaw, or Penning for me and those were my favorites the past couple of drafts.

Look, Taylor is a great fit at RT. I have reservations about the move to LT. I'm not pounding the table for KC to make a trade like this but I think its heavily on the table for Veach based on the amount of time they've spent with this kid and it's something he's talked about ("if we draft a LT..."). This is what I think it'd take to go up and get the guy and NE is always a potential trade partner.

I'm just as happy staying down at the bottom of the round for Gibbs or Hyatt, but if you want a blue-chip prospect at LT you have to go up and get one. There are only a couple of good ones next year too, then a couple of good RTs.

[DJ's left nut]

I mean ultimately I think we might HAVE a 'blue chip prospect' at LT who's entering the prime of his career.

So I guess that's the real disconnect. I see no need to be that aggressive at LT when I think Taylor can be a REALLY good one.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I mean ultimately I think we might HAVE a 'blue chip prospect' at LT who's entering the prime of his career.

So I guess that's the real disconnect. I see no need to be that aggressive at LT when I think Taylor can be a REALLY good one.

Up until this past season I wasn't convinced Taylor could ever be a really good RT, much less be really good at a position he's never played. So yeah, the disconnect between us on this point is quite large. Not saying you might not be correct, I'm just more than a little bit concerned with that arrangement.