The 2023 NFL Draft is just weeks away, and mock drafts are becoming a bigger part of the picture as teams like the Chiefs lock in on the specific prospects and positions they need to improve their roster. Even though they’re the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs still have plenty of ways they can improve their team by infusing their roster with some talented young players.
Note that this Chiefs mock draft was performed using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Machine. If the player was on the board when Kansas City was on the clock, they were fair game. Also note that trades were not included.
Seven-Round Kansas City Chiefs Mock Draft
First Round (31st Overall): Zay Flowers, WR
The Kansas City Chiefs need wide receivers, and need and talent perfectly overlap in this mock draft. Zay Flowers is a perfect fit for this team, as his great route running, deep speed, and ability to get separation make him a perfect fit for this offense. With Juju Smith-Schuster departed, Flowers should step in and be the top receiver on the depth chart from Day 1.
“Why do you like Zay Flowers so much?” pic.twitter.com/nsUymMcNBM
— PGS NEST (@NestPgs) April 4, 2023
Second Round (63rd Overall): Cody Mauch, OT
The Kansas City Chiefs lost both of their starting tackles in free agency, and their plans to replace the two aren’t exactly that encouraging. The team is hoping that career right tackle Jawaan Taylor can make the switch to the blindside, but they still don’t have an answer for right tackle. Right now, Lucas Niang would probably be the Week 1 starter, and he is highly unproven. The Chiefs should add more competition, and Cody Mauch is the man for the job. The North Dakota State product is quick on his feet and has experience along multiple offensive line positions, so even if he doesn’t win the starting job, he should provide invaluable depth.
Third Round (95th Overall): Daiyan Henley, LB
Daiyan Henley still has a lot to learn about the game of football, but his physical gifts justify a selection in this Chiefs mock draft. The Washington State product has the speed to chase down ball carriers on both sidelines and has plenty of potential in zone coverage. While he’ll probably start off as a depth player, he could easily turn into an above-average starter with the right coaching.
Fourth Round (122nd Overall): Sean Tucker, RB
Isiah Pacheco was fantastic as a rookie, but the Chiefs should invest in another player to split some of those carries. Sean Tucker has fantastic straight-line speed and runs with a fury that Kansas City was probably hoping they could find in Ronald Jones last year. Additionally, while he didn’t catch many passes in college, he did look good when targeted and could see a third-down role in the NFL.
Fourth Round (134th Overall): Nick Hampton, EDGE
If Nick Hampton were a few inches bigger and a couple pounds heavier, he’d probably be a Day 2 pick. However, as he is, the 6′-2″, 236-pound edge defender will probably have to settle for a role as a situational pass rusher unless he adds some serious muscle. That being said, having a guy that can get after the quarterback is well worth a fourth-round investment, especially when opposing offenses will be throwing the ball at a considerable rate to try and keep up with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense.
Fifth Round (166th Overall): Trey Dean, S
Trey Dean is not the fastest player in this mock draft, but the Chiefs can still find a spot for him on their roster. The Florida product is probably better off as a box safety, playing close to the line and covering tight ends and bigger slot receivers. While he might lack the speed to be a true deep safety, he’ll be a reliable sub-package player and special teams presence.
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Sixth Round (178th Overall): Mike Morris, EDGE
The Chiefs already drafted an edge defender, but at this point in the mock draft, you need to worry more about getting the best player available than a potential positional logjam, and that player is Mike Morris. Morris has the potential to play multiple positions along the defensive line, and while the consistency isn’t there, his tape does possess flashes of greatness. In a perfect world, Morris will spend most of his rookie season on the bench while the coaching staff works on bringing the best out of him.
Seventh Round (217th Overall): Aidan O’Connell, QB
Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the world, but the Chiefs do not have a Plan B in case disaster strikes. Chad Henne is retired, and right now the backup quarterback is Shane Buechele. Aidan O’Connell is good enough to surpasses Buechele, and his play style fits well with Andy Reid’s scheme. While he’s obviously no Patrick Mahomes, his ability to throw with anticipation and accuracy to the short part of the field is reminiscent of a poor mans’ Alex Smith.
Aidan O’Connell NFL Draft Profile
Seventh Round (249th Overall): Byron Young, DT
Much like Mike Morris, Byron Young is a very raw prospect with a few promising physical traits. While these traits will probably never develop into anything consistent, the talent it worth a seventh-round gamble. In a best-case scenario, the Kansas City Chiefs find a diamond in the rough in this 25-year-old defensive lineman.
Seventh Round (250th Overall): Charlie Thomas, LB
Charlie Thomas is not built like an NFL linebacker, nor does he possess the freakish athletic numbers to suggest that he might be an outlier based on his size. What he does have, however, is phenomenal instincts that allow him to get after the ball carrier and slip past blockers. While he probably won’t be a regular on defense, these skills should translate to make him a great special teams player.
