Chiefs headlines for Monday, April 21
The latest
NFL Draft power rankings: Which teams made best picks over past 5 years? | The Athletic
2. Kansas City Chiefs (9.46)
Total 50 picks: 5
Pro Bowls: 4
Starting seasons: 39
Best pick: C Creed Humphrey (No. 63, 2021); Worst pick: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (No. 32, 2020); Best value: G Trey Smith (No. 226, 2021)
No team has done more with less in recent drafts than the Chiefs, which consistently have picked toward the bottom of the first round. Humphrey (technically, the third center off the board in 2021) was one of the NFL’s best interior linemen by the end of his rookie season and remains so today.
What about a mock draft based solely on each NFL team’s most pressing need, however? That way we have a clear understanding of which positions all 32 clubs will — or should — be prioritizing come draft weekend? Fortunately, the ”With the First Pick” crew at CBS Sports decided to tackle just that.
Former Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon recently joined Ryan Wilson on the podcast to ”draft” top needs for each team, alternating selections in a first-round order based roughly on the degree, urgency and importance of each need. For example, clubs absolutely desperate for help at the game’s most important position — quarterback — tended to be addressed first.
Here’s the full breakdown of top needs identified in the mock:
Tennessee Titans: Quarterback
Cleveland Browns: Quarterback
Pittsburgh Steelers: Quarterback
Chicago Bears: Offensive tackle
New Orleans Saints: Quarterback
Las Vegas Raiders: Wide receiver
New England Patriots: Offensive line
Los Angeles Chargers: Defensive line
Houston Texans: Offensive line
Los Angeles Rams: Inside linebacker
Cincinnati Bengals: Edge rusher
Carolina Panthers: Edge rusher
Baltimore Ravens: Offensive line
Arizona Cardinals: Wide receiver
Miami Dolphins: Offensive line
Denver Broncos: Running back
Kansas City Chiefs: Offensive line
2025 NFL Draft: NFL Analyst Speaks on Potential Chiefs Pick | SI
Jeremiah was asked about the talent of offensive tackle Josh Simmons and whether or not he believed his lingering injury would affect him in any way. With the Kansas City Chiefs sitting at 31 overall, Simmons has consistently been linked as a potential high-value selection for the team and has landed in KC through numerous mock drafts.
“If you just watch his tape and put his pure talent up there against everybody in this class, he stacks up really well,” Jeremiah said. “I think he’ll be a ten-year starter. It’s just to me you’re going through the injury that he had and trying to navigate that. I wish-it would have been great to have him healthy the whole year, to see him play against the caliber of competition that they ended up going through. And I think he would have been-we probably would be talking about him more as a lock as a top-15 pick if that were the case. Talent-wise, yeah, no question. This guy has the ability to start in the NFL for a long time.”
Round 1 – Pick 31
Oregon • Jr • 6’5” / 311 lbs
The Eagles exposed the Chiefs’ offensive tackles in Super Bowl LIX. The 2024 All-Big Ten left tackle allowed the lowest quarterback pressure rate (1.6%) in the conference in 2024 (minimum 400 snaps) and surrendered just two sacks on 1,032 career pass-block snaps. Kansas City takes care of Patrick Mahomes here.
Around the NFL
Raiders GM John Spytek is believer in taking RB high in draft | ESPN
However, Spytek made it clear that he’s a strong believer in taking a running back high in the draft.
“I mean we just saw Saquon Barkley just change the Eagles in one year,” Spytek said during Friday’s predraft news conference. “…There’s certain ways to build a team, and I don’t know where we got to a place where we don’t feel like running backs are valued.
“I come from the University of Michigan, and those guys were certainly really valued there. So, it’s hard for me to get away from that.”
One teammate, in particular, has caught Williams’ eye: Keion White. Like Williams, the 26-year-old defensive end had his best season in 2024, making good on his second-round billing with 56 tackles, five sacks, five passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. He and Williams also share the ability to line up and effectively attack multiple gaps along the line, which should allow the duo to enact a world of chaos in the campaign ahead.
“Keion White, I see a lot of myself in him,” Williams said. “Just how he carries himself, how how he goes about his business, how he works. Similar body type. 6-4, 6-5, 280 (pounds), 290. Fast. Strong. Got everything in the toolbox to really line up wherever, having that versatility to play inside, outside. I pride myself on being able to do the same thing. So, I already told him, like, if we end up on the same side when it’s time to go rush, it’s gonna get nasty. It’s gonna get nasty for sure.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs’ Draft Scenario: What does a trade-up look like?
Round 1 (24): Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
Trade Details: 31, 95, 2026 4th Round pick via Kansas City to Minnesota
When identifying natural trade partners, the Vikings make the most sense. The Vikings have four total picks in this draft — 24, 97, 139, and 187. They will want to get more picks during the draft at some point.
For the trade package, I used the Rich Hill trade value chart to get a fair trade. The 24th pick is worth 237 points, while the 31st is worth 190. Pick 95 would get to the Chiefs to 230, so a Day 3 pick would make it equal value, but I included the 2026 4th as an extra premium to incentivize the Vikings to make this trade.
By getting to 24, we get above the Texans, Rams and Ravens, who all might look at offensive tackle as a need.
Now, why is Conerly worth trading up for? As this process has gone on, I’ve become higher on Conerly:
Conerly’s tape shows signs of high-end pass protection at left tackle. My favorite aspects of his game are his light feet and ability to get out of his stance. Conerly can vary his pass sets and is comfortable operating on an island. He does a great job mirroring his feet to the pass rusher, which keeps him in an optimal position and reduces the need for recovery. Conerly is an explosive, agile athlete I trust can hold up on an island.
Conerly is slightly undersized for an Andy Reid tackle — he comes in at 6’4 1/2, 311 lbs, and 33 1/2” arms. Reid typically likes arms above 34 inches, but in this class, it’s hard to find an athlete and pass protector of Conerly’s caliber who also has the length Reid desires. Beggars can’t be choosers.
One area Conerly needs to improve is his strength. Conerly doesn’t often get pushed around, which is encouraging, but as a run blocker, he doesn’t move people enough. He struggles on the front side of runs to move a defensive end, operating better on the backside. However, I think his age and frame suggest he can. Conerly is only 21 years old.
Conerly improved week-by-week, and I project high upside as a pass protector. The Chiefs would finally solve left tackle with this pick.
Social media to make you think
4 days away from more moments like these pic.twitter.com/4ldlmSlx7y
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 20, 2025
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