Early consensus for Chiefs' 2025 first-round draft pick grows with NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah's latest mock draft
With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine rapidly approaching, the focus around the league quickly switches to the 2025 NFL draft.The Kansas City Chiefs' most significant need became apparent after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. They must finally fix the problem that has persisted since the AFC Championship Game of the 2020 NFL […]
With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine rapidly approaching, the focus around the league quickly switches to the 2025 NFL draft.
The Kansas City Chiefs' most significant need became apparent after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. They must finally fix the problem that has persisted since the AFC Championship Game of the 2020 NFL season, investing heavily in finding a long-term solution at left tackle.
There's already a growing consensus on who Kansas City should select with the 31st pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft; according to the NFL Mock Draft Database, over 5% of mock drafts send Oregon LT Josh Conerly Jr. to the Chiefs in Round 1.
Recent mock drafts send Oregon LT Josh Conerly Jr. to the Chiefs
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah agrees, sending Conerly to K.C. in his latest mock draft.
"The Chiefs must address the left tackle spot in free agency or the draft. In this scenario, they find a match in Conerly," Jeremiah wrote.
He expanded on the selection in the Move The Sticks podcast.
"I mentioned it, teased it. Josh Conerly, the tackle, goes to the Kansas City Chiefs," Jeremiah said. "Everybody is going to focus on the one bad rep against Mike Green at the Senior Bowl where he got flat-backed. It wasn't that bad the whole week. I'm not quite as high on him as some other people are. But if you're desperate, and watching that Super Bowl would lead you to believe they're pretty desperate to upgrade the left tackle position, Josh Conerly, to me, is a much better player than Kingsley Suamataia coming out of BYU, who they took last year. You've got to upgrade."
A to Z Sports' Adam Holt also recently sent Conerly to Kansas City in his first-round mock draft.
"Patrick Mahomes ran for his life for a lot of Super Bowl LIX. Offensive tackle has been a spot where KC has placed a band-aid for much of the past couple of seasons, but that cannot be the case entering next season. Conerly is an OL prospect who performed better at the Senior Bowl than many think." – Adam Holt
Charles Goldman's take on Oregon LT Josh Conerly Jr.
You can see Conerly's athletic ability oozing in every rep, which is no surprise for a former high school running back turned left tackle. His footwork, kick slide, and ability to move in space are superb. He allowed just two sacks his entire collegiate career, which is impressive when you consider the pass-rushers he's faced. He also improved throughout the 2024 campaign and was a big part of why Oregon carried a No. 1 ranking into the college football playoff.
What you're not getting with Conerly are the size benchmarks; he won't be the biggest, heaviest, or most well-built offensive tackle in this draft class. He measured 6 foot-4 and 313 pounds during Senior Bowl weigh-ins. There were times at the Senior Bowl, like the repetition against Marshall DE Mike Green, when those deficiencies were apparent. He won't be the best anchoring against power and bullrushes right away, but few late Day 1 offensive tackles are ready for that off the jump.
I have some pause on this pick because of Daniel Jeremiah's comments about desperation. Everyone knows the Chiefs must devise a plan for the left tackle position, either in free agency or the 2025 NFL draft. You don't want to reach for a player out of desperation, but ensure you're getting the right player for your football team. I agree that Conerly Jr. is the better player out of Oregon than Suamataia out of BYU. But I'm not yet convinced that he's the one who can finally fix the problem for Kansas City. Good thing he has a chance to boost his stock just next week. . .
Chiefs’ pending free agent Trey Smith could become Kansas City’s first player in 20 years to receive rarely-used transition tag
The Kansas City Chiefs could use the transition tag for the second time in franchise history.
