Three players the Kansas City Chiefs need to watch during the 2024 NFL Draft Combine this week
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of their more important drafts coming up this offseason. Sure, it feels like we say that every year now, but if they want to be the first team to have a three-peat, they must get the draft right.Last season's draft class wasn't quite as good as the one before […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of their more important drafts coming up this offseason. Sure, it feels like we say that every year now, but if they want to be the first team to have a three-peat, they must get the draft right.
Last season's draft class wasn't quite as good as the one before it, but that's a pretty high standard; they were able to produce and even make huge plays during the playoffs. Sure, Rashee Rice was among the few rookies to do it all year, but even guys like Felix Anudike-Uzomah made plays in the postseason.
Now they have to fund guys to fill the new potential voids they may have, such as linebacker with Willie Gay Jr. gone and wide receiver; as we all know, that position group needs help. The Chiefs will be picking last in the first round again, which isn't bad.
This week, the NFL Draft Combine is happening in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chiefs will have coaches and scouts in attendance to watch some of the prospects from this draft. Here are three players they need to be watching:
Three NFL prospects for Chiefs to watch at Combine
WR. Keon Coleman, Florida State
Coleman had a pretty decent year at Florida State, but what gets him as high as he is on the 2024 NFL Draft board is his size. You cannot teach size, and he is as physical as they come. The Chiefs obviously need help in the wide receiver room, and Coleman wouldn't be a bad fit. At 6'4" and 215, he is NFL-ready.
A to Z Sports' Big Board has him as the 33rd-best prospect in the draft, but he could easily go earlier or later, depending on what teams need. His best attributes are his dominant, contested target with strong hands & excellent play strength, and subtle hand usage at the catch point to disarm corners and keep himself clean. Wide receivers work on Friday.
OT. Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
The Chiefs had a tackle issue last season. Jawaan Taylor didn't give up a ton of sacks, but he was penalized more than he would have liked. As for Donovan Smith, he just wasn't that good. However, there is a reason he was put on a one-year deal. Now, the Chiefs have a decision to make regarding Smith. Do they bring him back, or do they let him walk, draft a tackle, or fill in Wanya Morris or Lucas Niang into that spot? They could even move Taylor over to left tackle if they wanted to.
That's why drafting a tackle may not be a bad idea. They will likely go for a tackle later in the draft anyway, so, with this team, you cannot rule out the Chiefs getting one with their first pick. A to Z Sports' Big Board has Guyton as the 27th-best player in the draft, and he could fall to the Chiefs. That would be their second Oklahoma tackle taken in two years. The offensive line works out on Saturday and Sunday.
DT. Kris Jenkins, Michigan
Even if Chris Jones does come back, the Chiefs need to get better in the middle of their defensive line. Mike Pennell stepped up in a huge way in the Super Bowl and was probably an unsung hero. However, he is a free agent, and there is no certainty he will be back. There is also the issue that he doesn't play like that every game. With the defensive line situation, the Chiefs are in, it wouldn't be a bad idea to attack the draft with a defensive tackle on the mind.
Kris Jenkins, from Michigan, is one of the more underrated prospects in this draft. He dominated the College Football playoffs as Michigan went on to win the entire thing. A to Z Sports' Big Board has him as the 55th-best prospect, so the Chiefs could find a way to grab him. He has all of the tools the Chiefs like in a defensive tackle not named Chris Jones. He is a bit undersized, but his athleticism makes up for most of that. The defensive linemen work out on Wednesday.
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