Legendary ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper's latest mock draft includes a reach and a steal for the Chiefs
With just 15 days to go until the 2024 NFL draft, legendary ESPN draftnik Mel Kiper Jr. has released a final two-round mock draft. For comparison's sake, last year Kiper had the Kansas City Chiefs select Iowa State Will McDonald IV (Jets) in Round 1 and Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims (Broncos) in Round 2. So, he […]
With just 15 days to go until the 2024 NFL draft, legendary ESPN draftnik Mel Kiper Jr. has released a final two-round mock draft.
For comparison's sake, last year Kiper had the Kansas City Chiefs select Iowa State Will McDonald IV (Jets) in Round 1 and Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims (Broncos) in Round 2. So, he got the positions right for Kansas City, but he was off on the players. His decisions for the Chiefs this year were a bit of a mixed bag. He certainly addressed the two biggest needs of the team, but not without reaching in a big way in the first round.
Let's dive in.
Round 1, Pick 32: South Carolina WR Xavier Legette
"Another mock draft, another wideout connected with Chiefs to end Round 1. Legette made a leap in 2023, putting up 1,255 receiving yards with seven touchdowns. He had just 167 yards in the entire 2022 season. He then ran an eye-popping 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the combine, solidifying himself among the top 10 prospects at his position. Kansas City added Marquise Brown but needs to add more pass-catchers this offseason." – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
With each of Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Adonai Mitchell, and Xavier Worthy being selected ahead of pick No. 32, the Chiefs are left to reach for Legette. Kiper is betting on the athletic traits and his one year of production for the Gamecocks, but make no mistake this is a pretty risky first-round selection. In a mock draft that includes trades, I wonder if a trade down out of the first round was entertained.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler just ranked Legette with a third-round grade and his 14th overall receiver prospect in his annual draft opus dubbed, "The Beast." Most consensus big boards have him in the late second-round and early third-round range as well. That's not to say that Legette isn't a good player, but I think you'd feel much better selecting him in the middle of the second round than the bottom of the first round.
Round 2, Pick 64: BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia
"With 2023 starter Donovan Smith unsigned, the Chiefs have Wanya Morris at left tackle but not much else. They should bring in competition. Suamataia, my No. 9 OT in this class, took snaps at both left and right tackle in college, but he made huge strides while playing on the left side last season. He's strong and quick, and he has the feet to get to the second level in the run game." – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
Whereas the selection of Legette was clearly a bit of a reach at a position of need, this move feels a lot closer to a steal. The Athletic's Dane Brugler just ranked Suamataia as his No. 7 offensive tackle in the 2024 NFL draft, giving him a high second-round grade.
Suamataia is a popular choice for the Chiefs' first-round pick in recent mock drafts as well, and it's understandable why. The BYU Cougar is an elite athlete with 34 1/8-inch arms, who has experience playing both left and right tackle in college. He looks like the type who could develop into a long-term option at left tackle and even compete for the job outright in 2024. You're already winning if you can get that type of prospect at any point in the draft beyond the first round.
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