Kansas City Chiefs 7-round 2024 NFL Mock Draft v2.0: Post-NFL Scouting Combine edition

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, which means we're one step closer to the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit, Michigan, on April 25. This is our second full 7-round mock draft for the Kansas City Chiefs, but there is still a lot that will change with the roster in the next several […]

Charles Goldman NFL Managing Editor
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The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, which means we're one step closer to the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit, Michigan, on April 25.

This is our second full 7-round mock draft for the Kansas City Chiefs, but there is still a lot that will change with the roster in the next several weeks. The Chiefs still have the franchise tag deadline, compensatory picks being awarded, free agency, and pro day season ahead. It will all inform how they approach the draft in April.

To gauge player availability for this mock draft, multiple simulations were used. If players weren’t available at a specific pick with regularity, they were eliminated from contention at that spot. Typically, we see 8-12 players on the big board to choose from at a given pick.

The first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft are set, however, we'll have to wait until compensatory picks have been awarded to find out the exact picks for everything following Round 3. Once again, we went without trades in this mock draft, but Kansas City could tag-and-trade L'Jarius Sneed in the coming weeks to pick up some extra draft capital.

Without further delay, here’s a look at our mock draft version 2.0:

Round 1, Pick 32: Houston OT Patrick Paul

Offensive tackles are rarely viewed as the sexy pick, but they're often viewed as the correct pick when you get a good one.

The Chiefs aren't going to have a shot to land the upper-echelon tackles like Notre Dame's Joe Alt, Penn State's Olu Fashanu, Washington's Troy Fautanu, or Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't consider a player at this position in Round 1. Sure, you could roll into the 2024 NFL season with Wanya Morris as your starter if you're the Chiefs, but you'd feel a lot better about the position group with Paul in the fold long-term.

Listed at a hair under 6-foot-8 and 331 pounds with 36.25-inch arms, Paul ran a staggering 5.14s 40-yard dash with a 1.77s 10-yard split. That type of elite athleticism could help shut things down on Patrick Mahomes' blind side and solidify the left tackle position for the foreseeable future. Paul's 2.0% pressure rate in 2023 was the third-best among draft-eligible tackles, allowing just a single sack and nine total pressures all season long. 

The interest on the part of Kansas City is certainly there Chiefs are one of nine teams that Paul reported he had a formal meeting with at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. Paul told KPRC2 reporter Aaron Wilson that, "he had great conversations with coach Andy Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck."


Round 2, Pick 64: Michigan DT Kris Jenkins

Even if the Chiefs re-sign Chris Jones to a long-term deal, they need to invest in their interior defensive line in the draft. Players like Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton, Mike Danna, and Mike Pennel are expected to become free agents this offseason. Neil Farrell Jr., Isaiah Buggs, and Matt Dickerson are your interior D-Linemen as things currently stand.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 299 pounds, Jenkins is known for his elite athleticism. He landed at No. 6 in Bruce Feldman's Annual Freaks List ahead of the 2023 college football season and for good reason. At the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, his 4.91s 40-yard dash and 1.7s 10-yard split landed him with a 76th percentile speed score. 

Production will be the reason Jenkins doesn't go earlier in the 2024 NFL draft. He had just 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss during his college career, but his disruption went well beyond the box score. He had a pass rush win rate of 11% according to PFF, but that won't be where he makes his money in the NFL. His run defense is perhaps his biggest asset, as he boasts a run-stop win rate of 12.6% over the past three seasons. 


Round 3, Pick 95: Michigan WR Cornelius Johnson

Chiefs fans won't like it, but the depth of this receiver class means two things: 

1. Free agents at the position will be a little cheaper than anticipated. 

2. You can afford to wait and still get a top-tier contributor in the draft.

Johnson recorded 138 receptions for 2,038 yards and 14 touchdown receptions in five seasons at Michigan. He averaged around 15 yards per reception throughout his collegiate career, but his senior campaign saw him hit lows in yards per reception and touchdowns. Johnson is exceptional at winning deep when aligned outside and he only needs a little bit of separation to make things work. Contested catches aren't out of his wheelhouse given his size and he has value on the punt and kick return teams given his length and speed. 

The former Wolverine helped himself quite a bit with his performance at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. At nearly 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, Johnson posted a 4.45s 40-yard dash, which was a better time than many expected. Travis May's A to Z Sports Athletic Composite ranks Johnson in the 94th percentile among wide receivers dating back to 2000. 


Round 4: UConn EDGE Eric Watts

Just as the Chiefs need to continue to invest in the interior defensive line, they also need to keep investing in the edge rush depth. Mike Danna is slated to hit free agency. Charles Omenihu will be recovering from an ACL injury for part of the season. Guys like George Karlaftis, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, and BJ Thompson will be atop the rotation in 2024, but having a good rotation is key to keeping that position productive.

Watts has the type of athletic profile coaches will want to take a chance on once you reach Day 3. He measured 6-foot-6 and 274 pounds with 35.75-inch arms at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. He finished with a 79th percentile A to Z Sports Athletic Composite with his testing, posting a 94th percentile speed score and an 88th percentile burst score. At the 2024 Senior Bowl, Watts was able to show off that raw athleticism, converting his speed to power with ease. He appeared in 47 games in his collegiate career, recording 154 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, nine sacks, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a pass batted. 


Round 6: Washington TE Devin Culp

The Chiefs have shown some interest in this tight end class, which makes sense given that it's an aging position group for the team. Should they not be able to get one of the top prospects in the first two days, I could see them taking a flier on an athlete at the position on Day 3. Culp fits the mold, even if he's a bit smaller than Kansas City typically goes for at 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds. 

Culp may have posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among tight ends at the combine, but his production at the college level has been meager. He recorded just 67 catches for 711 yards and four touchdowns in four years at Washington. Culp, however, is regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the class. He's viewed as the prototypical Y tight end, but Andy Reid probably looks at him more as an H-back, with the ability to line up on the wings, in the backfield, in the slot or even blocking on the perimeter. 


Round 6: Purdue OW Tyrone Tracy Jr.

I'm giving Tracy Jr. the offensive weapon designation because he started his career at WR with Iowa before eventually switching to running back at Purdue. He can be whatever the Chiefs need him to be, including a kick return specialist. Last year, Tracy Jr. averaged a whopping 6.3 yards per carry on 113 attempts, leading the Boilermakers with nine total touchdowns. 

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine was fruitful for Tracy Jr., who posted a burst score in the 93rd percentile and a speed score in the 66th percentile. The problem is that he lacks high-end production and most recently played a position that the NFL has devalued. Kansas City can afford to bet on the athletic profile. Hopefully, it results in a skill set that can help spell Isiah Pacheco.