Kansas City Chiefs 7-round 2024 NFL Mock Draft v4.0: What if KC misses on WR, OT with 32nd pick?
We're just a few weeks away from the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit, Michigan, on April 25.This marks our fourth full 7-round mock draft for the Kansas City Chiefs, and we've still got a few more scenarios to work through. The Chiefs recently spent some of their newly-acquired salary cap space from the L'Jarius Sneed […]
We're just a few weeks away from the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit, Michigan, on April 25.
This marks our fourth full 7-round mock draft for the Kansas City Chiefs, and we've still got a few more scenarios to work through. The Chiefs recently spent some of their newly-acquired salary cap space from the L'Jarius Sneed trade to sign backup QB Carson Wentz and re-sign RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire and DE Mike Danna. They still have some more moves left in them, but they'll likely hold off until after the draft to fill some more specific needs.
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, with more players available in the later rounds based on our custom 350-player big board.
In this particular mock draft, I challenged myself by removing the two positions considered the Chiefs' biggest need from the big board at pick No. 32. If both wide receiver and offensive tackle aren't an option at that choice, absent a trade up and a trade down, what direction could GM Brett Veach go? That's what we sought to find out.
Without further delay, here’s a look at our mock draft version 4.0:
Round 1: No. 32 overall: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
I know this wouldn't be the most popular move initially, but I think it'd grow on people because the logic behind the pick is sound. In my recent mock draft simulations, the team missed out on all of the top-tier wide receiver and offensive tackle prospects. I also couldn't facilitate a trade-up, which was the same situation Kansas City ran into a year ago. Absent an option at WR and OT that I felt comfortable with, I opted to take Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry.
In this scenario, McKinstry is the fourth corner off the board after Terrion Arnold, Quniyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean. Instead of reaching or taking a player at a non-premium position (linebacker, safety, running back), I kept investing in the secondary's biggest strength. It might be a tough pill to swallow after trading away L'Jarius Sneed, but you're always going to need to get younger and cheaper at several positions during the life of Patrick Mahomes' contract.
Yes, the Chiefs have Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, Nazeeh Johnson, Nic Jones and Ekow Boye-Doe in the room. They could probably go into the 2024 NFL season without making another addition at the cornerback position and be just fine. But this is the type of move that raises the ceiling of that group substantially.
As for the prospect, McKinstry is a cater-made Steve Spagnuolo perimeter cornerback. He has the prototypical size at 6-foot and 199 pounds, boasting long arms and quick hips. He's heady and zone-aware, physical in press coverage and the run game, and he can get into the backfield at times. He has five career tackles for loss and two career sacks.
The ball production isn't the best for McKinstry with just two interceptions and 25 passes defended in 42 career games played, but keep in mind that he was playing in the SEC where the competition is at its height in college football. He did a great job in coverage just a season ago with just 19 receptions allowed on 39 targets. In each of the last three seasons, he's allowed just a single touchdown in coverage and that's while playing a higher percentage of zone than man coverage.
Another bonus for McKinstry is that he has punt return experience, with 35 punts returned for 418 yards during his career. Dave Toub would like to have that option in his back pocket on a rainy day.
Round 2: No. 64 overall: Washington WR Ja'Lynn Polk
If the Chiefs wait to snag a receiver until Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft, Polk feels like a great option for the team. The 22-year-old is listed at 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds and he's proven to be capable of winning all over the field. He has 612 snaps out wide and 380 snaps in the slot over the past three seasons.
Polk recorded 69 receptions for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023 in an offense featuring receivers Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. One thing that Chiefs fans will love about Polk is that he played in an offense that often used multi-receiver sets, requiring good route spacing and depth from its players. He's also zone-aware and knows how to find the soft spaces in coverage should his quarterback need to improvise.
Another thing to like is his body control and his ability to adjust to make a reception. He made several acrobatic catches throughout his career at Washington in tight coverage and the red zone.
A slight thread that may connect Polk to the Chiefs more than some other Day 2 prospects? He grew up in Lufkin, Texas, and started his college career as a Texas Tech Red Raider. That's the alma mater of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, and Lufkin is just 1.5 hours from Mahomes' hometown.
Round 3: No. 95 overall: Boston College OL Christian Mahogany
You might be thinking: "Why invest in a guard this early?"
Well, the Chiefs have some serious decisions ahead of them in 2025 NFL free agency period. It's very possible that both Trey Smith and Joe Thuney are playing for different teams in 2025. It's wise for Brett Veach to prepare for that reality now, while also acquiring that sixth man on the offensive line to replace Nick Allegretti in the interim. Without having that type of player on the roster, the Chiefs might not win the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LVIII this last year.
Mahogany has 34 career starts at left and right guard during his three-year career at Boston College in a run-heavy scheme. Yet, his most impressive stat is that he finished his final season without allowing a single sack or hit on his quarterback in 394 pass-blocking snaps in 2023. You'll recognize his unique brand of physicality in the run game, as it's not dissimilar from what Chiefs fans see with Trey Smith right now. He likes to stack up pancakes in the run game.
Mahogany has took a top-30 visit with Kansas City on April 9 and just last year the team drafted two players from the list of those who visited the team.
Round 4: No. 131 overall: Virginia WR Malik Washington
If the Chiefs don't move up for a wide receiver or target one in the first round, I wouldn't be surprised to see them double-dip and grab players with vastly different skill sets. Washington is one of the best slot receivers in the 2024 NFL draft class, with nearly 1,000 snaps aligned in the slot over the past three seasons.
In 2023 with Virginia, Washington appeared in 12 games with 11 started. He earned First-team All-ACC honors after leading the FBS with 110 receptions for 1,426 yards, and nine receiving touchdowns. He's elusive with the ball in his hands, forcing 20 missed tackles on the season and racking up 707 of his receiving yards after the catch.
Washington is one of the more underrated prospects in this draft class and I think a lot of it is because of his diminutive size. It just might not be the bad thing it's made out to be among the draft community. At 5-foot-8.5 and 191 pounds, he ranks in the 91st percentile in terms of his body mass index. That's a better mark than former Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill when he entered the league. He might not have that same breakaway speed that a player like Hill has, but he still posted an impressive 4.4s 40-yard dash time with a 1.53s 10-yard split. Also, there's the fact that he leaped a 42.5-inch vertical. When you've got hops like that, your height might not matter all that much.
Round 5: No. 159 overall: FSU DT Fabien Lovett
Lovett is an older prospect, entering the NFL at 24 years old after spending two years at Mississippi State before transferring to Florida State. It's the main reason that he might find himself available on Day 3 of the draft. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 318 pounds, Lovett is a disruptive presence in the trenches whether he's playing the run or the pass. He uses his strength, length (35.5-inch arms), and sturdy base to make life difficult on the offensive interior. Those long arms particularly help him stack and shed offensive linemen.
Lovett recorded 74 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, four passes batted, and two forced fumbles in 39 games with the Seminoles. He added another 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one sack with the Bulldogs.
The Chiefs held a private workout with Lovett ahead of the 2024 NFL draft according to Sportskeeda's Tony Pauline. With so many one-year deals on the interior defensive line, investing in a player who can help anchor the rotation long-term might be a wise move. His Mississippi State and FSU ties might make him a good fit for an interior D-Line room that features Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi.
Round 5: No. 173 overall (compensatory): Michigan OT LaDarius Henderson
If the Chiefs miss out on an offensive tackle on Day 1 and Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft, Henderson might have the most potential out of any player expected to be available on Day 3. He played left guard at Arizona State, but In 2023, Henderson was first-team All-Big Ten as the left tackle for the National Champion Michigan Wolverines.
At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Henderson plays with a mean streak in the run game. He can move blockers off their spot and he's exceptional at creating lanes as a pulling blocker. If he plays tackle at the next level, it'll probably be on the right side of the offensive line, and he'll need some development as a pass-blocker.
In 2023, Henderson allowed 31 pressures as Michigan's left tackle, including two sacks on J.J. McCarthy. In the two years prior as the starting left guard for the Sun Devils, Henderson allowed just 12 total pressures and two sacks. He has over 1,000 career snaps in the NCAA and he's only 21 years old, so he has a great combination of college experience and youth heading into the NFL.
Round 7: No. 221 overall: Marshall RB Rasheen Ali
Ali probably would be regarded higher as a prospect if he weren't coming off a biceps injury, but he can certainly be lightning in a bottle for the Chiefs' offense. He's a threat to break a long run every time he touches the ball, with elite speed and acceleration. At just 205 pounds, he's not the strongest when it comes to running through contact, but give him daylight and he can make a little go a long way.
Kansas City brought in Ali for a top-30 visit, so they appear to be doing the necessary homework on this prospect, especially given the injury.
Tracking Chiefs’ top-30 visits, prospect meetings ahead of the 2024 NFL draft
Keep track of the Kansas City Chiefs’ pre-draft prospects interests from All-Star games, the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, and top-30 visits.
