Chiefs 7-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Charles Omenihu's return allows Brett Veach to take some risks
The Kansas City Chiefs' latest move in free agency is the icing on top of the cake that truly set themselves up to select the best player available in the 2025 NFL draft. According to multiple reports, the Chiefs re-signed DE Charles Omenihu on a one-year deal, marking his third consecutive season in Kansas City. […]
The Kansas City Chiefs' latest move in free agency is the icing on top of the cake that truly set themselves up to select the best player available in the 2025 NFL draft.
According to multiple reports, the Chiefs re-signed DE Charles Omenihu on a one-year deal, marking his third consecutive season in Kansas City. This will give him another shot after appearing in just nine combined regular-season and postseason games in 2024 after returning from an ACL injury.
This move improves the offseason roster in a way that the team can confidently field a competitive team in Week 1 without making any new additions. That means the Chiefs don't need to reach out of need and can truly take the best player available on their draft board in any given round. It also means Brett Veach can take a few more risks when adding players with character concerns or a longer developmental path.
With that thought in mind, here's a look at how the 2025 NFL draft could shake out for Kansas City.
31. Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen
Nolen is perhaps one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2025 NFL draft class. He has the tape and profile of a player who has top-15 talent, but some character concerns have followed him around since high school. He's likely been able to put some of those concerns to rest in pre-draft meetings with teams, but it's still a red flag and one that could see him drop into draftable range for Kansas City.
What would the Chiefs be getting in the player? At 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds, he's a twitched-up, lightning-quick, gap-shooting defensive lineman best suited at three-technique. He is relentless in rushing the passer and playing the run, with 72 stops and 67 pressures in three college football seasons. In 13 games with the Rebels in 2024, Nolen recorded 48 total tackles, 14 for loss, three batted passes, two fumble recoveries, and 6.5 sacks. If there's one criticism of his game, it's that he can sometimes get a little out of control and off-balance in his pass rush.
Why do you take this risk if you're Brett Veach? Nolen is only 21 years old and has a really high ceiling, given that he's already a great run defender. Pair him with a player like Chris Jones, and you can make things really difficult for opposing offenses because both can handle the double team and win quickly one-on-one.
63. Ohio State EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau
Even with Charles Omenihu's return, the Chiefs could add an infusion of youth to their edge rush. In addition to Omenihu, George Karlaftis and BJ Thompson are slated to become free agents in 2026. Preparing for any eventual departures early will pay dividends.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds with 33.5-inch arms, Tuimoloau has the features of the prototypical Steve Spagnuolo power rusher. He finished the 2024 college football season with 61 total tackles, 22 for loss, 12.5 sacks, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. He led a decorated collegiate career with three First-Team All-Big 10 honors and a College Football Playoff title. A lot of that success is fueled by his relentless effort and pursuit of the ball carrier. He's one of those players with a knack for showing up and making a big play in the most significant moments.
66. Texas OT Cameron Williams
Williams is a prospect the Chiefs had a formal meeting with at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, and he revealed that he got along well with OL coach Andy Heck. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds with 35-inch arms, Williams has the size, traits, and athleticism to excel in the Chiefs' system. He's a one-year starter at right tackle, but also dealt with injuries that hampered his success.
While he's not a plug-and-play starter, Kansas City could make this pick with the future in mind. In 2026, Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor could be a salary cap casualty. At worst, adding a player like Williams a year in advance could give him a year in the system to learn and prepare for a role either as a starter or a swing tackle. At best, he impresses early and contributes quicker than anticipated.
95. UCF RB RJ Harvey
The Chiefs were very high on Bucky Irving last year, but he went to the Bucs with just seven selections before they came on the clock in Round 4. RJ Harvey seems like he could be that same type of player for them in 2025, but I'm not sure they can wait until Round 4 to get him.
At 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds, he's a bit of a change-up to what the Chiefs already have in Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and Elijah Mitchell. Don't mistake his lack of size for a lack of physicality because he runs hard and finishes plays with the best of them. Over the past three seasons at UCF, he's amassed over 4500 total yards with over 600 touches and 47 total touchdowns. He's averaged over a touchdown per game in the 38 games he played for the Knights. If what he showed at UCF wasn't enough, Harvey's speed and explosion were fully displayed at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine after he posted a 4.41s 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical, and a 127-inch broad jump.
132. Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane
At 5-foot-9 and 181 pounds, Lane is not the big X receiver that Chiefs fans still crave for this offense. What he can be is another explosive playmaker to pair with Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown. Lane's production at Virginia Tech over the past two seasons was hardly elite, with 79 catches for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns. However, he's proven to be an elite athlete in the pre-draft process. He earned a 97th percentile A to Z Sports Composite Score at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine after posting a 4.34s 40-yard dash, a 40-inch vertical, a 127-inch broad jump, a 4.12s short shuttle, and a 6.75s three-cone.
226. Georgia DT Warren Brinson
Brinson is probably one of the more underrated interior defensive linemen in this class. His production in five years at Georgia wasn't superb, with 71 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six sacks, a pass batted, and a fumble recovery. He quietly had a really nice performance at the UGA Pro Day with a 31-inch vertical jump and a 115-inch broad jump at 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds. His tape will ultimately get him drafted, showcasing strong hands, power, and technique. He's proven capable of stacking and shedding blockers in the run game in the SEC. He can two-gap and win one-on-one matchups.
251. Fresno State S Dean Clark
The Chiefs could use another body in the safety room. At 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds, Clark is a tremendous athlete. At his pro day, Clark posted a 4.48s 40-yard dash, a 41-inch vertical, a 132-inch broad jump, a 4.13s short shuttle, a 7.12s three-cone, and 18 repetitions of 225 on the bench press. He's a smart player, which shows up on film beyond simply wearing the green dot for the Fresno defense. He can play deep, in the box, in the slot, and more. He has the makings of a multi-phase special teamer and perhaps a future starting safety in the league.
257. Montana St. OL Marcus Wehr
A small schooler who has played right guard and right tackle over the past three seasons without allowing a single sack? Color me intrigued. Wehr earned consensus First Team All-American and All-Big Sky honors in 2024. He got some repetitions at left and right guard at the East-West Shrine Game and stood out, but he didn't earn an invite to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. He's a little undersized for what the Chiefs like at guard at just under 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, but he feels like someone who can raise the floor of the offensive line room in the late rounds.
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