Kansas City Chiefs to host pair of Texas Longhorns on top-30 visits for entirely different reasons

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to host prospects on pre-draft visits with the 2024 NFL draft just days away.  According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs are hosting a pair of Texas Longhorns players on visits this week. On Monday, they'll visit with RB Jonathan Brooks. Later this week, they'll host DT T'Vondre Sweat.  […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor
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The Kansas City Chiefs continue to host prospects on pre-draft visits with the 2024 NFL draft just days away. 

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs are hosting a pair of Texas Longhorns players on visits this week. On Monday, they'll visit with RB Jonathan Brooks. Later this week, they'll host DT T'Vondre Sweat. 

Both players carry different questions heading into the draft that need answering. For Brooks, it's all related to his health as he suffered a torn ACL back in November. For Sweat, off-the-field concerns are a major problem. He was arrested in early April on a DWI charge. 

What is a top-30 visit?

NFL teams are allotted 30 pre-draft visits with prospects at team facilities. These visits happen with different goals in mind as part of the pre-draft fact-gathering process. Teams will bring in players with injury history, character concerns, or other goals in mind as they seek to finalize their board for the upcoming draft.

The Chiefs use their top 30 visits in several different ways, but it almost always indicates that they have some level of interest in a prospect. Often they'll bring in players who are expected to be priority free agents, to convince them to sign with the team after the draft. Players who are expected to be drafted are also among pre-draft visits. Just last season Kansas City hosted a pair of their draft picks (Rashee Rice & BJ Thompson) on top-30 visits.

How does RB Jonathan Brooks fit with the Chiefs?

Brooks was en route to a historic season in 2024 before he suffered a season-ending ACL injury, with 1,139 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, plus 25 catches for 286 yards and a receiving touchdown. It was disappointing to see him injured before the season concluded because it was his first year carrying the load for the Longhorns after playing behind players like Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson.

While there is some projection given Brooks' injury and lack of production in his early years at Texas, there is one area where he excelled that'd make him an instant asset for the Chiefs. He's one of the best pass-blocking running backs in this class. He didn't allow a single pressure in pass protection in the 2023 college football season. With Jerick McKinnon not yet re-signed, this is a role that K.C. still needs to fill. 

Running back might not be viewed as the biggest need, but the Chiefs do need to find a back with some long-term potential as a complement and maybe even eventual successor to Isiah Pacheco. Remember, Pacheco is only under contract for two more years and they could serve to improve that position group behind him. If you don't manage that in the 2024 NFL draft, you could see Clyde Edwards-Helaire or La'Mical Perine playing significant snaps this season. 

How does DT T'Vondre Sweat fit with the Chiefs?

The Chiefs have been searching for a long-term solution at the defensive tackle position opposite Chris Jones. They even explored Sweat's former UT teammate, selecting Texas DL Keondre Coburn with pick No. 194 in the 2023 NFL draft. Coburn, of course, landed elsewhere after he was claimed on waivers. 

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 367 pounds, Sweat has the body type that can really anchor an entire run game. He's not going to give much ground in the passing game and he's tough for a single offensive lineman to handle in any regard. Disruption is the name of the game for Sweat as he managed 17.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, and 14 passes batted during his career at Texas. 

Off-field concerns are the major reason for this pre-draft visit here. Consider this excerpt from Dane Brugler's annual draft manifesto, "The Beast."

"Improved maturity during the 2023 season but was labeled a “party animal” and “class clown” as an underclassman by NFL scouts, who also questioned his commitment to becoming the best player he could be … converted some doubters after adopting more of a professional mentality in 2023 but was arrested and charged with DWI, just weeks before the draft (April 2024)."

Andy Reid has been known as a coach to give players second chances, but it feels like the optics wouldn't be particularly great on this one no matter how you dice it.

Other visits so far:

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