Ranking the KC Chiefs biggest needs before the 2021 NFL Draft

Just a few days ago, anyone in Chiefs Kingdom would have said that the team had multiple concerns on the roster of varying degrees—like any other NFL franchise—but only one glaring hole on the roster at left tackle. While it’s also true that the K.C. Chiefs need help at myriad other positions, the complete breakdown in protection against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV combined with the lack of any obvious starter at the position had many in a near-panic despite the regular season being several months away.

That is, until the Chiefs traded for a two-time Pro Bowler named Orlando Brown.

In the wake of the trade for Brown, the Chiefs can now enter the 2021 NFL Draft without a single pressing need. Yes, there’s cause for concern at multiple levels but the team can relax a bit, knowing there’s talent across the board at every position with plenty of time to make roster moves to cover those areas. While free agency has dried up a bit, there are still multiple solid players remaining and the Chiefs have six picks to make in the draft.

At this point, the Chiefs can afford to let the draft fall to them and take the best player available at each spot. Brett Veach even told reporters the same thing the other day, even before the trade for Brown, that anything is open to them except for quarterback. That means fans should expect a handful of impressive young players to find their way to Arrowhead in the next week via the draft, and that some of those players are likely to help in any remaining roster spots about which fans still are nervous.

But what are those spots? Where are fans still hoping the Chiefs might address a need sooner than later? Let’s take a look at the biggest remaining needs on the roster, in order of where we perceive them to be a concern.

1. Defensive end

You could start with Frank Clark at the defensive end position, but even that’s gong to be the first entry on a list of concerns for many fans. The fact that Clark has been paid $20 million per season in K.C. for a so-far inconsistent pass rush is disconcerting as it is, but the lack of bodies opposite/around him is only going to make his production even worse. Fortunately the offseason is long and there are moves to be made here.

At this point, the Chiefs have brought back Taco Charlton out of a trio of Charlton, Tanoh Kpassagnon, and Alex Okafor who hit free agency. Okafor is still out there and available, although a reunion feels completely off the table. Kpassagnon went to New Orleans to play for Sean Payton on a two-year deal. That leaves Charlton, Mike Danna, Tim Ward, and Demone Harris

A couple things help here: First, Chris Jones can kick outside on pass rushing downs on occasion because, second, the Chiefs signed Jarran Reed to bolster the interior. While the end position seems perilously thin, the interior is the exact opposite, with plenty of competition for rotational spots behind Jones and Reed. Expect Khalen Saunders, Derrick Nnadi, Turk Wharton and Tyler Clark to really push one another there.

Still the Chiefs have to do something here and that’s likely going to mean a draft pick and a veteran signing. Melvin Ingram visited the team a month ago and remains quiet in free agency, so maybe a deal is there waiting for him post-draft? Or the Chiefs could kick the tires on other options in free agency like Ryan Kerrigan, Justin Houston or Everson Griffen. Either way, the Chiefs are going to import a couple more players here given their Super Bowl ambitions.