A way-too-early 2023 mock draft for Kansas City Chiefs

With the KC Chiefs season in full swing, what are their positional needs for this offseason? Let’s do a 3-round 2023 mock draft for the KC Chiefs.

The 2022 NFL season is in full swing and the Kansas City Chiefs are aiming for another Super Bowl run. Amid the up-and-down start, the team has clear needs and is expected to have substantial capital for the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City. What would a 2023 draft potentially look like for the Chiefs? Mock drafts aren’t everyone’s thing but they are suitable for learning about the top prospects in the draft and which players to look out for when watching college football.

I performed a two-round mock draft and used the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator. The Chiefs were slotted in the 29th slot in the first round (losing in the AFC Championship) but picked 28th overall due to the Miami Dolphins being stripped of their 2023 first-round pick.

Here is an updated 2023 mock draft for the Chiefs:

I made my picks based on how the board fell in the simulation but I’m not sure if Gervon Dexter will be available late in the first round when the actual draft rolls around. Dexter has a great combination and size and athleticism as well as strength. He’s still developing how to use all of them to his advantage in pass rush situations, but if he can figure it out, he could be a star in the NFL.

Chris Jones’ future is also a question mark for the Chiefs so K.C. could draft an insurance policy. He is due a contract extension and his situation could play out similarly to Tyreek Hill’s last March. Even if Jones re-signs, Kansas City needs to add more pass rush talent to their defensive line. If Dexter reaches his ceiling and Kansas City keeps Chris Jones, then the Chiefs could be borderline unstoppable on the interior of the defensive line.

One of the flaws of the Kansas City Chiefs early in the season is the lack of a downfield playmaker and their wide receivers struggling to get open against half-decent secondaries. They need to solve that this offseason and Marvin Mims would go a long way. He’s an explosive playmaker, tracks deep balls well, and is great after the catch. He does lack the ideal size for an outside receiver and sometimes struggles to play through contact.

Mecole Hardman is a free agent after this season and Mims could be his replacement as well as a potential upgrade in the long term.

Almost no position in Kansas City has more variance in its long-term outlook than offensive tackle. Orlando Brown’s long-term status with the Chiefs is unclear, especially after his rocky start to the season, and the right tackle spot has many question marks. Brett Veach and Andy Reid may opt to bring in a fresh body with a relatively early draft pick rather than hope one of Andrew Wylie, Lucas Niang, and Darian Kinnard separates themselves from the pack.

Carter Warren is a strong pass-blocker and has great athleticism for his position. He could use some work in the running game and has had penalty issues in the past but he projects as a solid right, and maybe even left, tackle in the NFL.