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Chiefs 2023 NFL Draft: KC bolsters trenches in five-round mock

By Lucas Strozinsky

Mar 1, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 8, 2022; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (3) catches a touchdown pass against the Louisville Cardinals during the first quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2022; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (3) catches a touchdown pass against the Louisville Cardinals during the first quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Even if the Chiefs extend Chris Jones this offseason, they still need to add talent all over the defensive line, including the interior. Khalen Saunders, Derrick Nnadi, and Brandon Williams are all scheduled to be unrestricted free agents and the team could use some fresh blood at the position.

Calijah Kancey was an elite pass rusher at Pittsburgh, racking up seven sacks and 47 pressures this season in only 275 pass-rushing snaps. He’s not the most physically gifted defensive lineman, as he’s only 280 pounds, but he’s a great pass rusher who was also solid against the run. He likely won’t be an every-down player early in his career, but he should play on obvious passing plays and will benefit by playing next to Chris Jones. He’s a better pass-rusher than Saunders and Nnadi coming out of school, so I’d have higher expectations for him than I did the other two.

The Chiefs’ wide receiver room could (again) see significant changes. JuJu Smith-Schuster should be retained, but is a free agent, along with Mecole Hardman and Justin Watson. The only receivers signed for 2023 are Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, and Justyn Ross. I’d let Hardman walk and re-sign Smith-Schuster. I’d also consider releasing MVS since that would create $7 million in cap space.

The Chiefs can never have too many wide receivers for Patrick Mahomes. When a team has an elite passing game, they need to constantly keep bringing in receiving talent to ensure the depth is solid. Even if JuJu is re-signed and MVS sticks around, they should still draft another young player this April.

Dontayvion Wicks is an MVS clone, in my opinion. He has great speed and decent size but struggles with drops and is limited after the catch. He also has a strong release and the competitive toughness to last in the NFL. If the Chiefs want to move on from MVS, they could draft Wicks in the fourth round and he would only cost a little under $4.5M in total over four seasons. They would end up getting a similar quality of play and production for a fraction of the cost.

Even if MVS is brought back, Wicks would also be a great fit on special teams early in his career given his athleticism and toughness.

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