2023 NFL Mock Draft: KC Chiefs look at tackle Anton Harrison

Let’s try our hand at a new first-round mock draft to see who the Kansas City Chiefs should look at.

There’s only one game left on the books for the Kansas City Chiefs before a whole new set of questions, concerns, and narratives arrive for the franchise to address. The offseason will bring a vision of roster-building anew, one that can hopefully keep the Chiefs atop the AFC and dreaming of a fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons.

If the Chiefs are truly headed for dynasty territory, then this year’s NFL Draft will have a lot to say about it. With back-to-back drafts loaded with double-digit selections, general manager Brett Veach has a real chance to restock his depth for the next half-decade.

Last year, the Chiefs used their two first-round selections to take impact players on defense. They grabbed a lockdown cornerback in a trade up for Trent McDuffie, a corner out of Washington, and then stayed put to take Purdue pass rusher George Karlaftis, who came on strong at season’s end. This year, the Chiefs will hope to add another high-ceiling talent at an important position but there are a few options for where that investment might work best.

For our purposes in this mock, it felt like the right move to make was to stick in their given draft spot at No. 31 and take an offensive tackle: Oklahoma OL Anton Harrison.

Using the NFL Draft simulator over at Pro Football Network, the Chiefs were the fourth team to take an offensive tackle in the first round. It felt good to see only one taken in the first 18 picks or so, but it looked like a potential run could happen at No. 20-21 when tackles were taken back to back by the Seattle Seahawks and L.A. Chargers. Just like that, both Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski and Georgia’s Broderick Jones were off the board.

At that point, it would have made sense to try to trade up and grab a talent like Harrison but staying put rewarded the Chiefs’ patience since the run on tackles was short-lived. That left Harrison there for the taking before the end of the first round.

Harrison is a pro-ready prospect at left tackle with three years of starting experience in the Big 12. He was first-team all-Big 12 this year as a junior, and his frame is nice at 6’5, 315 lbs. Per PFF, he allowed only 1 sack and 8 hurries all season. Given what the Chiefs have seen from another lineman out of Oklahoma in Pro Bowler Creed Humphrey, the Chiefs know how well-coached the Sooners are overall and Harrison looks ready to be a solid pass blocker at the next level.

As for the need, the Chiefs have been waiting on Lucas Niang to show what he can do since drafting him back in 2020 and Orlando Brown Jr has desired a massive payday as a potential free agent. The Chiefs have decisions to make on both sides, along with what to do with Andrew Wylie as he hits free agency once again. The presence of a pick like Harrison would go a long way toward performance and security for the Chiefs going forward.