Five first-round quarterbacks are taken
The Chiefs have to know, when picking at No. 31 overall in the first round, that they are going to have to wait and watch the best and the brightest prospects graded on their own draft board are going to be announced before they can do anything about it. It’s what happens when you pick so late, and the Chiefs are actually used to this sort of position.
What will help a team like the Chiefs (and other contenders, to be fair) is for the league’s have-nots to fall in love with as many potential franchise quarterbacks as possible.
This year, the draft class features several quarterbacks who should warrant real first-round consideration and that’s good news for Brett Veach. Bryce Young of Alabama, C.J. Stroud of Ohio State, Anthony Richardson of Florida, and Will Levis of Kentucky are all popular picks to go in the first round—even at or near the very top of the draft order—which means that teams who already have their QB in place will see desirable targets fall down the board.
In a dream scenario, we also see Hendon Hooker, quarterback for Tennessee, included among the teams looking for QB help in the first round. That would mean five full draft slots would be taken by a position the Chiefs wouldn’t even consider taking so early. That would be huge for the talent pool available for K.C.