Best players remaining for KC Chiefs after NFL Draft Day 1

With Round 1 in the books, let’s take a look at the best players available on Day 2 for the Kansas City Chiefs and their needs.

With the first round of the 2023 NFL officially closed, the attention for NFL faithful and general managers alike now turn to Day 2, where another two full rounds worth of players (and the first compensatory selections) will be taken and a handful of teams will even make their initial selections after sitting out the first round.

The Kansas City Chiefs made their pick at the very bottom of the first round after flirting with moving up. The Chiefs were rumored as a strong trade-up candidate leading up to the draft, and post-draft rumors even had them chatting in a failed deal with the Dallas Cowboys at No. 26. That said, they stayed put and still got a strong addition—literally—to the defensive end room in Kansas State pass rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

Here’s a look at the best players available for the Chiefs as they think about the second day of the NFL Draft and their picks on Rounds 2 and 3. We’ll try to keep things realistic, but at least we have to mention this first candidate.

Brian Branch, safety, Alabama

The top safety in the draft is also a versatile defensive back who could slide into a L’Jarius Sneed role with relative ease for Kansas City. He did a bit of everything in the Bama secondary, and if the Chiefs have questions about an extension for Sneed, or want some leverage, Branch would be a nice addition. Unfortunately, he’s likely going to come off of the board very early in round two, which means the Chiefs aren’t likely going to be in view.

Michael Mayer, tight end, Notre Dame

If the Chiefs wanted to make sure that their tight end would remain a high-volume target for years to come, they would find a way to move back up the board early in day two and grab Mayer. Draftniks were mixed on whether Dalton Kincaid or Mayer was the top TE in the class, and Mayer is a vacuum in the middle of the field who has earned comps to Jason Witten. Given Travis Kelce’s importance to Andy Reid’s offense, it’s important for the Chiefs to consider depth as well as the future there.

Gervon Dexter, defensive tackle, Florida

The Chiefs reportedly missed out on Mazi Smith in the first round to the Cowboys, so if they were keen on handing d-line coach Joe Cullen a project that he could mold, then they could do worse than Gervon Dexter Sr., a young player who likely would have benefitted from staying at Florida another season. He’s a big frame that can get bigger with a basketball background and a growing understanding of how to use his seriously inspiring skill set. A bit of a risk but the Chiefs could unlock something special here with the right approach.

Devon Achane, running back, Texas A&M

Boy, oh boy. If the Chiefs could get their hands on this kid, the offense could really start cooking with some obvious mismatches. Last year, Achane, who is also a track star, used his sprinter speed to lead the SEC with 161 all-purpose yards/game. Achane is slight, but he profiles as a versatile weapon who is an obvious return candidate who could also line out wide or be used in jet sweeps and the like. There’s a lot to like about adding this skill set to this particular iteration of the Chiefs roster.

Jaelyn Duncan, offensive tackle, Maryland

Scouts can be a bit mixed on Jaelyn Duncan’s ceiling, but we’re taking cues from the Chiefs that his visit before the draft to Arrowhead was a sign that they’re more in the believer than unbeliever camp when it comes to his pro potential. Duncan started four seasons for the Terps and has the sort of athletic makeup that could really earn him reps with the Chiefs as long as he takes to coaching and keeps his motor hot. Perhaps a real candidate to play on the right side or at least compete with Lucas Niang.