Chiefs 3-round mock draft loads up on freak athletes and future Kelce heir

The college football landscape is beginning to take shape as conference play begins. This draft is interesting because there is no clear-cut top pick. Even if you thought Arch Manning was going to enter the draft this year, his play has ended that conversation. Even some of the other top prospects, like Peter Woods, Garrett Nussmeier, and LaNorris Sellars, are off to slow starts. The next few weeks could be big for the draft stock of several players.

As much fun as it is to pretend that the Chiefs could have a top-10 pick (which they are currently slated to do) with an 0-2 record, that doesn’t seem realistic. While the draft would certainly be more entertaining with that type of draft capital, the team is too good for that to be a reality. We will project that the Chiefs will be picking in the late 20s to early 30s, which would make them at least a divisional-round team.

Round 1: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

A quick riser in the draft world, Sadiq is showing what he can do both as a receiver and as a blocker. His 6'3", 245-pound frame makes him an explosive playmaker over the middle of the field. His athletic ability has been well documented as he ranked No. 11 on the prestigious Feldman’s Freaks list this year for being able to vertical jump 41.5 inches, power clean 365 pounds, and bench press 435 pounds.

At that size and with that athletic ability, he has the potential to be a matchup nightmare for linebackers and could even serve as a backside isolated X. His blocking is surprisingly strong despite being fairly limited in size.

There’s a chance he could end up being a top-10 pick by the time April comes, but for now, his 427 career yards aren’t enough of a track record. The Chiefs are never going to replace 100 percent of Travis Kelce, but Sadiq could bring some of the explosiveness back to the tight end position that we used to see from a youthful Kelce. He might be the best blocking tight end on the team as a rookie, and he’s playing in an offense that frequently generates NFL draft prospects. The Chiefs should continue to build around Mahomes with as many young skill players as possible.

Round 2: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State

The man they call “Big Citrus” hails from North Kansas City High School. He profiles predominantly as a run-stuffing nose tackle you’d like to play on early downs. Orange turned in a strong 2024 campaign, recording 24 tackles with 4.5 for loss—3.5 of those coming over the final five games. The 6'4", 325-pound lineman ranks 24th on the Feldman’s Freaks list. He spent much of the offseason focusing on his diet and showcased impressive strength, posting a 450-pound bench press, 650-pound squat, and 365-pound clean, along with a 34-inch vertical jump.

The Chiefs’ plan at nose tackle has been a little puzzling this year. Orange and Omarr Norman-Lott bring a dynamic and athletic tandem to the position and inject more youth into an aging defensive line. The skill sets between the two don’t overlap much, as Orange is more of a run stopper compared to Norman-Lott’s pass-rush ability.

Round 3: Demond Claiborne. RB, Wake Forest

Claiborne had over 1,300 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns last year for Wake Forest. He brings smooth movement ability and a low center of gravity. Though a smaller back at 5'8", 200 pounds, he offers more than just burst. He has surprisingly strong vision and footwork and compares similarly to RJ Harvey from the 2025 class. While he doesn’t quite match Harvey’s production profile, he’s averaging over 9 yards per carry three games into the 2025 season.

Finally, some burst and speed at running back for the Chiefs. With how 2025 has looked, it wouldn’t be surprising if the only remaining part of the Chiefs’ running back room next year is Brashard Smith, who also brings burst but is still raw. Claiborne can be a more predominant part of the offense as an experienced back and pass protector. He doesn’t have a ton of pass-catching work, but hopefully Brashard Smith is ready to step into that role.