The Kansas City Chiefs hold the 31st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and at this point, fans are used to having to wait pretty much the entire night before the team is on the clock for the first time. Most mock drafts leading up to draft weekend have seemed to agree on that it'll be an offensive tackle K.C. is targeting with its first-round pick.
That wasn't entirely the case in the latest mock draft roundup. Not only did two of the draft experts not have the Chiefs picking a tackle but they even had them addressing the defensive side of the ball. This wouldn't necessarily stun Chiefs fans since the team often goes in an unexpected direction with their first-round pick but it'd certainly shock everyone else trying to figure out who each team will take.
Chiefs bolster defense in NFL mock draft roundup
CBS Sports: Maxwell Hairston, CB (Kentucky)
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports pointed out that "Kansas City does not usually invest premium draft assets into the cornerback position, but that is also why that unit was a problem, at times, last season." This is why he has them selecting Maxwell Hairston with their first-round pick.
Hairston is fast, running a 4.28-second 40-yard dash, and we all know how much the Chiefs covet speed. With the cornerback position taking a bit of a hit last year, adding Hairston wouldn't be a shock by any means. He had five picks for Kentucky during the 2023 season, returning two of them for touchdowns. Chiefs fans love hearing that.
Grade: B+
NFL.com: Jahdae Barron, CB (Texas)
Maurice Jones-Drew of NFL.com also had the Chiefs drafting a defensive player and he also went with them landing a player they can add to their secondary. Jahdae Barron was MJD's selection here and he paired the two together because "Barron might begin his career as a nickel corner but he can also play outside."
The versatility here would make Barron an instant favorite for Steve Spagnuolo and considering he's been mocked fairly high in a majority of mock drafts, landing him late in the first round feels like a steal.
Grade: A-
NBC Sports: Josh Simmons, OT (Ohio State)
Well, some things never change, huh? Kyle Dvorchak of NBC Sports stuck with the trend of mocking a tackle to the Chiefs, linking them with Ohio State's Josh Simmons. This is a pick that Chiefs fans have grown accustomed to seeing and it makes sense. Simmons would fill a position of need and he'll likely be available late in the first round since he suffered an injury during the 2024 season.
"Simmons would compete with free agent addition Jalyon Moore for the starting left tackle spot during the summer. The Chiefs could also pencil in Moore as the starter and draft a guard to replace Joe Thuney," Dvorchak wrote.
Chiefs fans have gotten so used to seeing Simmons mocked to their team that this pick would be the least surprising thing ever. That being said, it'd make a lot of sense so it'd be hard to be upset about it.
Grade: A-