The Kansas City Chiefs have made one attempt after another over the last several offseasons to remedy the issues at left tackle for the offense. So why not try it one more time in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Chiefs have the No. 31 overall selection as the losing team of Super Bowl LIX, and that means the top options within this spring's offensive tackle class is going to be long gone by the time general manager Brett Veach submits his pick. However, Mel Kiper Jr. has the Chiefs drawing from that well anyway.
In his latest mock draft, Kiper, a draft analyst for ESPN, has the Chiefs taking Kelvin Banks Jr.
Mel Kiper's latest mock draft is out and he's got the Chiefs drawing from a familiar well.
Banks would give the Chiefs some real options gong forward as an experienced tackle from Texas who might have the flexibility to play both bookends or even slide inside at the pro level. Given the inability of Kingsley Suamataia, last year's second-round pick, to handle the role in his first season, the Chiefs are likely sliding him into left guard in Joe Thuney's place instead.
The Chiefs have already attended to the needs at left tackle with the signing of former San Francisco 49ers tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year deal in free agency. Moore landed a deal worth up to $30 million with $21M guaranteed after filling in admirably for the injured Trent Williams. It's worth noting the Chiefs also pursued Williams on the open market years ago.
The Chiefs have eight total picks in the 2025 NFL Draft with plenty of positions to fix or bolster. Most fans would love to see tackle addressed with some early pick, even with the signing of Moore in the interim. Moore is hardly a proven commodity, so the presence of Banks, or someone like him, would give the team multiple options in the face of further hardship.