The NFL is currently in the least eventful phase of the offseason. The Kansas City Chiefs are not scheduled to report to training camp for another month, and their first game of the 2023 regular season is still 11 weeks away.
One aspect that the front office members are constantly focused on is scouting for the NFL Draft. Even though the 2024 NFL Draft is still ten months away, teams understand the significance of thorough preparation for this crucial team-building event.
While it remains uncertain who will even declare for the upcoming NFL Draft, let's take a look at some Way Too Early 2024 mock drafts and see which players experts from various sources are connecting to the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round.
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington (Max Chadwick, Pro Football Focus)
Here is Max Chadwick's analysis of the Chiefs' projected selection of Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze: "Outside of the Ohio State duo, Odunze is the most productive returning Power Five receiver. The junior’s 605 yards against single coverage trailed only Marvin Harrison Jr. among that group. He’s also the third-most valuable returning Power Five receiver, according to PFF’s wins above average metric."
Upgrading the wide receiver position should be a continuous focus for the Chiefs. Few quarterback and head coach combinations are as adept at maximizing the potential of wide receivers as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
While the Chiefs recently invested 2nd round picks in Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice in the last two seasons, their future success is uncertain. Moreover, the status of Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the 2024 roster is not guaranteed, and Kadarius Toney has faced injury challenges in his brief NFL career. Additionally, Travis Kelce is aging, prompting the team to prepare for a post-Kelce era by bolstering their receiving arsenal before his inevitable decline.
While it remains unknown how NFL scouts and draft experts will evaluate Rome Odunze in the next ten months, it is evident that the Chiefs could benefit from an upgrade at the wide receiver position. Numerous individuals have connected players like DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jr. to the team, indicating the need for a more formidable group of weapons for their MVP quarterback. The pursuit of talent will persist until the Chiefs assemble a sufficiently talented receiving corps.