3-round 2025 NFL mock draft gives Chiefs future a strong defensive foundation

Here at Arrowhead Addict, it's always draft season! Despite the fact that we're closing in on Week 0 of the college football season, we're already in full-on evaluation mode looking at some potential prospects who could be fits for the Chiefs in 2025.

Keep in mind, there are lots of things we don't know yet including the draft order. Because Patrick Mahomes has never sat out of a conference championship, we're going to project the Chiefs to be picking in the 30s once again.

Another unknown is the progression of players on the roster, if Skyy Moore magically has a 750-yard season this year, the need at wide receiver changes for the roster. For now, we are going off of what the roster has shown as a whole so far.

Round 1: Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas

You've heard that Steve Spagnuolo likes big edge rushers? Well, how about a 6'7", 280 lb. edge rusher who logged 7 sacks, 22 pressures, and 13.5 tackles for loss in the SEC. Four of his sacks last year came against Nick Saban's Crimson Tide, too.

Jackson is a senior with a bit of an injury history dating back to an ACL tear in high school and some ankle injuries back when he was at LSU. He's been injury-free his last two seasons. His size makes him stout against the run, logging a 75.6 run defense grade via PFF and compiling a high number of tackles for loss. Jackson would also be versatile on the inside with his size as a 5-technique on pass rush downs. Despite being so big, he remains flexible when rushing the passer.

Consistency has been the issue for Jackson. At times he can look like a top 10 pick and other times he looks like a day 2 project. His size might limit him to a 4-3 scheme as he probably would not be able to be an OLB. Power is his predominant trait as he wins with push and length. There's room for growth with his hands and pass-rush moves. The unteachable length and speed make him a high-ceiling prospect but the consistency is going to decide if he hears his name on Thursday (1st round) or Friday night (2nd and 3rd round)

Right now, Felix Anudike-Uzomah is looking like a rotational pass rusher at best for the Chiefs. With Charles Omenihu set to be a free agent, George Karlaftis nearing extension time the need for another edge rusher is clear. My guess is the Chiefs almost certainly go defensive line in the first round—either edge or defensive tackle. The need for those positions is great and Andy Reid historically has put a big emphasis on the trenches early in the draft.

Jackson is full of traits and can do all the things Spags likes his edge rushers to do.

Shades of: Taco Charlton

Round 2: Tommi Hill, Corner, Nebraska

At 6"00 and 204 lbs., Tommi Hill is built like a safety and is a member of the famous "Freaks List" compiled by Bruce Feldman each year. He's expected to run a sub 4.40 40-yard dash and has already posted over a 41-inch vertical. Hill has spent time at wide receiver in the early going. Hill switched to corner full-time in 2023 and the ball skills from playing receiver flashed.

Similar to Travis Hunter who also has a receiver background. Hill had a 14% forced incompletion rate, 4 interceptions and an 87.1 coverage grade, according to PFF. Hill lined up almost exclusively on the outside for the Cornhuskers in 2023.

Hill has returner experience as well on special teams where his agility and vision with the ball in his hand show. His big physical frame makes him an impact player on run defense and he excels in zone schemes. There might be some man coverage concerns with some long speed issues for him but in the right scheme, this could be a plug-and-play prospect on day 2.

A big physical corner that plays the run well and looks like a safety? By god, that's Steve Spagnuolo's music. This guy screams Spags and the athleticism is pointing to him being an elite tester as well. Love the ball skills he has and the fact that he's raw as a corner with only one full year of starting experience.

With a solid season and a strong draft process don't be surprised to hear Hill's name called early Day 2.

Shades of: Julius Brents

Round 3 (Titans Pick): Demonte Capehart, IDL, Clemson

Demonte Capehart is a mountain of a man and a force to be reckoned with in the middle of a defensive line on early downs. At 6'4" 320 lbs., the senior was a top-50 recruit out of the prestigious IMG Academy in 2019 before committing to Clemson.

When it comes to his role, the path is clear for Capehart as a heavy-handed, two-gapping run-stopper. He's explosive off the snap and utilizes his leverage well to keep blockers off balance.

Credited with 10 defensive stops, 12 pressures and 1 sack in 2023, playing time is a big part of the question for him. Last year he logged a little over 200 snaps. Dabo Swinney likes to rotate lots of players on the defensive line but there are some questions about how much he can stay on the field.

Speaking of staying on the field, there was a weapons charge that was dropped against him in 2024. The circumstances are a little unusual, but some character questions will need answers. The other question that needs to be asked is how can he win besides early down run stuffing. He has all the physical tools to be a pass rushing force, but it's not translated to anything other than a bull rush to this point. This might also be something he can grow into with more playing time.

The Chiefs have needed a player like this for a while now. They've been looking for their next two-gapper since the decline of Derrick Nnadi. In 2023, they drafted Keondre Coburn to potentially fill that role and it didn't work out. Since then they've had a hodgepodge of players fill in on running downs such as Matt Dickerson, Neil Farrell, and Mike Pennel. The defense needs a true run-stuffer to park next to Chris Jones on early downs.

Shades of: BJ Hill

Round 3: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Neal is a part of one of the most exciting backfields in college football this season alongside QB Jalon Daniels. A 5'11", 215 lb. senior, Neal logged an excellent 515 yards after contact and 38 missed tackles in 2023. He has steadily progressed as a receiver as well with his career high coming in 2023 with 228 yards on 25 receptions.

Neal is a great combination of speed and power. He's not going to be the fastest back in the draft but he's fast enough. He's not going to be the biggest tackle breaker but he's hard to bring down. Neal just does lots of things well. He's shifty, got a nice start and stop, and is a creative runner.

Neal might not profile as an NFL RB1 but he could certainly mix into a rotation or maybe even carry the workload for a few weeks if needed. Ideally, he'd be a great change of pace back and could be a great third-down pass-catching back with some growth in protection.

The Chiefs obviously have a starting back in Isiah Pacheco but the running back room is thin, even if Carson Steele is who we hope he is. Neal brings a level of explosiveness back to the running back position they've been missing since Jerick McKinnon helped carry the load.

Shades of: Rachaad White