Here at Arrowhead Addict, it's always draft season! With college football and the NFL in full swing, we're always on the lookout for future members of the Kansas City Chiefs roster!
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 wrinkle to mock drafts this early in the year is the unknown state of the roster. We don't know how players will progress, what injuries will occur, and/or what the team will do in free agency. For now, we are going to prioritize positions of need going forward such as edge, interior defensive line, interior offensive line, corner, and linebacker.
Round 1: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
Denzel Burke is currently ranked as our 21st prospect on our preseason top 25. Burke has an NFL frame at 6-1 190 lbs. with nice long arms. He excels in man coverage and at play recognition, which comes with over 35 starts for one of the premier programs in college football.
Burke should wow at the NFL Combine with elite movement skills and straight-line speed. He is a smooth zone defender as well using fluid movements and his eyes to pass off routes well. The former 4-star recruit has all the tools in his bag to become a starting perimeter corner at the next level.
Burke has struggled with penalties at times—not necessarily because he can't cover and is getting grabby. Instead, it's more technique-based where he's getting out of position or arriving early. Tackling is another point of concern since he's not been super-consistent there and would need to grow to match the Chiefs' level of physicality.
While the Chiefs do still have Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Joshua Williams under contract for 2025, it's never too early to start preparing for their exit, especially since all of them were drafted at the same time. Burke paired with Watson and/or Williams might allow McDuffie to move back inside where he is at his best. Burke has lots of NFL tools and would benefit from the Chiefs' strong coaching staff working with him.
Round 2: Earnest Greene III, IOL, Georgia
Despite playing all of 2023 and 2024 (so far) at left tackle for the Bulldogs, everything about Earnest Greene's game screams guard. He was ranked the second interior offensive line prospect in the nation in his recruiting class. Greene has over 900 snaps at left tackle and started as a true freshmen for Kirby Smart. At 6-4 320 lbs., he is explosive on the move as a puller in space. Lots of Greene's shortcomings as a pass protector come from letting defenders come to him. As a guard, he will be able to set the tone as a blocker.
Greene is cut from the same cloth as Trey Smith as far as style of play. He's got lots of power as a blocker but is just a little top-heavy as a tackle. If he can work on his leverage and play height, he could be a top-shelf guard. Starting for two years at left tackle in the SEC, Greene has all the experience needed to be a plug-and-play guard in the NFL.
Even after extending Creed Humphrey and drafting Hunter Nourzad, the Chiefs will need more bodies along the interior if Trey Smith and Joe Thuney hit the free-agent market. Greene makes lots of sense because of the level of competition he's faced and his large frame—something the Chiefs have prioritized along the offensive line. While I don't see him being a starting tackle, his versatility could come in handy in a pinch as well—similar to Joe Thuney.
Round 3 (Titans Pick): Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
Deion Burks spent the first three years of his career at Purdue before transferring to Oklahoma this year. He's already racked up 3 touchdowns in 2024. At 5-9 and 185 lbs., Burks is going to be limited in contested catch situations, but he wins with speed and short area quickness which help him rank in the 65th percentile of separation score, according to PFF. Burks also has a strong release package that gets him open quickly off the snap.
With Burks' lack of size also comes some limits in YAC. He's not the most elusive runner with the ball in his hands and generally goes down on first contact. The speed and release packages make him an appealing option for the slot in most offenses and can also be utilized in the horizontal stretch and gadget role.
Look, we all know the Chiefs have a type at WR, and another speedy, undersized gadget player is something that Andy Reid can't ignore. While trying to not helmet scout (not just cause he's from Oklahoma), Burks has similar traits to Hollywood Brown and what he will do in the offense with Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice. Short term he can be an upgrade over Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore, long term maybe he's the next Brown.
Round 3: Ty Robinson, IDL, Nebraska
Robinson, an interior defensive lineman who can work as a nose or defensive tackle, is coming off a dominant performance in a primetime win over the Colorado Buffaloes. He has already tied his career-high sack total (2 sacks) in his first two games of the season.
At 6-6 310 lbs. Robinson is very explosive and powerful. He came into Lincoln at 285 lbs., and has put on 25 more of muscle. Because of the 3-3-5 defense that Nebraska runs, he plays straight up on guards or even shaded over the tackle's inside shoulder at times. His explosiveness will translate better on the inside at the next level.
Robinson is a sixth-year senior, which means he'll turn 25 during his rookie year for the team that drafts him. Generally, the Chiefs prefer younger prospects, but he plays a role that is generally not handed a second long-term contract unless the player is truly elite. The Chiefs need to get younger along the interior, and Robinson has the size that Spagnuolo will love. With a more productive 2024, he could be a day two selection.