Just like that, the draft is here. Everyone has made their big boards and read up on what Mel Kiper has to say with visions of dynasty-making in their heads. For many teams, the 2024 NFL Draft could mean the difference between long-term success or monumental failure.
Today, we take a closer look at the players that the Kansas City Chiefs should be interested in if the price is right.
Here are the seven players who would be worth trading up for in an opportunistic scenario. We will examine what might cause them to slide, where the "sweet spot" for a trade-up would be, and the likelihood of the Chiefs being interested in a deal.
1. Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Washington
Okay, so this one is certainly a long shot. In most mock drafts, Rome Odunze looks to be gone by pick 10. It is clear to see why he is regarded as one of the top options at wide receiver. Standing 6'3, Odunze has tremendous breaks on his routes to the outside and can track the ball as anyone in this class. After a very good combine to match his production at Washington, Odunze is almost assuredly a top option at wide receiver.
What might cause a slide?
Odunze is not one of the top two wide receivers in the class. Those two positions are given to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, respectively. Additionally, the top of the draft is for the big swings. Generally speaking, the top ten picks of a draft are littered with offensive tackles, quarterbacks, and defensive ends. Wide receivers, unless they are one of the top five guys in the NFL, are not usually regarded as a franchise's cornerstones.
Where is the "sweet spot" for a trade up and would the Chiefs consider it?
There are not a ton of scenarios in which this is realistic for the Chiefs. However, if Odunze got passed up by the Raiders at pick 13, all bets are off. The Chiefs could conceivably mortgage a bunch of their picks this season and a few next season for a top-notch player. Is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? Absolutely not.