Chiefs draft grades: Rating every pick in the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft is now complete and we can finally start to analyze the seven new players that were selected by the Kansas City Chiefs. Draft grades are always a much-debated subject at this time of the year. Everyone wants to see what grades their favorite team received, but then they always respond to any negative grade with some version of "Draft grades are stupid. You can't grade a draft until we see how these players turn out."

While I agree that we won't know how successful a draft class is until we see how the players turn out on the actual field, I do think it's fair to grade teams on how well they spent their draft currency. If a team uses their first-round pick on a running back when they had other major needs at premium positions and there were players available at those positions that were consistently higher ranked on big boards, it's fair to criticize that pick. On the other end of the spectrum, if a team was able to match needs with top talent at premium positions, it's fair to praise that process even before the players take a snap in the NFL.

I do sometimes find myself frustrated when draft grades seem to only factor one part of the equation into them. Filling needs is a part of a draft grade, but it shouldn't be the only thing. Getting perceived value by taking the best player available regardless of position does factor into the grades, but it shouldn't be the only factor either. It also drives me crazy when I feel like people assign a grade to my favorite team that doesn't seem to have a good grasp of what the team really needs or what players fit the systems that the team uses.

That brings us to these Chiefs draft grades that I'm going to hand out today. In these grades I'm going to look at draft slot value compared to the Consensus Big Board put together by Arif Hasan, positional need, scheme fit, athletic profile, age, and how much I like the tape I've seen on them. I'll even back up my opinions with numbers or opinions from people who I've come to respect in the draft world.

Does that mean these grades will be perfect and you'll agree with every one of them? Of course not, but debating the grades is part of what makes draft grades fun. So let's kick things off with the Chiefs first pick.

Round 1 - Pick 28 - Xavier Worthy - WR - Texas - 6'1" - 165 pounds

Value: Xavier Worthy was the #33 overall player on the Consensus Big Board. I think being within five spots of the consensus ranking means that he went right about where he was expected to go. I don't think the Chiefs got great value, but I also don't think five spots represent a reach.

Need: The Chiefs had a clear need at wide receiver and clearly wanted to get more explosive at the position. Worthy definitely is a perfect fit for that need.

Fit with the Chiefs: We know Andy Reid likes speed in his offense. We've seen guys like DeSean Jackson and Tyreek Hill be featured weapons and Worthy seems like he has the potential to be the next in line for that role. I think it also is meaningful that there was a widespread "not the Chiefs!" response to the Worthy pick that tells you that outsiders see this as a natural fit as well.

Athletic Profile: I'll be listing each player's Relative Athletic Score (RAS). It's a simple way to score a player's overall athleticism for their size. Worthy has an impressive 9.41 (out of 10) RAS. That score is fueled by his insane 4.21 40-yard dash, which included a 99th percentile 10-yard split to go with the blazing long speed. He was also in the 99th percentile for vertical jumps with a 41" vertical. The bottom line here is that Worthy has amazing explosion as well as long speed. He's just insanely thin at just 165 pounds.

Age: Worthy just turned 21 on Saturday. In a draft full of older prospects, he is young enough that he can absolutely continue to develop both in terms of his technique/route running and physically. If he can add another 15 pounds of good muscle weight over the next few years it could help neutralize what is seen as his one real area of concern.

Film: I really like a lot of things in Worthy's film. His record-breaking athletic testing numbers absolutely pop off the screen when you watch him. You can also see his elite change of direction in his route running and how it creates great separation. I also really like how he tracks the ball in the air while running at a high speed. The two things I didn't like on film are his ability to play through physical contact and how inconsistent the passing game (specifically the quarterback play) was at Texas. It made it hard to evaluate Worthy as a true receiver at times.

What Do the numbers and experts Say?: Worthy had an average drop rate of 6.3% last season. That's not great or bad. He was only successful on 23.8% of his contested catch opportunities thanks to his questionable play strength. However, the Pro Football Focus Draft Guide did score him a perfect 10 out of 10 on vertical long speed and change of direction/acceleration. Matt Waldman's well-respected Rookie Scouting Portfolio had Worthy as the 4th best wide receiver in this class with a talent score of 91.9/100 which puts him in his "Franchise Player" category.

Draft Grade: A-

There is legit concern about Worthy's play strength at 165 pounds. However, if he didn't have that worry there is no way he makes it to pick 28 in the draft. Considering Worthy's upside and special skills and how perfectly he matches what the Chiefs like to do it's hard to criticize this pick. When you factor in his young age, it makes it even better.

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Round 2 - Pick 63 - Kingsley Suamataia - OT - BYU - 6'4" - 326 pounds

Value: Kingsley Suamataia was the #43 player on the Consensus Big Board. The Chiefs got him 20 spots later in the draft—a nice value at any point in the draft, but it's especially good for this early. Many people felt that Suamataia could slip into the end of the first round, potentially even to Kansas City. I mocked Suamataia to the Chiefs after the NFL Combine.

Need: You could make a strong argument that a long-term solution at left tackle was the number one thing that the Chiefs were most in need of entering the draft. Suamataia definitely fills that need.

Fit with the Chiefs: The Chiefs have a type when it comes to their offensive tackles. They prefer tackles with 34-inch arms or longer and if those long arms are attached to a large body with good movement skills then you fit their mold. Suamataia checks all of those boxes.

Athletic Profile: Suamataia has a 9.4/10 RAS. His 5.04 forty time put him in the 91st percentile of offensive tackles. He also posted an impressive 31 bench press reps. You often don't see those top bench press numbers from players with the arm length that the Chiefs prefer (because you literally have to press the weight farther). Suamataia has both good lateral movement and straight-line speed for a man his size.

Age: Suamataia is also just 21 years old. The fact that he is one of the youngest players in this draft and has all the physical tools you would look for in a starting left tackle makes him a very promising player to try and develop.

Film: The good news is that all the physical tools that we just discussed come through on tape. He moves incredibly well and he has the power needed when he gets his technique right. The bad news is that his technique and processing still need work. If the Chiefs can coach those parts of his game up, he'll be a very good starting left tackle.

What Do the Numbers and Experts Say?: Despite his questionable technique, Suamataia only allowed 2 total sacks on 742 pass-blocking snaps over the past two seasons because of his natural size and athleticism. The Pro Football Focus Draft Guide gave him really high scores on all the things you can't teach: toughness, power at the point of attack, athleticism, foot speed, and anchor ability. They also gave him poor scores for offensive line IQ and hand technique. That's where the Chiefs have to get him right.

Draft Grade: A

The Chiefs filled a major position of need with a young player valued 20 spots higher on the consensus board than where they took him. He has all the physical tools to be a great starting left tackle. Yes, he needs development, but if he didn't the Chiefs wouldn't have been able to draft him at pick 63. The fact that he is one of the youngest tackles in the draft makes that development all the more likely. It's easy to see why most people are giving this pick a high grade.

Round 4 - Pick 131 - Jared Wiley - TE - TCU - 6'6" - 249 pounds

Value: This one is a little more tricky. Jared Wiley was the #118 player on the Consensus Big Board. So the Chiefs got him 13 spots later than that ranking. That's decent value for the end of the 4th round, but at that point it's pretty close to where the consensus had him. However, in a tight end class where there was a pack of prospects behind Brock Bowers that experts had in very different orders, there are some that had Wiley as the 2nd or 3rd tight end and almost a full round higher than this draft slot. So depending on who you talk to Wiley was either a steal at 131, or about where he belonged to go.

Need: Travis Kelce isn't a spring chicken anymore and while Noah Gray has had some nice plays here and there, the Chiefs were in need of someone with more upside to potentially replace Kelce down the road in another year or two. So while a starting tight end for 2024 isn't a need, a developmental backup was.

Fit with the Chiefs: If you read multiple scouting reports on Wiley, you'll see several that mention that he has some similarities in his game to Travis Kelce. While nobody will ever be the next Kelce, the fact that his game reminds people of Kelce is a sign of how well Wiley should fit in KC's offense.

Athletic Profile: Wiley has a 9.3/10 RAS in large part because of his height, his 4.62 forty time, and his 37" vertical. He also has very long 34" arms. While he isn't a quick twitch change of direction guy, he is a smooth mover and his long speed up the seam of the defense makes him a weapon at multiple levels of the field.

Age: Wiley is the first pick KC made that is a little on the older side at 23 years old. That may mean that he's physically at his peak already. There is still some developmental upside if he continues to work on his route running and blocking technique.

Film: Wiley's best assets are his long arms and hands to reach out and snag passes. He's also a natural mover who can pick up yards after the catch and be targeted downfield. He's a willing blocker who gives good effort, but it isn't something he's great at. If you want to see his upside, check out his game against Baylor last season. It's one of the most impressive tight end performances you will see, just remember that not every game was like that for him last season.

What Do the Numbers and Experts Say?: Wiley had an impressive 2.1% drop rate last season. Most of his scouting reports describe a player with very little weakness in his game other than the need to continue to improve as a route runner and blocker. He led all FBS tight ends in red zone touchdowns last season with five and also had a two-point conversion catch as well.

Draft Grade: A-

Once again, it's hard to argue with what Brett Veach did here. He added a player who was the #2 TE on some experts' rankings and has some traits that remind people of Travis Kelce coming out of college. Wiley is already 23, so he may already be at his maximum potential. It would be foolish to think he could ever produce as Travis Kelce has, but if he just develops into an average NFL starter who can either spell Kelce or replace some of his production after he retires he'll have been a homerun pick at the end of the 4th round.

Round 4 - Pick 133 - Jaden Hicks - S - Washington State - 6'2" - 211 pounds

Value: While Kingsley Suamataia might be my favorite value pick in this class, Jaden Hicks is probably the biggest value. Hicks was #67 on the Consensus Big Board. The Chiefs got him 66 spots after that ranking. While this wasn't viewed as a great safety class, Hicks was one of the prospects in the discussion for being the best safety in the class. To get that player at the end of the 4th round is a steal.

Need: The only knock someone could make about this pick is that the Chiefs didn't have much of a need at safety with Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, and Chamarri Conner on the roster. However, Justin Reid is entering the final year of his contract with the Chiefs. So not only does Hicks provide them with special teams value and depth in case of an injury, but he could be in line to take over a starting job in 2025 so that the Chiefs can save some cap space by not having to re-sign Reid (who will be 28 next offseason).

Fit with the Chiefs: I just mentioned that Hicks could be a potential replacement for Justin Reid. That's not just because Reid's contract will be up next offseason. Hicks's physical style and versatility actually resemble Reid in a lot of ways. Hicks looks like a player that will be a perfect fit for Steve Spagnuolo's defense as he can be deployed all over the field.

Athletic Profile: Hicks had a very good 8.97/10 RAS. His 4.5 forty time puts him in the 84th percentile for safeties and his 3-come time was in the 83rd percentile as well. What makes that more impressive is that he did that at a muscular 6'2" and 211 pounds. Hicks almost looks like he could play linebacker (and he does come up and play physically in the box at times), but he still has the speed and athleticism to move around the field as a true defensive back.

Age: Hicks is another 21-year-old prospect. He will turn 22 right before the season starts, but he's young enough that a second contract would still include his athletic prime and that's huge.

FIlm: I'll admit, I didn't have time to watch the safeties before the draft this year, so it was fun to get to sit down and watch Hicks for the first time after the pick. He tackles well and is a physical player, but can also cover tight ends or running backs out of the slot. He's a good blitzer and you also see him communicating with the linebackers and other defensive backs before the snap on a regular basis. He's just a really solid all-around player with no major holes in his game.

What Do the Numbers and Experts Say?: Pro Football Focus gave him a 84.9 coverage grade last season, which is a really good score for any safety, let alone one Hicks' size with his tackling ability. The PFF Draft Guide scored him between a 7/10 and a 9/10 in all ten of the categories that they grade safeties on. His 9/10 areas were in anticipation and versatility. There just isn't much to complain about here.

Draft Grade: A+

If you wanted to knock this pick down to an "A" or "A-" because you don't think safety was a big need and wanted the Chiefs to draft a position of higher need, you could, but it's just hard not to call Hicks a slam dunk pick at the end of the 4th round. I think Brett Veach nailed this one and I'm not the only one.

Round 5 - Pick 159 - Hunter Nourzad - IOL - Penn State - 6'3" - 317 pounds

Value: Hunter Nourzad was #142 on the Consensus Big Board. The Chiefs got him 17 spots after that. So the consensus board had him as an early to mid-5th round pick and the Chiefs got him in the late 5th round. That's a decent value, but this isn't far off from where most experts thought he should go.

Need: I believe that interior offensive line was a major need in this draft. I know K.C. has their starters set for this season, but they lost their backup in Nick Allegretti and are poised to lose at least one starter to free agency next offseason. Adding a player who can provide depth off the bench this season and potentially move into a starting role next year fills a need for this team.

Fit with the Chiefs: I just explained that the Chiefs needed to fill Allegretti's role from last season. Nourzad's experience playing both center and guard makes him a perfect fit for that role. In the run game I think he'll fit what KC does very well, my only concern is in the pass game, which I'll discuss in the film section.

Athletic Profile: Due to an injury, Nourzad doesn't have testing numbers to compare to other prospects. As you'll see in his film section, he is a high-caliber athlete who moves well for his size.

Age: This is a knock on Nourzad. He is already 24 years old. Physically, he's probably already at his peak.

Flim: I really like how Nourzad moves out on the field. He looks great getting to the second level while out lead-blocking on plays. While he's not a mauler that generates a ton of push he does have a nice anchor when he is set and uses his leverage. The biggest problem was that in pass protection he either didn't see or was late to react to players coming his direction and there were numerous times when a defender would run past him as he combo-blocked someone with one of the guards next to him. Maybe if he eventually plays guard for KC and is surrounded by veteran linemen who are making the calls and can help him recognize those things that will improve that part of his game.

What Do the Numbers and Experts Say?: Nourzad's multiple games started at center, guard, and tackle in college are a plus for his versatility. His 77.0 PFF run blocking grade last season was good, but his 52.1 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets is a little concerning. He didn't allow a single sack last year, but he was credited with 5 QB hits allowed and 11 hurries.

Draft Grade: B

Hunter Nourzad fills a need and was a smart pick with decent value at the end of the 5th round. I like how he moves to the second level and he'll be a homerun pick if he develops into a starter in 2025. He gets a slight knock for being an older prospect and I have some concerns about his pass protection if he wants to be a starter in a Patrick Mahomes-led offense.

Round 6 - Pick 211 - Kamal Hadden - CB - 6'1" - 192 pounds

Value: Kamal Hadden was the #203 player on the Consensus Big Board. Being within eight spots this late in the draft puts him almost exactly where most experts thought he belonged. He's not a reach or a bargain, just fair value.

Need: The Chiefs lost L'Jarius Sneed, so it makes sense for them to add another cornerback to their roster. Waiting until this late in the draft signals that KC will look more to the guys that were already on the roster to fill Sneed's snaps and Hadden will move into a depth and special teams role, assuming he makes the team.

Fit with the Chiefs: Hadden possesses the size that the Chiefs like in their outside corners, but he isn't quite as strong of a tackler as they typically prefer on the outside.

Athletic Profile: Hadden has a 7.48/10 RAS, which isn't bad, but was the lowest of their draft picks. His 4.57 forty isn't great for an outside corner. He did have a 92nd percentile 10-yard split. So he has some initial quickness, but the long speed isn't great. His vertical jump and 3-cone drill were both below the 50th percentile mark. He is coming off a season-ending injury, so it's possible that he rushed back too soon and would have tested better if fully healthy, but there's no way to know that for sure.

Age: Hadden is on the older side at 23 years old, so he probably is about maxed out physically.

Film: Hadden isn't a very good tackler and is suspect in run support. He doesn't have great long speed and doesn't stick to guys stride for stride in coverage. The good news is that Hadden does have one elite trait. He's fantastic when the ball is in the air. Hadden tracks the ball well and if there's a way for him to get a hand on the ball he will. Some corners leave you constantly yelling "get your head around" or "get your hands up", but that's not an issue for Hadden.

What Do the Numbers and Experts Say?: The PFF Draft Guide gave Hadden a 2/10 on tackling and run support. However, PFF also gave him a 90.4 coverage grade. Last season, before his injury, he played 184 coverage snaps. He allowed 12 catches and had 11 passes defended in those snaps. So he only allowed one more catch than he broke up. That's insane.

Draft Grade: B-

I don't know if Kamal Hadden is a good enough tackler or athletic enough to stick in the NFL, but he has a special trait that makes him worth the gamble this late in the draft. His ability to track and get a hand on passes when they are in the air is truly impressive and could be the reason he makes it. I just worry that if he can't tackle well enough to be good on special teams and he can't keep close enough to receivers to get a hand on the ball it might not work out at all.

Round 7 - Pick 248 - C.J. Hanson - OG - Holy Cross - 6'5" - 300 pounds

Value: C.J. Hanson was #264 on the Consensus Big Board. That is 16 spots below where the Chiefs took him. Like I said with Kamal Hadden, this late in the draft that isn't a reach or value, it's close enough that it's about where most experts thought he should go.

Need: If the Chiefs hadn't taken Hunter Nourzad earlier in the draft, you could make an argument this was a major need, but that's a harder sell after the Nourzad pick.

Fit with the Chiefs: There isn't a lot of tape out there on Hanson, but from what I've seen and read about him it seems like his profile fits what the Chiefs look for on the offensive line.

Athletic Profile: While Hanson didn't do the agility drills, he tested great on his 40-yard dash time and jumps. His 9.84/10 RAS is one of the highest guard scores of all time. His vertical and broad jumps were both in the 98th percentile for guards.

Age: Hanson is an older prospect at 23 years old.

Film: Like I said, there isn't a lot of film out there on Hanson, but the little I was able to find showed a player with decent size and movement skills. Playing at Holy Cross and being an older prospect I wanted to see him dominate his opponents, but that wasn't really the case. He was solid, but not spectacular.

What Do the Numbers and Experts Say?: PFF gave him a 71.5 Run Blocking Grade and a 63.5 Pass Blocking Grade. Those are fine numbers, but again, you'd like to see an older player at a small school dominate more. To his credit, he only allowed 1 sack on 1,022 pass-blocking snaps over his three seasons as a starter.

Draft Grade: C+

I'm not upset about this pick. It just doesn't do a lot for me. His athletic testing is promising and I like the lack of sacks over his career, but I have some concerns about him being able to make the jump in competition from Holy Cross to the NFL when he's already 23 and I didn't see him dominate like I wanted against inferior competition. To be fair though, I didn't get to see as much tape as I typically do before making an opinion. Hopefully, with NFL coaching and strength training, the Chiefs can get something out of the natural athleticism he has.

Overall Draft Grade: A-

My overall draft grade is weighted more toward the first four picks the Chiefs made. Those are the players that are most likely to make an impact. I love what Brett Veach did with those first four picks and then I think he found some interesting options in rounds 5-7 who will have a chance to prove they should stick around and possibly earn bigger roles. As I tweeted out on Sunday, Veach managed to find more athletic upside and value than most of the rest of the league with this class.

When you fill major needs, find great value, and draft great athletes, it's pretty hard not to come away impressed with the 2024 Chiefs draft class.