Grading the latest 2024 mock drafts for the Kansas City Chiefs

Here are our responses to the latest projections for the Chiefs in mock drafts.

With the College Football Championship set and bowl season coming to an end, the 2024 NFL draft looms large. The first 18 picks of the draft were made final at the conclusion of the regular season, which means mock draft projections will be more accurate moving forward. Make sure to follow along.

The Kansas City Chiefs currently sit with the 26th pick in the NFL draft order, and they have some very obvious needs that will commonly mocked to them throughout the pre-draft season—mostly at wide receiver. If you're reading a mock draft, you can make a safe bet that the Chiefs are getting a wideout or two.

The other obvious need is offensive tackle, despite the selection of Wanya Morris, since there are still plenty of questions around both bookends in Kansas City. Other areas of need are defensive line (edge and interior), running back, and tight end. Make sure to bookmark the Arrowhead Addict Big Board where we rank our top draft prospects based on the Chiefs' needs.

With that in mind, we wanted to survey the latest mock drafts around the web and grade them ourselves for what they bring to the Chiefs in the first round.

Nate Tice's 2024 NFL Mock Draft

The Pick: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston

Our Grade: A

Our reaction: Paul is currently our 24th overall prospect. The Chiefs certainly have a need at left tackle and Patrick Paul is a natural choice for where they will be drafting. This class is a rare opportunity for the Chiefs, typically drafting a starting left tackle is almost impossible where the Chiefs select in the draft order. However, this might be one of the best tackle classes we've seen in years. The Chiefs can find a starting-caliber tackle after contending for a Super Bowl.

Paul gets an "A" from us because he fits the mold of what the Chiefs/Andy Reid like in a tackle. Paul is a massive specimen standing at 6'7" and 308 pounds (36 3/8-inch arms, 85-inch-plus wingspan). His length and height will draw comparison to recent draft pick Dawand Jones, who has had a nice rookie season for the Cleveland Browns. However, some of the concerns for Jones aren't there for Paul (he's 70 pounds lighter than Jones).

The Chiefs covet length and agility at the tackle position. They are traditional in that sense and won't reach for a player who doesn't meet their thresholds. Pairing Paul with one of the best left guards in football in Joe Thuney and one of the best offensive line coaches in the league in Andy Heck is a recipe for success.

With the Chiefs on the hook for at least one more year with Jawaan Taylor, having a cost-controlled left tackle would be valuable. While there have been some encouraging signs with Wanya Morris starting for the injured Donovan Smith, passing on Paul could be a wasted opportunity with his natural tools. Morris is a great swing tackle option for depth or could compete with the disappointing Jawaan Taylor next year.