Draft evaluation is a never-ending process. I typically begin working on the next class in June to start summer scouting and aim to have a top 25 Big Board by August. I find that it adds much-needed context to player projections when you can see where they rank heading into a season and get exposure to two seasons of tape.
I often find myself almost hating every player in the draft by the time the week of the event rolls around. Nothing personal, obviously, but it's so easy to focus on players' faults that it becomes harder and harder to find a prospect I don’t have any ill will toward. However, I always come back to a core group of players I can’t get tired of. Those guys become "Price’s Picks."
These are 10 players whose profiles I love and who fit well with almost any NFL team—but especially the Chiefs. Some recent graduates of the Price’s Picks list include Cam Hart, Tanor Bortolini, Puka Nacua, Jayden Reed, and Sydney Brown. Like every good draft analyst, of course, we’ll only focus on the players who hit and not the ones who didn’t.
1. Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
I was so excited about the Purdue version of Nic Scourton transferring to the SEC to play with A&M. Instead, he—like much of the other talent in and around the Aggies—didn’t reach his full potential. Asked to play a much different style at a much different weight, the consensus on Scourton is much lower than mine.
A high-end run defender with great power and a motor that never stops, I love Scourton playing closer to the 260 lbs he was at Purdue. The flashes he brings in the run game and the power in the pass rush are reminiscent of Justin Houston.
2. Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
Every time I turned on Notre Dame, there was number 0 making play after play on the ball. Watts is a ball magnet at the safety position and consistently makes plays as a tackler, too. It's undeniable that his instincts in coverage are special—he’s able to make plays on the ball seemingly like a receiver.
Watts has generated 13 interceptions over the last two seasons and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Voted a team captain, he’s reliable, with over 55 games played, and he contributes on special teams as well. Watts would be a great fit alongside Jaden Hicks.
3. Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
I'm a sucker for any wide receiver who can separate with speed or route running. Noel is the rare combination who can do both. A graduate of Park Hill High School in Kansas City, he grew each year at Iowa State and finished with over 2,800 yards and 18 TDs.
Noel is a smaller receiver, but he’s not frail at 5-10 and 194 lbs. He plays bigger than his size and can win at the catch point. There are plenty of examples of him winning outside, not just in the slot. To me, this is a player I want in Kansas City because there are just so many ways he can win for an offense.
4. Landon Jackson, ED, Arkansas
I’ve been mocking Jackson to the Chiefs since August. The fit just makes too much sense—a 6-6, 265 lb edge rusher with over 33-inch arms who tested in the 97th percentile for vertical jump and 96th percentile for broad jump. Jackson was the "buck" defender, meaning he lined up head-over the tackle often in a four-man front.
Jackson has strong hands, a powerful punch, and is an above-average edge setter against the run. Diagnosed at age 4 with alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss, Jackson is now an advocate for anti-bullying campaigns and was voted a two-time team captain for the Razorbacks. His power makes him a high-floor edge prospect.
5. RJ Harvey, RB, UCF
A former QB turned RB, Harvey is an explosive and shifty back who consistently makes big plays. He never played running back before arriving at UCF. His low center of gravity makes him surprisingly balanced and hard to tackle despite being just 5-8—but still solid at 208 lbs.
Harvey is a willing pass blocker and has room to grow as a pass catcher, too. He made several plays through the air at UCF and clearly reads defenses and protections well as a former QB. His burst and passing-game production give off an Austin Ekeler aura.
6. Omarr Norman-Lott, IDL, Tennessee
Norman-Lott was a late riser for me in this class, partly because he was a part-time player. He averaged just 17 snaps a game for the Volunteer defense and ranked 20th in defensive snaps played on the team. Tennessee ran a very heavy rotation on the defensive line, and he only played in pass rush situations—which is what he does best.
A highly explosive ball of energy, he’s a refined pass rusher with a variety of moves you generally don’t see at the college level. His lack of exposure in the run game is the reason he’s not a first-round pick. His 12.6% pass rush win rate is the best among all interior defensive linemen in the class. Norman-Lott is a gamble worth making for the pass rush alone.
7. Dont'e Thornton, WR, Tennessee
As a father of two children, I have no use for a Corvette. They don’t hold many groceries, they’re hard to get in and out of, and they aren’t ideal for car seats. That being said... I still absolutely want a Corvette. Dont’e Thornton is a Corvette. He’s not refined as a route runner and doesn’t do much at the catch point. But he’s 6-4, 205 lbs, and runs a 4.30 40-yard dash—you can’t teach that.
Thornton runs about 3–4 routes that famously come from the Josh Heupel offense, but man, can he fly and stretch the field. His size and speed combo alone make him a useful player to line up at X and stretch the field. Is he well-rounded? No. Do I like seeing the big man run fast? Yes.
8. Tommi Hill, CB, Nebraska
You didn’t really think you were getting out of here without at least one Husker, right? The peak of my season as a Nebraska fan was Tommi Hill getting a pick-six on Shedeur Sanders, landing him in the first round of an early mock draft by Field Yates. The rest of the season was rough for Hill, who fought off injury and never looked like himself.
The healthy version of Tommi Hill is a long and physical press-man corner who is a plus tackler and has solid ball skills as a former receiver. He could potentially convert to safety at 6-0 and 213 lbs. He was also a returner, which boosts his chances of making a roster. The stock is low on Tommi Hill now, but I’ll gladly buy the dip.
9. Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas
I’ll be honest—part of the reason I love Bryant is his willingness to interact with my content on social media. Even if that means talking trash over clips of him and another favorite of mine, Jaylin Noel. That’s part of what I love about Bryant: his willingness to compete and chirp at the opposition. He embodies “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.”
Bryant has a knack for finding the ball and plays a physical brand of football despite being 6-0, 180 lbs. He seems to love tackling and hitting. His instincts and competitiveness make it easy to believe in him long-term. He played mostly outside for Kansas but might move inside at the next level. Either way, he’s a player I love and can’t wait to see in the league.
10. Walter Nolen, IDL, Ole Miss
Few players in this class have better flashes of brilliance than Walter Nolen. A dynamic athlete with power and a bad attitude on the field. At times, he seems more concerned with embarrassing the player across from him than tackling the ball carrier. He carries his weight well and is surprisingly stout against the run at just 300 lbs.
Nolen’s pass-rushing flashes are what make him such an enticing prospect. Some questions about his work ethic and motivation are the only reasons he’s not a surefire top-15 pick. At this point, all you can do is hope he falls within striking distance for the Chiefs.