2024 FINAL FIRST-ROUND MOCK DRAFT: KC CHIEFS LAND IMPACT STARTER IN ROUND 1

It's the best day of the year: Draft Day!

While the big show is still a few hours away, it's never too late to get in a final mock draft. On Thursday, we will be doing a round 1 mock to look at how the opening night could play out for the Chiefs. The goal here was to create a scenario in which the Chiefs don't necessarily take the same couple of players who are frequently projected to them.

To keep up with all of the best prospects taken tonight in the NFL Draft, make sure to bookmark the Arrowhead Addict Big Board, a Chiefs-specific draft board tailored to the team's roster needs.

1. Chicago Bears - Caleb Williams, QB, USC

It's always been Caleb for Chicago, for over a year we've known he would go with this pick. Lots of QBs look good in structure and without pressure in their face. Caleb's ability to thrive in chaotic situations and improvise is what makes him an elite QB prospect. It's a new era in Chicago.

2. Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Fresh off of one of the most explosive and productive seasons in college football Daniels lands in Washington. The Commanders offense already has talent but now factoring the running element of Daniels with quality backs and receivers their offense just got much more dynamic.

3. Minnesota Vikings - Drake Maye, QB, UNC

The Vikings trade with the Patriots to get their guy. New England does not have the infrastructure in place to develop a QB with a top pick, so they trade down to get more talent. The Vikings get the second-most talented QB in the draft, who lands in an incredible situation. Daniels over Maye could be a draft blunder for years.

4. Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State

The Cardinals lock in one of the best players in this draft in Harrison. Don't let his process trick you into thinking Harrison isn't the top receiver in this class. Size, speed, route running... Harrison has it all and Arizona is happy to stick and pick at 4.

5. Los Angeles Chargers - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

The Chargers would love out of this pick, but there's no way Jim Harbaugh is sending J.J. McCarthy to the Raiders or Broncos. So they stick and pick the top tackle in the class. Slater and Alt have the potential to be the best tackle tandem in the league.

6. New York Giants - J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Daniel Jones and Drew Lock aren't stopping the Giants from investing in the QB position. McCarthy needs some time before he starts, and the Giants can give him that while they let their other QBs start. A former 5-star recruit, McCarthy lost two college football games in his career and runs a pro-style offense. There's lots to like about McCarthy.

7. Chicago Bears - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

The Bears stay aggressive to build the offense around Caleb Williams by trading up from 9 to get Odunze. Falcons are a threat to take him at 8. The Bears get a receiver who can help replace Keenan Allen who only has one year left on his contract and Caleb Williams gets to build rapport with another rookie.

8. Atlanta Falcons - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Even after signing Darnell Mooney and the litany of first-round skill players the Falcons can't pass on Nabers here. They know they have a limited window with Kirk Cousins and they need to elevate him as much as possible. Nabers makes that offense one of the scariest in the league.

9. Tennessee Titans - J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama

There's been a fair amount of smoke that the league likes Latham more than draft media does. Famed offensive line coach Bill Callahan gets a big road grading run blocker tackle to help improve the putrid line in Tennessee and they get more picks for the future.

10. New York Jets - Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

The whole city of New York might be screaming for Brock Bowers here but Fautanu is a home run for the Jets. They get a tackle who can play either side or kick inside if needed. With two tackles over the age of 32 and long injury histories, they need to get their best 5 on the field and add depth.

11. New England Patriots - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

The Patriots move all the way back to 11 and still get a potential blue chip player. He's a much different player than Gronk but the Patriots are better when they have a star tight end and they just need dudes on that offense. Bowers is a part of the solution.

12. Denver Broncos - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

After trading for Zach Wilson that feels like the end of the Broncos pursuing a QB in this draft. Considering the fact that Bo Nix is the same age as Wilson, the Broncos just need players. They've been so thin on picks but they get a stud to put on the other side of Patrick Surtain Jr.

13. Las Vegas Raiders - Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington

It seems like there has been more and more steam building for 5 QBs in this class. Mark Davis can't help himself after watching Penix dominate on his turf in the PAC-12 Championship. Gardner Minshew can help bring Penix along and provide insurance for a QB with a lengthy injury history.

14. New Orleans Saints - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

With the health questions surrounding Ryan Ramczyk and the struggles of Trevor Penning the Saints need tackles. Fuaga can help fix the right side of the line for them and bring some thump to their run game.

15. Indianapolis Colts - Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

After losing out on the L'Jarius Sneed trade the Colts make a move to bolster their secondary. Still unclear if DeJean is going to play on the outside, in the slot or at safety but one thing is clear: he's a stud. Get him in the building and figure out the rest later.

16. Buffalo Bills - Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU

The Bills have almost painted themselves into a corner here at receiver, and it feels highly likely they get aggressive. They make a big trade-up with the Seahawks to grab a player who can maximize Josh Allen's arm.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Byron Murphy II, IDL, Texas

The Jaguars can instantly become one of the best pass rush units in the league by adding Murphy to the mix. Josh Allen, Travon Walker, and Arik Armstead are a nasty front on passing downs. They can address the receiver and corner concerns on day 2.

18. Cincinnati Bengals - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The Bengals strike gold with the best pure pass protector in the class. Fashanu is much higher on our board, but for some reason, the league hasn't been as high on him. They now have the potential to move Fashanu or Orlando Brown to the right side.

19. Los Angeles Rams - Terrion Arnold, CB Alabama

The Rams' defense is a work in progress so they get the top defender still on the board. Arnold can come in and instantly be one of their top defenders on the defense.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

After trading Diontae Johnson, the Steelers are short-handed at receiver. They get a nice compliment for George Pickens in Worthy. The Russell Wilson moonball is back to being a factor with 4.21 speed on the field.

21. Miami Dolphins - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

The Dolphins get another piece to their offensive line with Mims. He can learn left tackle as Terron Armstead finishes out his career and also provides insurance for injury. Mims is a top 10 talent in the class with several risk factors bringing him down to pick 21.

22. Detroit Lions - Dallas Turner, ED, Alabama

The slide stops for one of the best athletes in the class. There are reasons why Dallas Turner could slide, but the Lions get aggressive to get their guy. Something they've done in the past. Aidan Hutchinson finally has a worthy running mate.

23. New England Patriots - Jared Verse, ED, Florida State

After the trade down, the Patriots walk away with Brock Bowers and Jared Verse—a nice haul. They still have more picks from the trade as well. Verse brings a traditional power and run defense profile that the Patriots have liked at edge.

24. Dallas Cowboys - Graham Barton, IOL, Duke

Cowboys get the best interior offensive lineman on the board. Barton is looked at as a center but could also mix in at guard and survive a game or two at tackle. He was an elite tester at the combine but dealt with injuries last year.

25. Green Bay Packers - Jer'Zhan Newton, IDL, Illinois

The Packers are going to take defense in the first round now and forever. Here they get a great value with Newton, who will be a nice pass-rushing option next to Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt.

26. Arizona Cardinals - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

The Cardinals stick and pick at 26 and get one of the top performers at the NFL combine. Wiggins has elite recovery speed and is a smooth mover when covering. His slender frame could be a concern for some teams but the Cardinals need dudes and Wiggins can help rebuild their secondary.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Laiatu Latu, ED, UCLA

The Bucs have went down the developmental pass rusher path before but now they get a much more finished product. Latu is a pass rush technician that gets to quarterback in any way he can. Medicals are why he is available at this point.

28. Seattle Seahawks - Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon

JPJ is a high-level athlete with a big frame and tons of strength. The Seahawks take him with his upside being higher across the interior than Zach Frazier who might be the best pure center. JPJ has lots of upside as a center but could move to guard too.

29. Philadelphia Eagles - Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

After a slight trade back, the Eagles go against everyone mocking them corners and decide to go in a different direction for Jalen Hurts. McConkey running out of the slot with AJ Brown and Devonta Smith is a nightmare for a defense. Don't forget about Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert too. McConkey is an elite route runner and can win outside or in the slot. Finally, a Georgia Bulldog on the Eagles.

30. Baltimore Ravens - Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

The Ravens continue to invest in weapons for Lamar Jackson by getting a true outside threat. Mitchell compliments Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews well and he can bring a contested catch element to the offense they don't have at the moment.

31. San Francisco 49'ers - Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

The Niners get a physical freak to help raise up the right side of their offensive line. Guyton is a project but betting on his traits, the team's skill at developing offensive line play, and possible mentorship from Trent Williams is a good one.

32. Kansas City Chiefs - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

The Chiefs have some options here. Kingsley Suamataia is still on the board and is a frequent mock for the Chiefs. However, the best player is McKinstry, a long-framed experienced corner at the top level of college football. He can play press, off-man, and zone coverage on the outside. A prospect to replace L'Jarius Sneed on the right side.

This article was originally published on arrowheadaddict.com as 2024 final first-round mock draft: KC Chiefs land impact starter in round 1.

2024-04-25T10:02:19Z dg43tfdfdgfd