Chiefs NFL Draft big board: 26 intriguing prospects to watch after free-agency moves

Less than a month before the NFL Draft, the Kanasa City Chiefs are in the process of finishing their draft board, the long list of prospects they’ve ranked after reviewing hours of film and interviews at the combine, pro days and pre-draft visits at their facility.

The Chiefs have 72 players on their roster. Entering the draft, the Chiefs’ top three positions of need are pretty clear — defensive lineman, offensive tackle and running back.

The Chiefs have the 31st pick in the first round and the 63rd overall in the second, plus the 66th pick in the third round, which they acquired from the Tennessee Titans in the L’Jarius Sneed trade.

After the major moves in free agency, let’s look at an updated list of the prospects in this year’s class who could be a fit for the Chiefs. Just as we did a month ago, we’ll also use the updated big board and latest mock draft from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler as proper guides. Not all of the players listed below will be available at No. 31, but it’s always possible general manager Brett Veach will trade up.

Here’s our projection for how the Chiefs’ wish list could look on Days 1 and 2.

Note: Brugler’s overall ranking for each player is listed in parentheses.

Trade-up targets

Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia (16)

One reason Williams might slip in the first round is that he spent much of last season playing through a nagging ankle injury. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Williams is a pass rusher worthy of Veach making a move if the prospect is available after the 20th pick.

Brugler’s take: Williams has the length and physical traits that have teams excited about his NFL future. He is an outstanding run defender and holds a lot of promise as a pass rusher.

Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State (17)

A left tackle prospect, Simmons is talented enough to be a Day 1 starter for the Chiefs if they choose to trade up in the first round. He could fall into the late first round because of the non-contact knee injury that ended his final college season. When healthy, though, he is a quality pass blocker.

Brugler’s take: His projection is still somewhat in limbo until NFL teams get updated medical info on his patella injury. If fully healthy, Simmons has the body control and nimble feet to be a starting blindside tackle in the NFL.

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon (19)

A month ago, the Chiefs had only one defensive tackle under contract for 2025: Chris Jones. Since then, Veach acquired Jerry Tillery in free agency and re-signed Mike Pennel, each player signing a one-year deal. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Chiefs selected a defensive lineman in the first round.

Brugler’s take: He must become a more consistent finisher, but there wasn’t a more disruptive interior defensive lineman in college football this season.

Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (20)

This would be a luxury selection. But the Chiefs could always see value in adding another quality receiver as a long-term, legitimate option alongside Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, especially because veteran Marquise Brown re-signed on another one-year deal. Burden plays bigger than his 5-11 frame and has good speed to work in the middle of the field. He also has above-average run-after-catch skills, which the Chiefs always covet with their pass catchers.

Brugler’s take: Because of his run-after-catch skills, Burden saw a high volume of quick hitters and crossers, which showcased his any-direction burst and physicality to give defenders the shake.

Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (26)

Brugler describes Grant as a powerful 340-pound boulder. Kansas City could definitely use that on its roster alongside Jones. At 6-3, Grant has similar traits to Jones, so it would be interesting to see how much the veteran could teach the rookie next season.

Brugler’s take: Do teams wish the tape was more consistent? No question. But the NFL is a big man’s league, and there aren’t many with Grant’s combination of size and ability in this class.

Options at No. 31

Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss (29)

The Chiefs targeting Nolen makes a lot of sense. They need to add another interior defensive lineman and Nolen has plenty of talent to be a pass rusher who can learn and develop next to Jones, the Chiefs’ best defender. Nolen, 6-4 and 296 pounds, was a first-team All-American last season, producing 6 1/2 sacks, and 14 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and three pass breakups. He possesses explosiveness, above-average strength and playmaking ability to be successful in one-on-one matchups.

Brugler’s take: With his length and surge off the ball, Nolen creates immediate force and can be a play-wrecker because of how quickly he penetrates gaps. He generates the type of leverage that forces holding calls.

Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE, Boston College (30)

The Chiefs need another athletic edge rusher. They still have George Karlaftis, who is a bull in terms of tenacity and relentless pursuit of the quarterback. Ezeiruaku would bring a nice balance on the opposite side. He can win one-on-one matchups with his athleticism. He ranked top three in the FBS last season in sacks (16 1/2) and tackles for loss (20 1/2).

Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon (31)

The Chiefs’ first move in free agency was to sign Jaylon Moore to a two-year deal as the team’s projected starting left tackle. But if Conerly is available, the Chiefs should consider selecting him as a potential future starter.

Brugler’s take: Conerly, who had the best 10-yard split of any lineman at the combine, has high-level quickness and recovery balance.

Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State (33)

Williams is expected to make an impact as a dominant run defender. Kansas City needs a player like that next to Jones. Brugler says Williams is one of the best run-defending linemen in this draft. Williams could spend his rookie season learning under Pennel.

Donovan Jackson, OT, Ohio State (34)

Jackson has exceptional strength and appears to have the fluid footwork necessary to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. After switching to left tackle late last season, he produced an impeccable playoff run that helped Ohio State win the national championship. Jackson’s punch against edge rushers was noticeable, a trait the Chiefs need to help elevate their passing attack.

Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa (35)

Johnson might have the perfect blend of skills that Veach and company are looking for in a running back. He has a smooth running style with quality vision and has the skills to be a three-down back, too.

Brugler’s take: Despite consistently facing stacked boxes (Iowa ranked 130th out of 133 FBS teams last season in passing offense), Johnson shined on outside-zone runs. He is at his best when he can quickly read and set up his blocks and anticipate backside/frontside lanes to find yardage that isn’t there. Though he’s not as loose as Le’Veon Bell, Johnson has a similar run style with a three-down skill set.

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina (36)

Showcasing patience and speed, Hampton rushed for 100-plus yards in 10 of 12 games last season and set a North Carolina single-season record with 2,033 all-purpose yards. His skills as a receiver should be intriguing for Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.

Second round

Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (39)

Arroyo is a compelling option if he falls in the second round. He is a super-talented athlete listed at 6-5 and 250 pounds. Of course, Arroyo could spend his rookie season learning from future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce, who could retire after the 2025 season. Last season, 71.4 percent of Arroyo’s 35 receptions resulted in a first down or touchdown. His top speed was 21.8 mph. Just six NFL players had a higher max ball-carrier speed in 2024, according to Next Gen Stats.

Brugler’s take: He will need to prove himself through contact in the passing game at the next level, where he won’t be given as much space to operate.

JT Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State (41)

Similar to Karlaftis, Tuimoloau can rush the quarterback with power, be a plus defender when setting the edge against the run and be tenacious enough to make second-effort splash highlights.

Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State (42)

Thomas looks like the prototypical cornerback defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo covets. The 6-2 Thomas recovers well from missteps, which leads to him rarely getting beat over the top.

Brugler’s take: His strengths are his length and physicality to disrupt the timing of routes and be a factor at the catch point. That said, you would like to see him come away with more interceptions.

Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State (48)

Kansas City should consider using one of its Day 2 picks on a receiver, perhaps a prospect who has good speed but offers bigger size than the 5-11, 165-pound Worthy. Higgins, who is 6-4, generated more than 2,000 receiving yards over the past two seasons with the Cyclones.

Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M (53)

Brugler’s take: A thickly built, high-motor rusher, Scourton is a banshee off the edge with the quickness and power to work half-a-man and wear down blockers. His game plan, however, is overly reliant on effort because of his average athletic tools, which keeps his approach relatively basic. Still, his aggressive worker-bee play style should translate to NFL starting snaps.

Jordan James, RB, Oregon (62)

If the Chiefs want a solid back, James is a worthy prospect. Listed at 5-10, he may not be the best in pass protection. But he can run the ball well and has the receiving skills to warrant consideration early in the third round.

Third round

Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss (68)

If Higgins is off the board, the 6-3 Harris is another capable option. He still has the stride speed to be a factor on the perimeter. Harris could be a fit next to Rice and Worthy. The best parts of his game, Brugler said, are his hand-eye coordination and finishing toughness to make catches over defensive backs.

Brugler’s take: He can be a productive Robin for an NFL offense that already has a go-to target.

Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State (70)

Judkins has the skills to be an above-average early-down back in the NFL. His best traits are his play strength and run toughness. He scored three touchdowns in Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame in the national championship game.

Ashton Gillotte, DE, Louisville (71)

Gillotte could be an ascending player in the NFL. He offers good strength and tenacity off the edge and does provide some position versatility as he can slide to the interior on third-down snaps.

Brugler’s take: Although his sack numbers dipped as a senior, he had more pressures created in 2024 (60) than in 2023 (58). His speed and flexibility as a high-side rusher are mediocre, but Gillotte creates leveraged power and natural downhill force with the way he fires off the ball and delivers pop at contact.

Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky (76)

Walker is a 340-pounder with a combination of size, strength and quick feet. His tape offers plenty of flashes where he created negative plays.

Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College (81)

Trapilo is an intriguing right tackle prospect. In the past two seasons, Trapilo has been a quality starter at the position, allowing just two sacks in 747 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor is unlikely to be on the Chiefs’ roster in 2026 as they could save $20 million by releasing him next year with $7.4 million in dead money, according to Over The Cap. If that occurs, Trapilo could enter training camp in 2026 in a battle with Wanya Morris and Ethan Driskell for the starting role.

Brugler’s take: Although he never had the chance to see his late father, Steve, play in the NFL, Ozzy Trapilo has the same offensive line talent in his DNA, with natural movements and technical control. He needs to be more consistent blocking low to high in the run game, but he quickly establishes body positioning to manipulate spacing and cut off defenders.

Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss (93)

Amos is 6-foot, has 32-inch arms and played in college below the Mason-Dixon Line. He’s a perfect prospect for Spagnuolo.

Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss (100)

Even though the Chiefs retained Nick Bolton in free agency, it might be wise for them to take a swing at Paul. Brugler called him a linebacker who sees the field well and had the dirtiest jersey on each tape he studied.

DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State (NR)

Giddens offers the right combination of speed (he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds), vision and good hands as a receiver to be a part of the Chiefs’ rotation next season. Another reason the Chiefs should consider selecting a running back in the third round of the draft is that they don’t have a capable player at the position under contract for 2026.

(Photo of Donovan Ezeiruaku: Brian Fluharty / Imagn Images)



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