What’s the ideal haul for Chiefs in NFL Draft? These players are perfect fits

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach reveals more than most of his peers ahead of the NFL Draft.

But there’s one thing he cannot answer — even if he somehow felt so inclined:

Which direction will the Chiefs go with the 31st overall pick?

There was a funny contrast Tuesday in Nashville, where general manager Mike Borgonzi, formerly Veach’s assistant, said the Titans will keep the No. 1 overall pick rather than trade it away. Borgonzi knows exactly what direction he’s headed.

Veach, his former boss, is in the dark.

So let’s give him — and the Chiefs — a little more control. Who should they hope to pick at No. 31?

That’s the exercise that prompted the ensuing selections from the four of us who will supply boots-on-the-ground Chiefs draft coverage from the team’s facility this week — Jesse Newell, Vahe Gregorian, Blair Kerkhoff and myself, Sam McDowell.

What’s best-case scenario for the Chiefs in Thursday night’s first round?

Sam McDowell: Derrick Harmon, Oregon, DT

The Chiefs spent free agency positioning themselves to have the freedom to move in a few different direction on the draft’s opening night.

But all things equal? They have to affect the quarterback at a greater rate than they did a year ago, when they were just 22nd in sack rate and 18th in pressure rate — despite blitzing the fifth most in the NFL.

The non-Chris Jones options have to win more one-on-one, and Derrick Harmon won more than any interior linemen in college football.

Literally.

He recorded 55 pressures from the interior, per PFF numbers. Second most on the list was just 44.

Harmon, who is still just 21, is an imposing presence at 6-foot-5, but it’s the explosiveness off the line of scrimmage that really stands out. He already has a variety of moves, even if he’ll still require some coaching to put it all together.

Chris Jones turns 31 in July. It’s not a bad idea to consider the future before you really need to consider it.

One last thing: There’s a reason I put my pick atop this list. You just might see his name a second time here. But I’ll do what the Chiefs should do in the chance Harmon is available at No. 31:

I’m calling dibs.

Vahe Gregorian: Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon, OT

Bolstered by free agency, including adding Jaylon Moore at the neon-glaring left tackle position, the Chiefs theoretically enter Thursday free to maximize their draft board for the most value at any given position.

And starting with a need for depth everywhere, there are fine reasons to suppose they might trade down out of the first round to add on to the eight picks they have.

But I can’t get past the damage done last year through left tackle, which became a turnstile — both in the sense of the Chiefs desperately deploying four players there and opponents often whirling right on by. Combine that with the fact Moore has started just 12 games in four NFL seasons, and I think the Chiefs must strive to first do no more harm on Patrick Mahomes’ blind side.

The price likely would be unpalatable to trade up for the top few LT prospects, but just below that tier looms Oregon’s intriguing Josh Conerly Jr. — who widely is expected to still be on the board when the Chiefs pick at 31.

Blair Kerkhoff: Luther Burden, Missouri, WR

The Chiefs have identified talented wide receivers at or near the top of their draft board the past two years, and I’d like to see the trend continue by selecting Missouri’s Luther Burden III in the first round.

Getting the offense back to its 2018-2022 form takes adding weapons, and there could be game-breaking wide receivers available at No. 31. Burden is a yards-after-catch specialist with excellent speed and toughness.

I think if the Chiefs select a left tackle, they’ll have traded up. If they take an edge or defensive tackle they’ll find quality at their draft spot.

If they take Burden, they’ll have landed one of the top wide receivers in the draft.

Jesse Newell: Derrick Harmon, Oregon, DT

Sometimes, a player checks too many boxes to ignore. And Harmon from Oregon certainly qualifies when potentially projecting him to the Chiefs in Round 1.

KC needs defensive linemen, and this is a deeper draft there, meaning Harmon could fall to the late first round in 2025 when he might not in other years.

Harmon reportedly met with the Chiefs at the NFL Combine. And though his recent stock has risen in the last week according to Grinding The Mocks, he still potentially could be in play for KC at 31 or also with a small trade-up.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Harmon is only 21 years old, which fits Veach’s preference for younger players. Harmon also told NBC Sports at the combine that Jones is one of the players he’d most like to emulate in the pros.

Seems like he’d be a great fit next to Jones if he makes it to 31.

This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "What’s the ideal haul for Chiefs in NFL Draft? These players are perfect fits."