The Kansas City Chiefs will make their first selection in the 2023 NFL draft on Day 1. They’re slated to make just one pick at the bottom of the first round at pick No. 31. That is, of course, assuming that Chiefs GM Brett Veach doesn’t decide to trade up in the first round or trade down to acquire more picks.
There are a number of ways that the draft could unfold for Kansas City. Below you’ll find some predictions from a few of our writers on how it could turn out for the Chiefs:
Charles Goldman’s prediction:
I get the sense that the Chiefs are going to do everything in their power to trade up in the first round. Not just because the 2023 NFL draft is in Kansas City, but because of their desire to land an impact player at a position that might lack depth in this class. Whether that’s offensive tackle, wide receiver, defensive lineman or otherwise remains to be seen. For all the noise at the receiver position, I think Kansas City’s interest there might be a bit overblown and might be serving an entirely different purpose.
If Kansas City stays at pick No. 31, I think it’ll mean that a few different things have happened. The first of those things — all five quarterbacks who are expected to go in the first round actually go in the first round. A second possibility? An early run on the center position pushes some talent down the board. There’s a lack of true centers in this class and over six teams with needs at the position.
A potential surprise position for Kansas City at pick No. 31? Cornerback. The Chiefs invested heavily in the position a season ago, but another addition could help open up Steve Spagnuolo’s playbook even further. It’d also provide the team with elite depth at the position for a year before they make a decision on L’Jarius Sneed, who is set to become a free agent in 2024.
Personally, I’d love to see the team continue to make some investments along the defensive line. I wouldn’t hate it if they traded up to secure a player like Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith. If they stay at 31, an investment in either hometown kid in Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adewabore or K-State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah would certainly make for quite the story.
Wesley Roesch's prediction:
At this time last year, I felt like I had a good grasp of where the Chiefs would go in the draft. This year, I have the opposite feeling. I have thoughts on which positions the Chiefs will likely target, but I have no idea when they’ll target them.
Kudos to general manager Brett Veach for keeping us on our toes. He could trade up, trade back, or stay put and take another round-one running back and none of us would be surprised either way. It’s draft wizardry that has allowed the Chiefs to continue churning over a roster good enough for Patrick Mahomes to win a Super Bowl with (twice, so far).
Since I must throw my predictions in writing, my guess is the Chiefs actually stay put at No. 31 this year and draft an offensive tackle. Why? Because I’m not sure whether the players that they’d be willing to trade up for will actually fall far enough for them to accomplish a trade-up without having to sell the farm. Not that Veach isn’t capable of that, but it’d require so much capital for this team to move up into the teens or even early twenties.
The Chiefs could trade down, but they might want that juicy fifth-year option, especially with a potential starting right tackle like Dawand Jones, or even a future starting left tackle like Anton Harrison. Of course, if a good receiver (Quentin Johnson, Jordan Addison), edge rusher (Nolan Smith, Myles Murphy) or defensive tackle (Bryan Bresee) falls, I could see them opting for any of those guys as well. But for now, I’ll stick with my OT pick.
Nick Roesch's prediction:
My personal preference is that the Chiefs continue to put emphasis on building the trenches, particularly the offensive line. The closer we get to draft day; however, it’s starting to feel like they’re going to trade up for a receiver, and they have plenty of ammo to do so.
It’s hard to believe the Chiefs would bother getting guys like Zay Flowers and Quentin Johnston to go work out with Patrick Mahomes for nothing. If I had to lock in an official prediction, I’m saying they trade up to the early twenties and take Johnston. I think Flowers is going to go in the early-to mid-teens.
Just because I would prefer an offensive tackle doesn’t mean I’m against K.C. taking a WR. It’s certainly a need and there are plenty of good fits even beyond Johnston and Flowers, such as Jordan Addison and Jalin Hyatt. Of course, you can’t completely dismiss the possibility that the Chiefs go with OT or EDGE.
Both Anton Harrison and Dawand Jones could be available at No. 31, allowing them to get a quality OT without having to trade up. Quality EDGE guys such as Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Will McDonald IV could also be available at 31. There could also be an unlikely but not impossible scenario where the Chiefs trade up for and EDGE defender such as Nolan Smith or Myles Murphy.
