The Kansas City Chiefs recently made a pair of key decisions that will shape the course of the 2023 NFL offseason for the team.
Orlando Brown Jr. won’t receive the franchise tag, likely leaving him to test the free agent market. Frank Clark is expected to be released, making him the second former trade acquisition likely parting ways with Kansas City.
These two choices will certainly guide decisions made in the upcoming free agency period, but also the 2023 NFL draft. Without knowing what Brett Veach has up his sleeve come March 15, we’re taking a look forward to April’s draft. How could the departures of Clark and Brown Jr. impact their selections?
Below we’ve got a fresh three-round mock draft exploring what the Chiefs might do given the strength of the draft class and their current needs:
31. Oklahoma LT Anton Harrison
If the Chiefs are waiting until the draft to find their solution at the left tackle position, I suspect that they’re going to want to trade up to get him and not wait until pick No. 31 (I’d be anxious to jump the Bengals at 28 and possibly even higher). That said, we’re staying away from trades until compensatory picks and the 2023 NFL draft order are finalized (soon). Now, on to our pick.
You’re going to see plenty of Chiefs media and draftniks swooning over Harrison (6-foot-4, 315 pounds, 34 1/8-inch arms) in the coming months and for good reason. He’s just 21 years old and loaded with promise and potential. He has eye-popping athleticism (showcased at the combine), impressive play strength and a very technical understanding of the game at such a young age. He gives defensive ends fits in pass protection, boasting great footwork and grip that helps him counter their every move.
If Harrison is the guy, I have little doubt that he can come in and be a successful left tackle either immediately or in the future. Maybe he starts on the right side with a veteran free agent acquisition filling in at left tackle for a year. Selecting him in the first round as opposed to a little later might simply come down to having that fifth-year option available. Five years of control is the perfect long-term solution at the left tackle spot given current financial restraints.
63. Auburn EDGE Derick Hall
With Frank Clark no longer in the fold and Carlos Dunlap’s future unclear, the Chiefs again may need to prioritize the edge rusher position. There will be a lot of veteran options to explore in free agency, but investing in the position in the draft might not be a bad idea this year either.
Hall (6-foot-3, 257 pounds) was really productive over the past two seasons at Auburn, recording 112 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception in that span. Steve Spagnuolo is a sucker for power and smart play in the run game, which both really show up often in Hall’s film. He’s a highly-skilled player and one that would immediately upgrade the team’s depth at the edge rusher position. If you can get him anywhere outside of the top 30 picks, I’d consider it a steal.
95. Texas DT Moro Ojomo
The NFL Scouting Combine helped this prospect in a big way. Weighing in at 6-foot-3 and 291 pounds, Ojomo posted some impressive scores on the vertical jump (33 inches), broad jump (112 inches) and in his 40-yard dash (5.04s). I won’t be shocked if Andy Reid and Brett Veach look at this player and see shades of Fletcher Cox coming out of Mississippi State.
The thing that probably hurts Ojomo the most and will stop him from going sooner is production. His 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2022 were a career-high for him in his fifth-year senior season. He also played with some other talented players like Keondre Coburn, which always clouds evaluations. That said, I think the athletic upside and tape make this a worthwhile investment. He needs some coaching and refinement, but he’ll certainly be able to work into the rotation up-front right away.
