Breaking down Chiefs’ picks in Touchdown Wire’s latest 3-round mock draft
It won’t be long now, Chiefs Kingdom.
The 2023 NFL draft is just around the bend and we’re seeing plenty of intriguing mock draft scenarios for the Kansas City Chiefs as a result.
Our friend Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire released a brand-new mock draft that covers the first three rounds. He hits what are considered the three biggest needs for the Chiefs with his picks made and even provided a little fanfare by sending the team a Kansas City local in his mock draft.
Here’s a quick reaction to the players sent to the Chiefs in this mock draft:
Round 1, Pick 31: Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison
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Andy Reid lost both of his starting offensive tackles (Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie) in free agency, and responded to that by signing former Jaguars tackle Jawaan Taylor to a four-year, $80 million contract with $60 million guaranteed. Now, Taylor is a right tackle, and while the Chiefs have made all the right noises about his ability to move to the left side, we’re of the opinion that they should leave Taylor where he’s most comfortable, and get a guy who has already proven to be a natural to his quarterback’s blind side. That would be Harrison, who is as clean a pass-protector in this class, has run-blocking potential, and is consistent in his mechanics and technique. With this move, Kansas City’s offensive line should rival the NFL’s best.
I’m feeling more and more like the Chiefs are intent on drafting an offensive tackle early. They’ve done a ton of work on this offensive tackle class. The latest buzz has been surrounding the defensive line and wide receiver position, but it feels like K.C. could still use an upgrade at tackle opposite Jawaan Taylor on whatever side he plays on. Andy Reid and Brett Veach have been consistent in their messaging that they’re confident in Taylor’s ability to play left tackle, but if they were to draft a left tackle, they’d keep Taylor on the right side.
Round 2, Pick 63: Kansas State EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
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There are plenty of people (myself included) that would be thrilled to get Felix Anudike-Uzomah at pick No. 31. After all, he’s a big, productive edge rusher who went to a school just up the road in Manhattan, Kansas. Getting FAU at this point in Round 2 would be a verifiable steal for Brett Veach and a really cool moment for the Kansas City native.
Round 3, Pick 95: Iowa State WR Xavier Hutchinson
Margaret Kispert/The Des Moines Register
I’ve also made this exact pick for the Chiefs at pick No. 95. I know it’d be uncomfortable for many K.C. fans to wait this long to grab a receiver prospect in the draft. This past season Hutchinson started 12 games for Iowa State, recording 107 receptions for 1,171 yards and six touchdowns. He’s got good size at 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds with the ability to box out smaller DBs and make some physical and contested grabs.
