I have struggled in evaluating this year's class. The fits I love I don't feel will be there. Most of the guys I like that should be there have major questions. The more I watch the WR class, the less I think it's all that much of a rare one because most have excessive warts and rankings are all over the place. At the end of the day, this mock always ends up a horrific miss anyhow. So here goes...
1-016 | WR Brian Thomas, Jr. - LSU (6'3" 209) Trade: 1-32, 2-64, 2025 3rd f/TEN to SEA for 1-16
When it comes down to it, you have to find ways to acquire premium players in the first round. Veach is a day 3 mastermind so I have some faith there that he'll find talent. It comes down to LT or WR and I just don't see talents who are worth their salt at LT being available beyond the 14th pick. Seattle is a prime trade partner with no 2nd round pick and primarily needs a major infusion of talent on the interior offensive line. The Chiefs could have the opportunity to move up and get an elite-level playmaker at WR here. I'd say re-sign Donovan Smith for another season at LT and call it a day. Thomas brings size, elite deep speed, and an LSU pedigree to the table. His 17 receiving TDs this year led the FBS. Thomas looks like a high-level, true #1 target and I don't get that vibe from any of the WRs that could be taken after him.
3-95 | TE Jared Wiley - TCU (6'6" 249)
My list of needs that I think KC should attempt to address this offseason includes WR, LT, IOL, and TE. I'm sticking as close to that theory as I can here and opting to go after a potential Kelce replacement with Wiley. He's the closest comp to Kelce in this draft. Wiley has great size, moves well, possesses good straight-line speed, and sports vice-grips for hands with only one drop in 120 career targets. He has good quickness, not elite, but it should be enough once he learns to run NFL-caliber routes to create space at the breakpoints. He's also a sound blocker. His 8 TDs and 5 red zone TDs this season both led the FBS for TEs. I don't think there's a more complete TE in this class when you look at size, speed, ability, and lack of baggage.
4-131 | OT Delmar Glaze - Maryland (6'4" 315)
Glaze is a smooth mover with outstanding width, premier arm length (34-7/8"), and outstanding grip strength. He has a strong anchor but his foot speed might not be good enough to remain at tackle in the NFL. He looks tailor-made to be an NFL guard though. Glaze takes great angles in the run game and has the athleticism to get to the second level and secure blocks in zone concepts. He played the entirety of his career at LT and RT but looks to have more than adequate lateral agility to handle interior duties and the haunches to anchor against power. At the end of the day, he could also function as a reserve swing OT but he'll need help to his outside with speed rushers who can really push the arc.
5-159 | DT Jaden Crumedy, Mississippi State (6'4" 304)
I really like Mississippi State DTs and Crumedy is no exception. He features outstanding quickness off the snap, which (to me) is trait priority number one, keeps a low pad level with good knee bend, and maintains his balance to stay off the ground and actively in the play. He's a guy that you can fire into the A or B gaps and has experience doing both, which bodes well for him seeing snaps at the 1 and 3 in our scheme. He needs to learn to use his hands with better efficiency and placement, though he has a decent two-arm similar to Chris Jones. He'll also have to maintain better gap control. In the end, Crumedy doesn't need that much work to get to where you need him to be to take meaningful reps, and could be a really good player in year two.
5-173 | WR Ainias Smith, Texas A&M (5'9" 190)
I don't know if there's a better overall gadget player in this class than Ainias Smith and he's one of the more elusive weapons to boot. His recovery from a stress fracture impacted his times in workouts. You can see on tape his quickness off the line and in/out of breaks. Smith has outstanding focus and makes plays on the interior in traffic. He was so valuable as a weapon for Texas A&M that they even had him line up in the backfield and take snaps at running back. Smith's elusiveness and ability to start/stop on a dime made him an excellent YAC player. What makes Smith even more attractive is that he was one of the best punt returners in the nation. If you can get an excellent slot player with special teams ability in the late 5th, consider it a win.
7-221 | RB Blake Watson, Memphis (5'9" 200)
Watson is a former WR turned RB so you know he can make his mark out of the backfield, and there was no doubt on film with 90 receptions for 794 yards and 5 TDs spread over the past two seasons. Watson possesses game-breaking speed (4.40) for the position and outstanding contact balance, which bodes well for his NFL prospects. He has good quickness to the hole and the patience and vision to set up cutbacks in zone. He's older than you like at 24.5, but he's a burn-and-turn guy that you're looking to make hay with as a 3rd down back on a rookie contract. He just has to clean up his pass-blocking to give himself a full-time job. Very much a McKinnon replacement type.
I like this a lot. Heavy infusion of talent on the offensive side of the ball, and a very solid pick at the DT spot. Very nice! :-)
I would like to try and hold on to the Tennessee 3rd rounder and move our 3rd rounder in next years draft, as Tennessee's pick will probably be 20/20+ spots higher than our pick. But I wouldn't let that be a deal breaker either.
I also agree with your take on BTJ. He is the one guy outside of the LT's that would be worth spending the draft capital on to move up for IMO. BTJ with Rice, Brown, and Kelce makes this offense elite again. [Reply]
This is the best mock draft I've seen yet dude. If Veach steals your idea and we end up with this haul, ill give you fellatio TO COMPLETION, no homo. [Reply]
BTJ is my last 1st round WR and I have him and Adonai in the same tier with the final decision on ranking based on team preference.
I agree that after him there is a significant drop in the talent level and expectation for the WR's.
While I have McConkey high 2nd I acknowledge that his type depends on situation because we have seen great route runners end up not getting used depending on the coaching staff. [Reply]
I agree with trading up with Seattle, but I don’t think I would do it for Thomas. We really don’t need superstar, wide receivers, we just need to make sure we don’t have terrible ones having to play like Moore and Toney last year. And it’s unclear if Thomas is that much better that others that we could get later on, especially Franklin. In my view.
I wonder what tackles you thought would be gone by the Seattle pick? Probably Alt and the 3 Fs, but what about Latham? I think he might be worth it at 16. And although we can get a good enough receiver, fairly easily in free agency and later on in the draft, I don’t think the same can be said about a long-term prospect at left tackle. That’s where I think we should concentrate in the draft. And we definitely should resign Smith ans insurance and hope he will be cheap like last year.
I also think if Bowers is available at 16, that would be a great trade up as it would give us another receiver, and an eventual replacement for Kelce. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Toad:
I’m gonna coat-tail on BTJ.
Out on a limb here, but just have a feeling that he will be the most successful WR out of this draft…
you're very very far out on that limb there [Reply]
KCCROW, I LOVE IT! you always work so hard on these each year and I think you did great! I get that some folks are not sure on trading up to 16 but, like you said, and I feel the same way, BTJ is the way to go! I said this from the start and regressed when I felt it might not be doable. If it takes loosing our second and giving up a 2025 3rd, then brother count me in! :-)
If all works out with Rice, then yes, this offense will be elite! Great job Crow :-) [Reply]
The OT from Maryand is the one guy I would question for the 131st pick in the draft. I don't know what else was available for you at that point, but from what I have read (all since this mock) nothing indicates massive upside. I might go a different player at pick 131. And I realize you were looking to move him to guard, which is a need IMO. Just hope he is better than the last guy from Kentucky that we looked to move from OT to OG. [Reply]
