Patrick Mahomes will hope Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs fortify a shaky offensive line during the 2021 NFL Draft. Last season’s runners-up need to get better at protecting the franchise after Mahomes was brutalized by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV.
Free agency could deplete an already suspect group, with guards Mike Remmers, Andrew Wylie, and Stefen Wisniewski set to test the market. Centers Daniel Kilgore and Austin Reiter will also be up for grabs.
It’s a similar story along the defensive line, where the Chiefs could use another edge-rusher to complement Frank Clark. A few fresh bodies would also be welcome at wide receiver, running back, and defensive tackle. Reid and general manager Brett Veach have eight picks to fix their needs. Multiple selections in Rounds four and five mean the Chiefs should find value from the middle of the board.
To help with this mock draft, I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Team Mock Drafts.
Round 1, Pick 31: Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson
Carman is a bit of a flier for the Chiefs with the 31st overall pick, but he reminds me of Jason Peters. Reid traded for Peters while in charge of the Philadelphia Eagles and knows the value of a man-mountain left tackle who can move in space. That’s Carman, who dealt with injuries in 2020 but still brought his 6’5″, 335-pound frame to bear often enough to make an impression. Serving as the chief minder for presumptive top pick Trevor Lawrence at Clemson is enough of an endorsement of Carman’s skills. The fact he still needs some developmental work would give the Chiefs flexibility over deciding the future of incumbent Eric Fisher.
Round 2, Pick 63: Patrick Jones II, DE, Pittsburgh
Clark is a stud on the edge, but he can’t bring the heat all by himself. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense needs another outside rusher opposing teams fear. Jones is a nice fit at the 63rd overall pick. He’s a classic 4-3 defensive end who wins with initial quickness and relentless hustle. Spags loves to scheme pressure, but there are times when every defense needs to trust its four-man front to get home. Taco Charlton, Alex Okafor, and Tanoh Kpassagnon are all ticketed for free agency, so the Chiefs needs to come out of this draft with at least one talented edge player.
Round 3, Pick 94: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
Spagnuolo could also use a thumper at the linebacker level, preferably one who is effective on the blitz. Enter Moses, who offers terrific value in round three. Moses never shied away from contact in the pits during his time at Mobile. The Chiefs could use some of that mentality after the way Leonard Fournette bludgeoned them on the ground during the Super Bowl. Moses would also give Spagnuolo a decisive, downhill destroyer to use in the fire-zone pressure packages he loves.
For more on Moses, check out our scouting report on him here.
Round 4, Pick 136: Whop Philyor, WR, Indiana
Philyor may have been born to play in a Reid-coached offense. The Indiana prospect is a slight and shifty burner who thrives from the slot but can be moved anywhere across the formation to create mismatches. That’s a major plus in a scheme based on misdirection, motion, and unorthodox use of primary weapons. Reid could lose Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson in free agency, but he’d have hours of fun scheming ways to turn Philyor loose.
Round 4, Pick 144: Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn
Like Philyor, Schwartz is another diminutive speedster who would help Reid restock the “Legion of Zoom.” There are shades of Tyreek Hill about Schwartz’s ability to stretch the field. He’s not going to beat a jam at the line of scrimmage, but then again not many defenses will play press against a 6’0″, 179-pounder with legitimate track speed.
Round 5, Pick 176: Tedarrell Slaton, DT, Florida
Chris Jones needs a partner in the middle of the Chiefs’ defensive line. Somebody able to occupy blockers and create push against the run. Slaton would be a great fit as a zero-technique capable of roughing up centers and letting linebackers flow freely to the ball. There’s still a chance 2019 third-rounder Khalen Saunders develops into this kind of presence, after flashing some potential last season, but Slaton would be too good to pass up at this stage.
Round 5, Pick 176: Pooka Williams, RB, Kansas
The Chiefs have already met with Williams. Their conversation may not have been a lengthy one, but the Chiefs will know how effective Williams’ versatility would be in their offense. He’s a Darren Sproles-type who is dynamic on one-cut-and-go runs. Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy would also find ways to use Williams’ flair as a receiver. Le’Veon Bell and Darrel Williams are headed for free agency, while fullback Anthony Sherman has retired, so the Chiefs need to add to their options in the backfield.
Kansas RB Pooka Williams, who just wrapped up his Pro Day workout today, says he had some predraft talks with the Chiefs. Williams, however, says they "didn't really talk too long."
— Herbie Teope (@HerbieTeope) March 5, 2021
Round 7, Pick 252: Jimmy Morrissey, C, Pittsburgh
As seventh-round picks go, Morrissey represents excellent value. A walk-on at Pittsburgh, he forged a fine collegiate career with the Panthers as a resourceful road-grader across the interior. Morrissey would give the Chiefs a tough, zone-based blocker fit to provide excellent depth at both center and guard. Based on how injuries cost his team in the Super Bowl, Reid needs his next men up in the trenches to be stronger in 2021.
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