On Wednesday, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller tallied up what he believed had been the 100 finest picks throughout final weekend’s 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. Miller selected to incorporate 5 of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ seven picks on his record. Three different groups — the Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams — additionally positioned 5 picks on Miller’s record, however solely the Lions had the next proportion of their picks make this rating.
The Chiefs’ first choose was ranked behind the Chicago Bears’ number of huge receiver Rome Odunze, Chicago’s choose of quarterback Caleb Williams and the Arizona Cardinals’ determination to take Marvin Harrison, Jr.
4. WR Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Decide 1-28)My remaining general rating: No. 25
The NFL significantly let the quickest individual ever timed on the mix (4.21 seconds) go to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs? After two years of desperately attempting so as to add a speedy goal to switch Tyreek Hill, GM Brett Veach moved up 4 spots within the first spherical to get his man. Worthy is a harmful deep menace but in addition has a various set of route expertise and may change the sport as a punt returner.
Whereas Arrowhead Satisfaction’s consensus draft prospect rating enumerated Worthy thirty fifth — making him a seven-spot attain on the draft’s twenty eighth choose — Miller had ranked the Texas wideout because the Twenty fifth-best prospect. That’s one of many causes he’s ranked Kansas Metropolis’s first-round choice so extremely.
However he’s defined the opposite one, too: Worthy might be precisely the participant the Chiefs have been looking for since buying and selling Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins. Because the weeks earlier than the draft wound down, many Kansas Metropolis followers had cooled on Worthy. If the Chiefs might win two consecutive Tremendous Bowls with no participant like Hill, was it essential for the workforce to maintain looking for one?
And but… the workforce appears to have seen it in another way. And outdoors of Chiefs followers, few observers appear to assume Kansas Metropolis ought to have taken a much bigger, heavier goal (equivalent to Adonai Mitchell, Ladd McConkey or Xavier Legette) for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
It is going to be years earlier than we all know whether or not the Chiefs made the precise determination. However it’s most likely good for Kansas Metropolis followers to be reminded that Worthy’s acquisition has struck worry throughout most different fanbases. That ought to inform us one thing.
18. TE Jared Wiley, TE, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Decide 4-131)My remaining general rating: No. 83
Within the 2013 draft, the Chiefs chosen a quarterback-turned-tight-end with nice traits named Travis Kelce. Within the 2024 draft, they drafted a quarterback-turned-tight-end with nice traits in Wiley. No, I’m not saying he’ll be the following Kelce, however Veach and coach Andy Reid know former QBs make nice tight ends as a result of they perceive all the offense and are nice at discovering house on the fly. His 6-foot-6 measurement and potential are intriguing sufficient to make this one of many extra enjoyable developmental picks within the class.
With this choose — the Chiefs’ second amongst Miller’s high 20 — Kansas Metropolis appears to be attempting to get forward of the curve; Wiley appears to be like like somebody meant to fill the essential function Kelce holds within the workforce’s offense. As Miller notes, this doesn’t imply Wiley would be the subsequent Kelce — it might be silly to foretell that — nevertheless it’s fairly straightforward to see that when the celebrity tight finish chooses to go away the sport, somebody must be able to step in. Just like the workforce, Miller believes Wiley can do it.
61. CB Kamal Hadden, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Decide 6-211)My remaining general rating: No. 126
The Chiefs are one of many NFL’s finest groups at discovering defensive backs on Day 3, and Hadden may be the following in that line. He has wonderful measurement at 6-foot-1 and 196 kilos, and he confirmed the ball expertise to be a key NFL participant in school (three interceptions in 2023). With L’Jarius Sneed traded to Tennessee, Hadden has a path to early enjoying time.
74. S Jaden Hicks, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Decide 4-133)My remaining general rating: No. 57
Hicks had buzz as the highest security within the class, making this an ideal get for the Chiefs. He has expertise at security, inside linebacker and slot nook, and he might be a Drue Tranquill-like participant in Steve Spagnuolo’s protection.
85. OT Kingsley Suamataia, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Decide 2-63)My remaining general rating: No. 64
The connections between Suamataia and Kansas Metropolis had been red-hot earlier than the draft, so it’s not a shock that the workforce chosen him in Spherical 2. The query can be the place he performs. The Chiefs have a necessity at left deal with, however Wanya Morris performed nicely when thrust into motion late final season as a rookie. May Suamataia be a future alternative for expensive proper deal with Jawaan Taylor, given his struggles in 2023? I believe so.
As I proceed to apply saying his identify (SOO-uh-mah-tah-EE-uh), I turn into an increasing number of satisfied that the Chiefs made a superb determination to take the previous BYU deal with with their second-round choose; I’d most likely place him not less than third on this record.
However Miller is true about Hadden and Hicks: if there’s one factor basic supervisor Brett Veach has proved, it’s that he can discover terrific defensive backs within the draft’s late rounds. However every Could, we should always remind ourselves that there’s hardly something simpler for followers to do than discuss themselves into agreeing with their workforce’s draft picks.
Nonetheless, some picks will finally find yourself being higher than others — and Miller’s rating is one other indicator that on this draft, the Chiefs obtained extra of these than most different groups.
