The Kansas City Chiefs entered the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25 with seven picks over the three-day draft.
The Chiefs were set to pick last in the first round, but general manager Brett Veach has made it no secret he would like to move up for a difference-making player as the team sets its sights on a third straight Super Bowl championship.
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“Hopefully, we can find a trading partner,” Veach said last week.
It took a while, but they did Thursday night. The Chiefs traded up four spots with the Buffalo Bills and selected lightning-fast Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the No. 28 pick.
The Chiefs added Marquise Brown to their wide receivers group during the offseason, but they were eager to give quarterback Patrick Mahomes another deep threat. The uncertain future of second-year receiver Rashee Rice played a role.
Friday, the Chiefs traded up one spot with the San Francisco 49ers to fill their biggest need. They selected BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia with the No. 63 pick.
The Chiefs made a pair of picks late in the fourth round Saturday. They took TCU tight end Jared Wiley at No. 131 and Washington State safety Jaden Hicks at No. 133.
In the fifth round, the Chiefs took versatile Penn State offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad with the No. 159 pick.
In the sixth round, the Chiefs moved to shore up their cornerback depth after they traded L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans in the offseason. They selected Tennessee corner Kamal Hadden with the No. 211 pick.
GO DEEPER
How BYU bond with Andy Reid helped Kingsley Suamataia land with the Chiefs
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for analysis and grades for each Chiefs pick.
Round 1
No. 28 (from Bills): Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
How he fits
This feels like a very good fit for Kansas City’s offense and for Mahomes in general, as Worthy is very dynamic with the ball in his hands. However, he’s also very small at just 165 pounds. Whether he’ll be able to hold up with a high catch volume deep into a season is a fair question. He can be inconsistent with his hands, and his play strength will limit some of what he can do at the next level. It’s fair to wonder whether Worthy was a first-rounder in this draft, especially with some of the talent on the board. But it’s also tough to hate the fit. — Nick Baumgardner
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Dane Brugler’s analysis
“Worthy doesn’t have ideal size, toughness or play strength, but his dynamic speed and playmaking instincts make him a threat as both a wide receiver and return man. He doesn’t have the body of work of DeSean Jackson, but he teases similar flashes.”
Nate Taylor’s analysis
Kansas City Chiefs draft Xavier Worthy: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Nick Baumgardner’s grade: B
Round 1 grades for all 32 picks
Round 2
No. 63 (from 49ers): Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
How he fits
Suamataia likely will compete for the starting left tackle role with Wanya Morris, the team’s third-round pick last year. Landing a player to protect Mahomes’ blind side was the Chiefs’ most obvious need entering the draft. Suamataia has the physical skills to secure a long-term starting spot by midseason or in 2025.
Dane Brugler’s analysis
“Overall, Suamataia is still very young and lacks refinement in several areas, but his blend of size, mobility and core power is the foundation of a scheme-diverse NFL starter. He will require a patient coaching staff who can ease his transition to the pro level.”
Nate Taylor’s analysis
Kansas City Chiefs draft Kingsley Suamataia: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Scott Dochterman’s grade: B-plus
Nick Baumgardner, Scott Dochterman rate rounds 2-3
GO DEEPER
Chiefs excited to see what Xavier Worthy can do with Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid
Round 4
No. 131: Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
How he fits
Wiley led all tight ends in FBS last season with eight touchdowns. Listed at 6 feet 6 and 250 pounds, Wiley could be an exceptional blocker who offers versatility as a capable pass catcher.
Dane Brugler’s analysis
“A two-year starter at TCU, Wiley was a Y tight end in offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ scheme, lining up mostly inline (62.4 percent) and detached (32.0 percent). Briles’ offense utilized the tight end position more than Garrett Riley’s did in 2022, and the result was a career year for Wiley, who led all FBS tight ends with eight touchdown grabs as a super senior.
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“Wiley has vacuum hands (only one drop on 120 career targets) with functional quickness, although he must be more efficient with his route steps to keep defenders guessing. He has tools to work with as an inline blocker, but his inconsistent leverage and contact balance will show versus NFL competition.
“Overall, Wiley is more of a post-up target than a tight end who will consistently create space for himself, but he is a good-sized athlete with blocking toughness and ball skills. He projects as a rotational Y tight end who can gradually work his way to the top spot on the depth chart.”
No. 133 (from Bills): Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
How he fits
This is the Chiefs’ most surprising pick so far, simply based on need. But Brugler had Hicks graded as the 39th overall prospect and the best safety in his year’s class, so the value was there. Hicks had six tackles for loss, two interceptions and six pass breakups last season.
Dane Brugler’s analysis
“A two-year starter at Washington State, Hicks played strong safety in defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding’s 4-2-5 base and was asked to play the deep half, deep middle, in the box and over the slot. A late bloomer when he arrived in Pullman, the coaches kept putting more and more on his plate, and he developed into one of the top defensive backs in the Pac-12.
“With his versatile skill set, Hicks has the speed to play high and the toughness to play low, filling the alley with urgency or covering big targets in space. Although his read anticipation is a work in progress, he plays confident and free, trusting his athletic instincts to help him make plays.
“Overall, Hicks is a rangy, intimidating presence, both downhill and on the back end, and he offers the multidimensional traits to develop into an NFL starter. He projects as a scheme-friendly safety who should also contribute immediately on special teams.”
Round 5
No. 159 (from Cowboys): Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn State
How he fits
The Chiefs have a stud at center, Creed Humphrey, but Nourzad is a versatile interior lineman who could also play guard. Remember, left guard Joe Thuney is coming off a pec injury that kept him out of the Super Bowl. Nourzad was Brugler’s 128th overall prospect.
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Dane Brugler’s analysis
“A two-year starter at Penn State, Nourzad kicked inside to center in former offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich’s multiple-run scheme. After four years at Cornell, he transferred to State College and earned All-Big Ten honors as a guard in 2022 before replacing Juice Scruggs at center in 2023.
“Nourzad is an analytical thinker when it comes to constructing and executing his blocks (holds an Ivy League engineering degree), relying on leverage and snatching hands to win in pass protection. Despite concerns about his core power, he is a strong run blocker and looks to aggressively finish.
“Overall, Nourzad might be this year’s Tyler Biadasz, as he lacks overwhelming strength or elite athleticism but maximizes what he has with smarts, physicality and well-schooled technique. He has center-guard experience and should compete for starting reps as early as his rookie season.”
Round 6
No. 211 (from 49ers): Kamal Hadden, CB, Tennessee
How he fits
Cornerback was a clear need for the Chiefs after they traded Sneed to the Titans. Hadden, Brugler’s 29th-ranked cornerback and No. 215 overall player, has the size the Chiefs look for at 6-1, 192 pounds. He produced six interceptions and 18 pass breakups over the last three seasons. He had season-ending surgery on his right shoulder in October.
Dane Brugler’s analysis
“A three-year starter at Tennessee, Hadden played left and right outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Tim Banks’ scheme (rarely used over the slot). After arriving from the juco level, he battled several injury setbacks during his three seasons in Knoxville, but he was one of the Vols’ top defenders when healthy (led the team in passes defended and interceptions in 2023, despite missing the final six games).
“A well-built athlete, Hadden plays sticky coverage, because of his pattern recognition, foot quickness and play confidence. Though he shows a unique feel for route development, he is guilty of grabbing mid-transition and needs to play with cleaner technique to compensate for his tight movements.
“Overall, Hadden’s lack of desired speed, twitch and durability for the position are red flags, but he plays with the decisive trigger that leads to ball production. He is a prototypical Cover-2 cornerback.”
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Round 7
No. 248 (from Bills): C.J. Hanson, G, Holy Cross
How he fits
You can’t invest too much in the men who protect the NFL’s best quarterback, right? Hanson, Brugler’s 21st-ranked guard prospect and No. 255 overall, adds to the depth on the offensive line
Dane Brugler’s analysis
“A three-year starter, Hanson (6-5, 300) was a fixture at right guard in Holy Cross’ balanced scheme. A late bloomer, he started only one season of high school football before helping the Crusaders to five straight Patriot League championships in his five seasons with the program (became just the third player in school history invited to the NFL Scouting Combine).
“Hanson has the phone-booth quickness to maintain the integrity of the pocket when his hands and feet work in concert, although his rhythm falls apart due to below-average length and core strength by NFL standards. He is a grappler in the run game who is constantly working to gain leverage, but he can get tossed if his technique isn’t perfect.
“Overall, Hanson has functional movements and really focuses on the fundamental details of the position, but he will need to get stronger to outlast defenders in the NFL. He projects as a potential reserve on the interior.”
(Photo of Xavier Worthy: Tim Warner / Getty Images)
