Final KC Chiefs 2023 Seven-Round NFL Mock Draft
The day of the 2023 NFL Draft is officially here, and the Kansas City Chiefs will soon be in their draft day war room navigating one of the busiest events of the league year.
This year's class features plenty of high-upside and relatively "safe" picks alike, and it has considerable depth at multiple positions Kansas City should be interested in. General manager Brett Veach spoke late last week about the state of the roster, only adding more fuel to the fire that is the mass of folks attempting to guess what he'll do in the draft.
In the official Arrowhead Report Chiefs Mock 1.0, Mock 2.0, Mock 3.0, Mock 4.0 and Mock 5.0, I followed a specific set of rules. In Mock 6.0, the final edition of the year, those rules are going by the wayside. Arrowhead Report's Zack Eisen joined me for one last complete Chiefs mock draft, which includes some realistic trades up and down the board.
This mock came from the NFL Mock Draft Database. Trades were verified with the Rich Hill Trade Value Chart to ensure that things came out evenly. Now, let's take a look at some prospects in the last Arrowhead Report mock draft of the 2023 draft cycle.
Round 1, Pick 23: Jordan Addison (WR, USC)
Trade: Chiefs send 1.31, 3.95 and 4.134 to Minnesota for 1.23 and 6.211
Foote's Take: Jordan Addison is a super impressive wideout who is worthy of a first-round pick. In fact, depending on how the run on top-flight wideouts goes before the Chiefs' pick, he's even worth trading up for. That's what happens in this scenario, as Kansas City lands a smooth operator and someone who should be able to gain consistent separation against zone or even man coverage while developing solid chemistry with Patrick Mahomes over the course of his rookie contract.
Eisen's Take: The wide receiver that makes the most sense for the Chiefs is Jordan Addison. The readiness to contribute immediately and the growth upside would significantly boost the Chiefs' offense. Addison could push for 1,000 yards in his rookie season because of his top-end ability to separate from his defender as well as his reliable hands at any part of the field. In addition, he has a unique understanding of leverage and how to manipulate defenders. The USC product should give Patrick Mahomes a trusted target in big situations when teams are selling out to stop Travis Kelce.
Round 3, Pick 71: Gervon Dexter (iDL, Florida)
Trade: Chiefs send 2.63 to New Orleans for 3.71 and 5.146
Foote's Take: Gervon Dexter is a short- and long-term upgrade over Derrick Nnadi's 2022 play and is an athletic interior defensive lineman with great size. The former Florida standout plays stout run defense and can thrive as a one-technique early in his career while the Chiefs look to get some pass-rush juice out of him. Once he blossoms, and if he blossoms, an interior duo with Chris Jones would give the team a considerable advantage along the defensive line.
Eisen's Take: With the trade-up in the first round and the board still being favorable, a trade-back makes sense here. The Chiefs still pick up one of the most talented players in this draft in Gervon Dexter. He is a former five-star recruit who showed flashes of his potential at Florida but never fully put it together. He's an extremely stout run defender that can play next to Chris Jones, creating a scary duo. Dexter has an outstanding athletic profile which Joe Cullen and Steve Spagnuolo can maximize. Dexter's impact becomes more significant if the Chiefs can fix or improve his get-off.
Round 3, Pick 102: Zach Harrison (EDGE, Ohio State)
Trade: Chiefs send 4.122, 5.166 and 6.217 to San Francisco for 3.102
Foote's Take: Zach Harrison is a Spagnuolo defensive end through and through (6-foot-5, 274 pounds with 36-inch arms), and that matters as the team looks to keep adding to the position room. The longtime Buckeyes pass rusher has a bit of alignment versatility and projects to be favored as a run defender as soon as his rookie season. Harrison is missing the sack production of a pick in the first two rounds, but moving up to 102 here and snagging a high-floor defensive end is a worthy play as he looks to turn pressures into sacks.
Eisen's Take: Trading back into Day 2 to grab a talented pass rusher made much sense. Zach Harrison fits the Spagnuolo profile for the position. He uses his long arms to fend off defenders in the run game, making plays behind the line of scrimmage. Harrison is intelligent and reads out what the offense is doing at an impressive clip. However, he still has work to do on the production side. His tools were shown off during his four-year career at Ohio State, but only partially put it together for an entire season. He started to put a pass-rush plan together towards the end of last year, which is encouraging.
Round 5, Pick 146: Carter Warren (OT, Pittsburgh)
Foote's Take: Carter Warren is a long offensive tackle prospect who, at worst, will be a quality reserve on the outside of the offensive line for the Chiefs. With Lucas Niang not being a shoo-in for the starting right tackle job, however, Warren could prove to compete for the gig. Warren showed plenty of promise at Pittsburgh and is a reliable pass protector despite still needing to work on improving his anchor and playing from a fundamentally sound base. In the fifth round, a team can't do much better than this.
Eisen's Take: Though Kansas City signed Jawaan Taylor in free agency, the opposite tackle position is still in the air. Lucas Niang is the penciled-in starter for the moment, but the Chiefs probably need to bring in competition. Carter Warren provides that for them. He's an older prospect with a ton of experience playing in college and fits the profile Andy Reid likes in his tackles with the size and arm length. His exceptional pass protection makes him a viable option to be the starting right tackle for the Chiefs in Week 1. He will have to clean up a few things, but Warren would be appealing here.
Round 5, Pick 178: Mekhi Garner (CB, LSU)
Foote's Take: In the fifth round of Mock 1.0, I also took Mekhi Garner to become the newest Day 3 Chiefs defensive back to enter the fold. The former LSU cornerback has great length and the ability to play vertically well at the next level. Garner is stiff in his hips, which is a major red flag for some teams, but that profile hasn't exactly turned Kansas City away in recent years. Spagnuolo's staff can work with Garner on getting the most out of his game, and that's why he's a more than worthy selection here.
Eisen's Take: The Chiefs brought in Mekhi Garner on a visit, showing interest in him throughout the process. He is a big, physical cornerback that fits the mold of the current cornerback room. The value is too good to pass up at this point at a position you can never have enough of. The LSU product does a nice job in zone drops, showing his feel for what's happening around him. He's also not afraid to come down and help in the run game, which is always seen as a positive for Kansas City. He's not the most fluid mover, but his physical style can mask that to supply depth.
Round 6, Pick 211: Evan Hull (RB, Northwestern)
Foote's Take: Assuming Jerick McKinnon isn't a Chief in 2023, and even if he is, picking Evan Hull on Day 3 of the draft is a very clear win. The Northwestern running back is a legitimate pass-catching threat out of the backfield, which is music to the Chiefs' ears — especially for rookies. The 22-year-old is a "what you see is what you get" type of player as a runner, meaning he doesn't bring a dynamic element to that aspect of the game. Despite that, he has solid vision and would be a great first-year pickup as a halfback to add into the rotation.
Eisen's Take: The Chiefs may take running back earlier than this because it's a sneaky need, but with how the board fell, Evan Hull at this spot is the selection. He is extremely good at catching passes out of the backfield, a skill that the Chiefs covet at the position. His hands are very safe to give Mahomes a reliable check-down target if the team doesn't bring back Jerick McKinnon. His one-cut-and-go style complements Isiah Pacheco. Hull still has work to do as a pass blocker but has the size and strength to get there. He isn't going to make guys miss in the open field but will use his speed and explosiveness to beat defenders.
Round 7, Pick 249: Jay Ward (S, LSU)
Foote's Take: Jay Ward is a match made in heaven for the Chiefs' defensive coaching staff. In addition to having adequate length for the position, he possesses the versatility to line up deep as a safety or come down and operate as a slot cornerback. Despite being a bit underweight, Ward is a high-effort player in run support and will endear himself to his first team as he does the dirty work it takes on the field to earn consistent snaps. He's a tremendous pickup late in the draft and could go sooner.
Eisen's Take: Former linebacker coach Matt House has his fingerprints all over this mock. Jay Ward would be the second player from his defense to make the move from Baton Rouge to Kansas City. Jay Ward is a versatile defensive back that can play in the slot or as a traditional safety. His immediate value would be on special teams as he develops into a versatile chess piece for Spagnuolo. His want to play physically in the run game and with receivers in the route will allow him to stick around and carve out a role. His experience at different positions at LSU shows his football IQ and ability to adjust mentally.
Round 7, Pick 250: Dante Stills (iDL, West Virginia)
Foote's Take: Dante Stills gets the dreaded "tweener" label from a lot of draft media, but that may not be an indictment on his profile. He does have a bit of an underwhelming athletic profile for a defensive end but when viewed as a defensive tackle that can also play some on the outside, it shifts perspective. Stills is a fun player who is a solid Day 3 flier for a team that needs to keep adding more and more versatile, intriguing depth along the defensive line for Spagnuolo and company. His burst and motor will play.
Eisen's Take: The final pick in this mock draft is a fun piece to continue bolstering the defensive line. Dante Stills can play on the inside and outside of the defensive line. His get-off is quick, and he uses it to get in the face of opposing offensive linemen. Stills played a ton in college, and having a reduced role in the NFL can allow him to hone in the juice he has and present an off-speed pitch for Kansas City. In addition, he should continue to add strength to hold up consistently in the middle of the defense. Stills's hands will also need development, but his willingness to use them is a good sign.
