Originally Posted by :
Kansas City Chiefs 7-round mock draft: Chiefs fortify the offensive line
By Josh Liskiewitz
Posted Feb 10, 2025 10:07 am EST
An offensive tackle in Round 1: After spending most of his college career at left guard, Donovan Jackson took over at tackle in Week 9 of 2024 and thrived. In Ohio State’s four playoff games, he didn’t allow a single sack or quarterback hit.
Investing at tight end in Round 3: Mason Taylor totaled 599 receiving yards in 2024, with 100 yards coming after the catch. He also proved reliable in tight coverage, securing nine of 17 contested targets.
The Kansas City Chiefs‘ offensive line will be under the microscope this offseason after their 40-22 Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, in which quarterback Patrick Mahomes was under relentless pressure. The unit required patchwork solutions in 2024, and those shortcomings were fully exposed on the game’s biggest stage.
With 32-year-old Joe Thuney having to shift to left tackle down the stretch and Jawaan Taylor struggling at right tackle, major questions remain. Former second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia is waiting in the wings, but it’s unclear whether his best fit is at tackle or guard.
The Chiefs also have work to do in the trenches on defense, with seven defensive linemen set to hit free agency. Given their limited cap space and just six draft picks, Kansas City must maximize its resources to remain in Super Bowl contention.
Round 1, Pick 31: T Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
The Chiefs have several needs along the offensive line, and Jackson’s late-season play at left tackle suggests he could be a long-term solution at multiple positions. After spending most of his college career at left guard, he took over at tackle in Week 9 of 2024 and thrived. In Ohio State’s four playoff games, he didn’t allow a single sack or quarterback hit.
Round 2, Pick 64: DI Deone Walker, Kentucky
Walker arrived at Senior Bowl week as a towering 6-foot-7, 340-pound force and immediately showcased his natural power. While he’s built to dominate against the run, he also proved to be an effective pass rusher at Kentucky, generating 23 total pressures with a 10.9% pass-rush win rate.
Round 3, Pick 66: TE Mason Taylor, LSU
Taylor totaled 599 receiving yards in 2024, with 100 yards coming after the catch. He also proved reliable in tight coverage, securing nine of 17 contested targets.
Round 3, Pick 96: OL Jalen Rivers, Miami (FL)
Rivers battled injuries throughout his college career but ended 2024 in lockdown mode. Over his final six games for the Hurricanes, he allowed just one sack and four total pressures.
Round 4, Pick 132: Edge Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
Rucker endured a tough 2024 season, missing a month with a knee injury before a cracked fibula against North Carolina State ended his college career early. However, he has the tools to be an excellent situational pass rusher at the next level. In 2023, he racked up 64 total pressures with an impressive 19.4% pass-rush win rate.
Round 7, Pick 227: LB Karene Reid, Utah
Over 415 run-defense snaps in the past two seasons, Reid missed just four total tackles — with only one coming in 2024 — highlighting his reliability as a sure tackler.
I saw this and honestly didn't like any of it, minus maybe the last 2 picks. Jackson is a guard imo, Walker is a project and Taylor looks like a completely average TE, a position that we need far less than others and I doubt he is BPA. No RB either.
I just don't know how I feel about Jackson as an NFL LT. I mean, I'm ecstatic as an OSU fan about his play at the position down the stretch to save the season. Does that mean I think he has what it takes in the NFL to stay outside? Nah.
His kick slide is fairly laborious and his foot speed/lateral agility just don't seem to match up with what it takes to reach NFL-caliber DEs. He is a PHENOMENAL LG. He looks like he'll be exactly that in the NFL as well. But man alive... I struggle to pin my hopes to him at LT. I'm still chewing on the thought but I don't know if I can convince myself...
I like Deone Walker. Don't love Deone Walker. If you can get that guy playing 110% on every play and worry about being a space hog rather than trying to be a pass rusher, I think you have a really good player. IF you can't, he's going to be a waste IMO.
I LOVE Mason Taylor as a TE in this draft. I have him as TE#3. I don't think he'll be there at 66. I don't think he'll be there at 63. If he were there, definitely food for thought but I also don't see TE as a major need for this team. I was really high on Wiley as a prospect. I felt he showed a lot of Kelce traits. Sometimes these boys gotta develop and it sucks he got injured.
I have no interest in seeing the Chiefs double-dip on the OLine this year. I think you add a guy to the OT room and that's that. Don't need any more developmental guys in the house. You already have Mettauer, Hanson, Nourzad and Caliendo on the interior and Suamataia, Morris, Driskel and a top pick on the outside. One of Morris or Suamataia might move inside. That's a lot of youth, and solid youth that Heck needs to start earning a paycheck on.
I don't care much what happens in round 7 but I do like both edge guys out of North Carolina late. [Reply]