Kansas City Chiefs mock draft: What would a worst-case scenario look like?

The NFL Draft is just days away and the Kansas City Chiefs are working to defend their back-to-back Super Bowls. Teams spend countless hours trying to prepare for every scenario imaginable by the night of the draft. However, some scenarios just can’t prepared for.

Two years ago Trent McDuffie fell to the Chiefs, and general manager Brett Veach admitted they never thought McDuffie would be available to them, so they traded up to get him.

We as fans love to run our own mock drafts to try to create the best draft possible. We look to create dream scenarios for the Chiefs to best improve their roster. But rarely do we explore the worst-case scenario. Today we take a look at what a “doomsday” first four rounds could look like for the Chiefs and how it could happen.

A reminder: mock drafts are a thought exercise. Each one is a chance to try a new strategy, look for different values a different spots and explore trades. In this instance we are trying to be ultra-aggressive to add some blue chip players to an already talented roster. This does not mean this is what we want or recommend the Chiefs do.

To keep close tabs on all the draft prospects make sure to follow our Arrowhead Addict Big Board, a list of prospects customized exclusively for the Chiefs.

Round 1, Pick 32: Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona

Utah v Arizona | Chris Coduto/GettyImages

The formula to a rough 1st round for the Chiefs begins with only 4 quarterbacks being taken ( Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and JJ McCarthy). There has been some speculation there could be as many as six taken in the first round but this is the first thing to go wrong.

Next is a big emphasis on wide receiver and offensive tackle. This is entirely possible as the whole league knows this is the strength of the class, and in this scenario, receivers like Brian Thomas Jr, AD Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, and Ladd McConkey have all been taken.

Tackles have seen a big run too: Amarius Mims, Kingsley Suamataia, Tyler Guyton, and Troy Fautanu have all been taken. Add in, one interior offensive lineman, no running backs, no linebackers or safeties (all very possible in the first), and the Chiefs are in a bad place at No. 32 overall.

Jordan Morgan is listed in several mock draft simulators as a tackle but the Chiefs will view him as an interior offensive lineman. Morgan has played almost exclusively left tackle at Arizona and he’s very athletic as an offensive line prospect, but at the next level, he does not have the needed weight or length to stick outside. The upside is that he has great intangibles (he was a great leader at Arizona through some very rough seasons for the team). He could kick out to tackle if needed for a few games, but he’s going to be at his best on the inside.

The Chiefs could decide to take the best player on the board in Morgan rather than settling for offensive tackle 8 or 9 off the board or reaching for a receiver. Morgan likely would not be the starting left tackle for the Chiefs but he could be the heir apparent at guard for Trey Smith or Joe Thuney. Investing in the interior offensive line isn’t a bad idea in this draft, but doing it in the first round is less than ideal. At least they get some tackle versatility out of it as well.

Round 2, Pick 64: Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky

Western Kentucky v Hawaii | Darryl Oumi/GettyImages

Part of the Chiefs’ “worst-case scenario” has unfortunately already happened in real life, and that’s forced even more uncertainty at the wide receiver position.

Rashee Rice’s recent arrest makes it hard to see the Chiefs having him for a full season in 2024 which leaves a big hole in the offense while he’s gone. Combined with a likely secondary run on wideouts starting early in the second round with lots of needy teams like Carolina and New England at the top of the round, it’s a doomsday scenario for Brett Veach, who finally grabs Malachi Corley at No. 64.

There’s lots to like about Corley. He has some dominant traits that are easily translatable to the NFL. With his size (5’11”, 215 lbs.), he’s built like a running back which matches his physicality as a ball carrier and his yards after catch ability. Corley is one of the best YAC threats in the class and he rarely goes down on first contact. However, his route tree resembles a running back’s, and there is virtually no down-the-field passing production for him. Was that because of scheme or ability? An NFL team can certainly find use for his YAC skills, but the ceiling is in question for him.

The Chiefs taking Corley might say something about Rashee Rice. What that is? It’s still uncertain. It might mean they feel a long suspension is incoming or that they can’t trust him long-term. Corley’s skillset directly overlaps with Rashee’s role in the offense in 2023. However, it might mean they have confidence in Rice’s ability to develop as a true outside receiver who can win down the field and in the intermediate as well. If Rice doesn’t take a step forward from 2023, he and Corley are redundant.

Round 3, Pick 95: Bralen Trice, Edge, Washington

2023 Pac-12 Championship – Oregon v Washington | Ric Tapia/GettyImages

By now, there are not any projectable tackles left in the draft. Names like Kiran Amegadjie, Patrick Paul, Roger Rosengarten, and Blake Fisher are all gone. Additionally, a secondary run of interior defensive linemen like T’Vondre Sweat, Braden Fiske, Mekhi Wingo, Brandon Dorlus, and Michael Hall are all off the draft board, too. The Chiefs could certainly use some depth along the defensive line and here they decide to wait on other areas of need like corner and running back.

Bralen Trice was a highly effective edge rusher for the Washington Huskies’ run to the National Championship game. He’s a high-effort, savvy, and powerful rusher who is relentless in pursuit and rushes with a variety of pass-rush moves. His stock has fallen throughout the draft cycle due to measurements (sub-33-inch arms) and his testing. He showed up to the NFL Combine lighter than expected but still only posted average testing numbers.

There are questions as to what Trice’s role would be for a team and if he needs to continue to lose weight to be more explosive or add weight to be more versatile along the line.

The Chiefs go with Trice as a compliment to Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Mike Danna. The Chiefs might want Trice to come in and put on some weight to bring another edge-setting presence along with Mike Danna and George Karlaftis. Trice might be able to move inside occasionally too, similar to Danna. The upside for him as a prospect feels limited just based upon the frame and testing but his hustle and productivity make him a relatively safe player at pick 95.

Round 4, Pick 131: Braelon Allen, Running Back, Wisconsin

Wisconsin v Minnesota | David Berding/GettyImages

After not getting some of the top-shelf receiving talent the Chiefs wanted, they look to add to their offense via the running game here in Round 4. Since the Chiefs have had strong success drafting defensive backs on Day 3, they wait to address the position later down the board. In the end, they go with a high-upside prospect in Braelon Allen.

Allen is one of the youngest draft prospects ever, still just 20 years old. However, he already has 597 rushing attempts on his 6’1″, 235 lbs. frame. Allen has great downhill running skills, and he’s tough to bring down between the tackles. He also runs with great leverage. However, he’s not a home run hitter speed-wise, and he’s not so powerful that he’s impossible to tackle. He also poses virtually no threat as a receiver.

Allen’s youth brings reason for optimism that he could develop some of the needed traits to be a true three-down back.

With Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the roster, Allen is redundant. He’d be the worst pass catcher/protector of the three, nor would he be more explosive than Pacheco. He’s also not much more of a threat in outside zone than Clyde. Allen would be a project with pedigree, which doesn’t fit their current need at running back.

This article was originally published on arrowheadaddict.com as Kansas City Chiefs mock draft: What would a worst-case scenario look like?.