The 2023 NFL Draft will be here before we know it, and as the rest of the league prepares to gather in Kansas City on April 27, the football-watching world is rife with mock drafts and projections as to how the first round will play out.
Here's a look at who some of the latest mock drafts from around the web have the Chiefs selecting with the No. 31 overall pick on April 27:
Previous Roundups: 1.0
NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah) (March 21): Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald IV
NFL Media Analyst Daniel Jeremiah has Kansas City adding to its pass-rush in the first round by selecting Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald IV. Here's more from Jeremiah on the pick:
"McDonald is an elite bender coming off the edge. The Chiefs moved on from Frank Clark this offseason and need to add more firepower to their pass rush."
Sports Illustrated (March 23): Boston College WR Zay Flowers
Writer Kevin Hanson has the Chiefs adding a wide receiver with the No. 31 overall pick, sending Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers to Kansas City. Here's Hanson's analysis:
"Tight end Travis Kelce led the Super Bowl champs in receiving, but JuJu Smith-Schuster (78/933/3) led the team's wide receivers in 2022 and then signed with the Patriots in free agency. Flowers is a quick and smooth athlete who is elusive after the catch with an extra gear. He was highly productive, finishing last year with 78 catches for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns."
ESPN (March 21): Kansas State EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
Football analyst (and the godfather of mock drafts) Mel Kiper Jr. sent a local player to the Chiefs in his latest mock, slotting K-State defensive end and Kansas City native Felix Anudike-Uzomah to the reigning Super Bowl champions. Here's what Kiper had to say about the pick:
"There's some buzz among NFL teams about Anudike-Uzomah after the combine. He had a great workout there, and he was super productive in college, racking up 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Kansas City replaced Frank Clark with Charles Omenihu, so Anudike-Uzomah likely would be a situational pass-rusher as a rookie."
NFL.com (Charles Davis) (March 23): Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt
NFL Media Analyst Charles Davis believes that Kansas City will add to their offensive arsenal in Round 1 by selecting speedy Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt. Here's what Davis wrote about the pick:
"A breakout season in 2022 earned him the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top WR. With plenty of speed to rip the top off a defense, Hyatt allows Kansas City to put the long ball back in the game plan."
The Athletic (March 22): Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt
The folks at the Athletic also sent Hyatt to Kansas City at pick No. 31 in their latest mock draft. Here's what writer Nate Taylor had to say about Hyatt:
"Under coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs will always covet speedy receivers like Hyatt. Some draft analysts have compared him to DeSean Jackson. Well, we know Reid was able to successfully develop Jackson after the Eagles drafted him in 2008. The Chiefs could definitely use another high-quality receiver to add alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore. Hyatt's ability to be a deep threat should also be accentuated by Patrick Mahomes."
CBS Sports (March 23): Michigan DT Mazi Smith
Senior Writer Pete Prisco has the Chiefs bolstering their defensive line in his latest mock draft, sending Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith to Kansas City at pick No. 31. Here's what Prisco had to say about the selection:
"At some point, they have to get a power player inside to help the run defense. Mazi Smith is that type of player and would really upgrade what they have inside. They also could go for a tackle here to upgrade the line."
FOX Sports (March 23): Ohio State OT Dawand Jones
Reporter Greg Auman has the Chiefs bolstering their offensive line in his most recent mock draft, penciling in Ohio State offensive tackle Dawand Jones to Kansas City. Here's more from Auman:
"With Andrew Wylie gone, there's a need at right tackle. Jones is massive — 6-foot-8 and 374 pounds — and perhaps a better value than adding a speed receiver. It would also be intriguing to see Utah's Dalton Kincaid go here as a second tight end to learn from and eventually succeed Travis Kelce in a crucial position in this offense. Jones measured with an 89-inch wingspan, the most ever for a Senior Bowl player, so he possesses a length and reach that could be dominating once his game is more polished."
