The 2025 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away, and as the league prepares to gather in Green Bay on April 24, 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 24, and for reference, previous roundups can be found below:
ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr. - April 8): Ohio State OT Josh Simmons
The original draft guru himself, Mel Kiper Jr. from ESPN, has the Chiefs going with Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons at No. 31 overall. Here's more from Kiper:
"If Simmons didn't injure his knee last October, we might not be having this conversation -- because his projection might be closer to the top 10. He has really good footwork and power, and he gave up just one sack over 19 career starts at left tackle. Heck, he hadn't given up a single pressure in six games before the injury last season. That's the kind of pass protection the Chiefs need."
Yahoo! Sports (Nate Tice & Charles McDonald - April 9): Georgia S Malaki Starks
The Chiefs took the "best player available" approach in Yahoo! Sports' latest mock draft as Nate Tice and Charles McDonald sent Georgia safety Malaki Starks to Kansas City. Here's what Tice and McDonald wrote about the selection:
"Steal alert? Starks is one of the best defenders in the draft, but finds himself at the bottom of the first round where he would fit seamlessly into a defense run by Steve Spagnuolo. Starks can cover, play in the box and give aggressive, productive play while attacking offenses. He would be going lower than many people have him projected, which works out well for the Chiefs in this scenario."
Pro Football Focus (Mason Cameron - April 7): Oregon DT Derrick Harmon
The folks at Pro Football Focus sent Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon to Kansas City in their latest mock. Here's what they had to say about Harmon:
"Despite charting just one year of notable production, Harmon is a high-football-IQ player on the interior with a competitive spark that will allow him to compete at the next level and become a mainstay next to Chris Jones. In his final season at Oregon, Harmon generated a 91.2 PFF pass-rush grade on true pass sets while charting an outstanding 17.6% pass-rush win rate (99th percentile)."
The Athletic (Nick Baumgardner - April 7): Ohio State OL Donovan Jackson
The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner sent versatile Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson to the Chiefs in Round 1. Here's more from Baumgardner:
"A balanced, explosive athlete with very good length, Jackson spent most of his Ohio State career at guard before moving out to tackle in the wake of Simmons' injury — a critical move during Ohio State's title run…He has the look of a possible long-term starter at guard or tackle."
NFL.com (Maurice Jones-Drew - April 3): Texas CB Jahdae Barron
Former NFL running back and current NFL.com contributor Maurice Jones-Drew has the Chiefs going with versatile Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron in his latest mock. Here's more on the pick:
"The Chiefs add a big, strong cornerback in an effort to help Steve Spagnuolo's secondary shut down the top offenses in the AFC. Barron might begin his career as a nickel corner but he can also play outside."
NFL.com (Rhett Lewis - April 8): Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan
NFL.com's Rhett Lewis sent Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to Kansas City with the No. 31 overall pick in his latest mock, which would mark a major slide for McMillan when compared to the other various rankings out there. Here's what Lewis wrote about the selection:
"Would the Chiefs consider spending their first-round pick on a receiver for a second consecutive draft? Maybe not, but McMillan offers a body type and skill set Patrick Mahomes has never really had at his disposal. And upgrading the playmakers around No. 15 is never a bad idea."
USA Today (Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz - April 9): Mississippi DT Walter Nolen
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz from USA Today has the Chiefs selecting Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen in Round 1. Here's more from Middlehurst-Scwartz:
"The Chiefs would certainly make some noise by taking advantage of a promising defensive tackle class with Nolen, who would give defenses plenty of headaches as they try to account for Chris Jones and him on the interior."
CBS Sports (Pete Prisco - April 9): Ohio State OT Josh Simmons
Pete Prisco from CBS Sports has the Chiefs going with Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons in his latest mock. Here's more on the pick:
"Simmons is coming off a torn patellar tendon, but he is the best left tackle in this class when healthy -- and it's not close. The Chiefs can afford to make this pick and wait with Jaylon Moore signed as a free agent."
The 33rd Team (Ian Valentino - April 7): Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton
The 33rd Team's Ian Valentino sent versatile Texas A&M defensive lineman Nic Scourton to Kansas City with the No. 31 overall pick in his latest mock. Here's what Valentino wrote about the selection:
"Nic Scourton fits the Chiefs' mold of versatile talents along the defensive line who can rush the passer without giving up size. They could even beef him up to be a full-time tackle or lean him out as a full-time edge if they ever want to change schemes."
