2025 NFL Scouting Combine | Stacy Revere/GettyImages

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a busy offseason as they enter another era of the Patrick Mahomes reign.

With a wave of unrestricted free agents hitting the market, Kansas City was forced to make some tough roster decisions. They couldn’t keep everyone, but they’ve done enough at key positions to remain confident heading into next season.

That said, there’s still plenty of work to do.

After getting steamrolled by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs hold the 31st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Here are five dream first-round targets for Kansas City.

Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE, Boston College

One of Kansas City’s biggest needs is on the edge. Charles Omenihu remains a free agent, and whether he returns or signs elsewhere is still up in the air.

Regardless of Omenihu’s future, Donovan Ezeiruaku would be a strong addition to the Chiefs’ front seven.

After a disappointing junior season at Boston College, Ezeiruaku exploded in 2024, racking up 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 80 total tackles. Talk about a breakout campaign.

While he lacks the ideal size teams covet in edge rushers, he makes up for it with length, strength, and relentless effort. His motor never stops running—he hunts quarterbacks with the kind of reckless abandon usually reserved for someone chasing a Black Friday deal.

That same all-out mentality, however, can also be his downfall. He sometimes overruns plays or takes himself out of position by being overly aggressive. But if there’s any team that can refine his raw talent without dulling his fire, it’s the Chiefs.

Ezeiruaku would bring an instant spark to a pass rush that could use another dynamic disruptor. If he’s still on the board at No. 31, Kansas City should be all over him.

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

The interior of the Chiefs’ defensive line is another area that needs work—arguably even more than the edge.

They lost Tershawn Wharton in free agency to the Carolina Panthers and Derrick Nnadi to the New York Jets. Meanwhile, Mike Pennel remains an unrestricted free agent. That leaves Kansas City dangerously thin in the trenches.

Derrick Harmon, ranked 27th on The Athletic’s consensus Big Board, would be a terrific addition to the Chiefs’ defensive front. He spent his first three years at Michigan State before transferring to Oregon for the 2024 season, and the move paid off in a big way.

His production spiked, as he set career-highs in tackles (45), tackles for loss (11), and sacks (5).

At 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds, Harmon can line up anywhere along the defensive line. His blend of length, size, and strength makes him a disruptive force, giving the Chiefs the versatility they need up front.

His biggest weakness is tackling. He missed 12 tackles last season, which is something he’ll need to clean up if he wants to thrive at the next level. Otherwise, he risks being more of a speed bump than a roadblock.

Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Another option for Kansas City at defensive tackle is Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, who sits two spots higher than Harmon on The Athletic’s consensus Big Board. Some evaluators are even more bullish—The Ringer ranks him as the 12th-best prospect overall.

At 6-foot-4 and 331 pounds, Grant is far more than just a space-eater. He’s a wrecking ball with a strong base that allows him to bulldoze offensive linemen. But don’t let his size fool you—he’s surprisingly quick off the snap and can burst into the backfield before linemen even get set.

Unlike Harmon, Grant is a solid tackler. He can take on blockers—including double-teams—and still bring down ball carriers in the same play.

If the Chiefs draft him, he would be an immediate asset on the interior, giving them a massive presence to pair with Chris Jones. Opposing offenses would have their hands full trying to move two guys built like brick walls.

Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

Switching to the other side of the ball, let’s focus on a couple of offensive players the Chiefs could target with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Kansas City has worked diligently to rebuild its offensive line this offseason. They franchise-tagged guard Trey Smith, hoping to sign him to a long-term deal, and traded Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears.

The reshuffling didn’t stop there. They also signed left tackle Jaylon Moore from the San Francisco 49ers. Moore has mostly been a fill-in starter, including five starts last season while filling in for the injured Trent Williams. The Chiefs are betting he’s ready for a full-time role.

But if he’s not, Kansas City would be wise to continue reinforcing the offensive line—this time with their first-round pick.

Josh Simmons is likely a trade-up candidate if the Chiefs want him, as he’s ranked 21st on The Athletic’s consensus big board.

A team could theoretically plug Simmons in at left tackle and forget about him—he has the length, height, and power to neutralize opposing defensive ends. That’s a nightmare combination for pass rushers and a dream for Patrick Mahomes.

His biggest red flag is the season-ending injury he suffered in 2024, which casts some doubt on his long-term outlook. But if the Chiefs are confident in his medicals, they should absolutely pull the trigger. Getting a franchise left tackle this late in the first round would be highway robbery.

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Kansas City’s running back situation was bleak last season, and so far, they haven’t done much to fix it in free agency.

Omarion Hampton could change that in a hurry.

The North Carolina product is a big, bruising running back who punishes defenders every time he lowers his shoulder. At 6-foot and 221 pounds, he doesn’t just absorb contact—he dishes it out, making defenses regret trying to bring him down.

Hampton is the kind of back who wears opponents down over the course of a game. By the fourth quarter, tackling him starts to feel like standing in front of a runaway snowplow.

But he’s not just a between-the-tackles bruiser. He has soft hands as a pass-catcher and enough burst to take his punishing style to the perimeter.

Hampton would immediately give the Chiefs a reliable, workhorse running back—and more importantly, put an end to their backfield woes for good in 2025 and beyond.