Oh look, another expert mock draft dropped—and it’s a short-armed tackle at pick 31, or even worse… a guard. It seems that the low-hanging fruit for a Chiefs mock draft is tackle and offensive line. You’ll even see comparisons to the Tampa Bay Super Bowl, which is inaccurate given that the Chiefs will be returning 3/5 of the line that started against the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
The experts aren’t wrong. The Chiefs do need a tackle, even after investing in free agent Jaylon Moore. However, the issue is when to make that investment, and the Chiefs’ draft history at the position doesn’t help. Any draft analyst will tell you this year’s tackle class is weak, without a single elite-level prospect in the bunch. Most of the top tackles could even move inside to guard (Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks).
So what should the Chiefs’ strategy be at tackle in the draft? Jaylon Moore is no sure thing, and K.C. might move on from right tackle Jawaan Taylor after this season as well for significant cap savings. The Chiefs’ never-ending search for young tackles seems to have no end in sight. So is pick 31 the best option? Or should they roll the dice again on a project tackle? Let’s review the options.
Day 1 options for the Chiefs
Will Campbell – The LSU tackle will likely be long gone by the time the Chiefs pick. Even if the Chiefs had the notion to get aggressive and trade way up for him, he’s still not a sure thing. Shorter arms and a stocky frame have many teams thinking he could be moving inside at the next level.
Kelvin Banks – The Texas tackle might be the best option if he were to fall to pick 31. Recently, we took a look at him in a scouting report, and he has lots of traits the Chiefs like at tackle. His arms, at 33.5 inches, are still below the 34-inch threshold, but his body type is very similar to Jaylon Moore and DJ Humphries, who have both been on the roster in the last year. It’s not likely he’s in striking range for the Chiefs, but he could be the best option.
Josh Simmons – Every NFL media’s favorite player to mock to the Chiefs, Simmons also does not hit the 34-inch threshold. Additionally, he had a major knee injury early in 2024 that ended his season. He is reportedly on track to play this year, but the knee injury is one that does not have a big track record of recovery at the NFL level. There have also been some character questions about Simmons. Investing a 1st-round pick on Simmons is no sure answer to the tackle question the Chiefs have.
Josh Conerly Jr. – The Oregon tackle is generally viewed as the 4th tackle in the class. Conerly, similar to the other tackles in the class, is also below the 34-inch threshold. He is a smooth mover and has fluid hips in pass protection. One thing that stands out about him is his lack of anchor against power rushers and a lack of true pass sets. He had about the same number of true pass sets (non-RPO or play action) as Kingsley Suamataia—a potential red flag.
Chiefs drafted tackle arm length since 2013:
Fisher-34.5
Niang- 34.5
Kinnard- 35
Morris- 35 1/8
Suamatia- 34 1/82025 Notable tackle arm lengths
Josh Simmons-33
Kelvin Banks-33 1/2
Anthony Belton 33 7/8
Josh Connerly 33 1/2
Aireonte Ersey 33 1/8
Donovan Jackson 33 1/2🥲🥲🥲🥲
— Price Carter (@priceacarter) March 2, 2025
If the Chiefs draft a tackle in the first round, he will have the shortest arms of any tackle the team has ever drafted in the Andy Reid era. While this might seem insignificant when discussing 1/2 inch, the Chiefs also have a track record over a decade that says they won’t likely take a tackle with shorter arms. Additionally, it feels like there are much deeper positions that could be on the board at pick 31.
Day 2 options for the Chiefs
Aireontae Ersery – A local kid from Ruskin High School, the Minnesota tackle is also under the 34-inch threshold and is a better run blocker than pass blocker. There are traits that could make him a starting tackle or guard at the next level, but realistically, there are lots of similarities in his game to Kingsley Suamataia. Love the athlete and the movement skills, but the pass protection is raw and a project at tackle.
Cameron Williams – Most think the Texas right tackle should’ve gone back to school for another year of refinement. A one-year starter, Williams does meet the Chiefs’ size thresholds at 6’5″, 318 lbs., and 34.5-inch arms. However, you aren’t drafting Williams as a starter for 2025, and he’s only ever played right tackle. Ideally, he’d be a project tackle to take over for Jawaan Taylor.
Charles Grant – Another tackle that does meet the size thresholds of the Chiefs, but is more traits than anything else. Grant, playing his college football in the FCS at William and Mary, is definitely another project tackle. He moves like an athlete and has a frame similar to Eric Fisher, but there’s no sure thing for him in 2025.
Most of the other names that you’ll see listed as Day 2 tackle options will likely be guards on the Chiefs’ draft board, such as Emery Jones Jr., Marcus Mbow, Jonah Savaiinaea, or Wyatt Milum. Ultimately, the Chiefs have lots of holes to fill on the roster. Using a top-100 pick on a tackle that is ideally not playing in 2025 is a big risk, especially when the options aren’t especially enticing.
Day 3 options for the Chiefs
Day Three features a much wider array of options simply because of the number of picks that are made. Some names that could make sense are Hollin Pierce from Rutgers. A mountain of a man, Pierce is over 6’8″, 341 lbs. with 36-inch arms—a frame similar to Orlando Brown Jr. Another name that’s rising is Jalen Travis, a basketball convert, who is 6’8″, 339 lbs. with almost 36-inch arms. The Chiefs have also had a 30 visit with Dalton Cooper, a versatile swing tackle or guard.
Final draft analysis for the Chiefs
The biggest factor in this tackle class is the slim margin between the Day 1 prospects and the Day 2 prospects. There’s not a big difference between OT1 and OT5, which makes it hard to justify taking a tackle in the first round. You’ll hear the familiar refrain from Chiefs fans: “Brett Veach needs to do whatever he can to fix tackle—get aggressive.” Sadly, there’s just not a prospect worth getting aggressive over. The Chiefs raised the floor of the tackle room with Jaylon Moore, and maybe they can bring in a veteran backup for him like DJ Humphries, Donovan Smith, or Tyron Smith.
The Chiefs will always prioritize traits at the tackle position. They are better suited to use a Day Two or Three pick on a tackle who has the traits they like and focus on development. Who knows if Kingsley Suamataia would’ve been better off not starting in 2024 for his career development, but it can’t hurt to slow-play their development. At the end of the day, what matters most is drafting good players, not positions of need. If they can get a tackle on Day Two or Three, it’s a massive win for the organization.
