The 2025 NFL Draft is complete, and the Kansas City Chiefs assembled a strong class that addressed several areas of need, both long-term and short-term. Brett Veach continues to prove himself as one of the NFL’s best drafting General Managers—an impressive feat since the Chiefs haven’t held a Top 20 pick since selecting Patrick Mahomes 10th overall in 2017.
While most draft experts consider this a solid class for Kansas City, there were still some positions the team could have addressed but didn’t. This isn’t to say their draft class was underwhelming—it’s simply impossible for any team to address every single need in a single draft. Let’s examine the positions the Chiefs might have overlooked and whether these omissions could impact the team during the upcoming season.
Positions the Chiefs Could Have Addressed
5. Tight End
With Travis Kelce aging, drafting his eventual successor seemed plausible. However, the decision to pass is understandable given Noah Gray’s strong 2024 season, Jared Wiley entering his sophomore campaign, and the post-draft signing of developmental receiving tight end Jake Briningstool.
4. Right Tackle
Though somewhat under the radar, right tackle represented another potential need. The Chiefs invested a first-round pick in their future left tackle and signed Jaylon Moore to a two-year deal, providing some flexibility. Jawaan Taylor enters the final year with guaranteed money on his contract and could be released next March. The team also signed tackle Esa Pole as a developmental project at the position.
3. Nose Tackle
Defensive tackle was one of the few positions Kansas City needed to bolster during the draft. The Chiefs broke from their Chris Jones-era tendency of not spending premium assets on defensive tackles by selecting Omarr Norman-Lott 63rd overall. However, Norman-Lott profiles more as a pass-rushing specialist rather than a complete three-down defensive lineman.
The glaring hole is at nose tackle, where the Chiefs currently have 33-year-old Mike Pennel as their sole defensive tackle weighing at least 320 pounds (with a realistic chance to make the final roster). While size isn’t the only factor in run defense, it certainly helps. Pennel shouldn’t be expected to handle full-time responsibilities, and the team would be wise to add another run-stuffing defensive tackle before the season begins.
2. Safety
The Chiefs selected Jaden Hicks in the 2024 draft, who should develop into a quality starter. However, the overall safety group remains somewhat thin. Bryan Cook enters the final year of his rookie contract, Mike Edwards is both a journeyman and pending free agent after this season, and Chamarri Conner played primarily as a slot cornerback in 2024.
While Hicks, Conner, and Cook might prove to be more than good enough, adding depth and future stability at safety would have been a shrewd move.
1. Early-Downs Running Back
Running back represented one of the Chiefs’ most pressing long-term needs entering the offseason, alongside left tackle and defensive tackle. The team waited until the 7th round to select Brashard Smith, who projects as a solid receiving back in Andy Reid’s offense but likely won’t be asked to handle 20+ carries per game or consistently produce on early downs.
Both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are free agents after this season, and neither showcased true explosiveness last year. While the Chiefs’ running-back-by-committee approach spreads out the necessary skills across multiple players, adding a true three-down back with both power and receiving ability would have strengthened the position group. Instead, the front office opted for a third-down specialist in Smith, which aligns with the needs of their current depth chart structure.
