Chiefs' Top 2024 NFL Draft Targets

The Kansas City Chiefs are defending Super Bowl champions for the second straight offseason, and one might think that the 2024 draft isn't as important to them as it is for other franchises.

However, the draft is extremely important when it comes to keeping Kansas City's Super Bowl window open. The Chiefs are paying premium money to premier players like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. This makes it critical for general manager Brett Veach to uncover god players who can contribute on rookie contracts.

Kansas City will have seven total selections this year, but its best chance to add an instant-impact player will come in Round 1.

With this in mind, let's examine three top draft prospects who could realistically be available at No. 32 and who should be firmly on Kansas City's radar entering the 2024 NFL draft.

OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU

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MOBILE, AL - FEBRUARY 03: National offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia of BYU (55) during the 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl on February 3, 2024 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Mahomes will remain an integral part of the Chiefs roster for the foreseeable future. Kansas City would be wise to protect him long-term. With 2023 starting left tackle Donovan Smith still unsigned, Kansas City must at least consider the position early this weekend.

Unfortunately, top tackle prospects like Notre Dame's Joe Alt and Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu aren't falling to the Chiefs at No. 32. A more developmental prospect like BYU's Kingsley Suamataia, however, might.

That's what happened in the latest Bleacher Report Scouting Department mock draft.

"Kansas City needs to address its left tackle spot in the draft with 2023 third-round pick Wanya Morris being the only viable potential starter on the roster," Brandon Thorn of the B/R Scouting Department said. "[Suamataia] gives the Chiefs a more natural left tackle and better athlete than Morris, although both need significant technique work to fully unlock their upside."

Suamataia might not be ready to start in Week 1, but he'd provide valuable depth early and potentially move into the starter's role by season's end. Perhaps more importantly, he could become Kansas City's long-term answer at left tackle and do it on a rookie contract for the next several seasons.

WR Xavier Worthy, Texas

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 01: Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on March 1, 2024, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Chiefs found a budding star in rookie receiver Rashee Rice last season, and they added the speedy Marquise Brown this offseason.

However, Rice potentially faces league discipline following his arrest on eight felony charges stemming from a multi-vehicle crash that resulted in injury. Veach has not stated whether Rice's situation will impact his draft plans.

"I don't know if it does just because I think we have a lot of needs," Veach said, per NFL.com's Nick Shook.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Rice and the fact that Brown is only on a one-year deal, it would make sense for Kansas City to tip into an impressive rookie receiver pool.

Texas' Xavier Worthy is a prospect who could still be on the board at the bottom of Round 1 and who would provide some juice to the Kansas City offense. He's a smaller receiver at 5'11" and 165 pounds, but he also set a combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash.

Worthy might not be an every-down receiver as a rookie, but his field-stretching ability would open a lot of opportunities for head coach Andy Reid in the passing game. He'd provide an initial boost as a role player and could replace Brown as Kansas City's primary deep threat by Year 2.

CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 01: Nate Wiggins #DB42 of Clemson participates in the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Keeping a championship roster in place means replacing key departures. Kansas City traded away standout cornerback L'Jarius Sneed earlier this offseason, so adding quarterback depth early would be entirely reasonable.

The 2024 class has some talented corners at the top, but it lacks overall depth at the position.

Clemson's Nate Wiggins is a prospect who could be available late in Round 1 who would make plenty of sense for the Chiefs. He's another speedy player (4.28-second 40-yard dash), but quickness isn't his only asset.

"Wiggins does a very good job of using his length in coverage," Cory Giddings of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "When in press, he uses his hands well to control and redirect receivers off the line of scrimmage."

While Wiggins (6'1", 173 lbs) may need to add some mass before he's ready to be an every-down player, his versatility would give him a ton of potential in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's defense.

Kansas City's defense became a driving force behind its latest Super Bowl run. Mahomes remains the star of the show, but if the Chiefs hope to three-peat, restocking the defense is a must.