Arrowhead Pride
What will be the deepest position groups in the draft — and how do they align with Kansas City’s needs?
Like men, football seasons are mortal: they’re here and gone again in the blink of an eye.
But that’s part of what makes sports great. No team (and no season) is the same as the one before; each iteration is entirely new as teams plan (and rebuild) for the following year.
The NFL Draft may be the most important tool a general manager can use to change the fate of his team. Acquiring a good draft class can make the difference between finishing last in your division and making the playoffs.
Every draft has its strengths and weaknesses. Some position groups are stacked with quality players, while others have much less talent available.
Let’s take a look at the 2025 draft class to see which positions have the most talent available — and how that could affect what the Kansas City Chiefs will do.
For the first time since 2017, more than 30 running backs could be selected in April’s draft — and more than 20 of them have legitimate opportunities to contribute immediately. While big names like Boise State's Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton are getting most of the attention, the depth in the middle of the group (including players like Central Florida’s RJ Harvey) is what makes it one of the strongest in recent memory.
This is another deep group. There are about 15 players who could contribute in Week 1, including blue-chippers like Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Tennesse’s James Pearce Jr. EDGE is one of the few positions where I think the Chiefs should be sure to use one of their top-100 picks, targeting guys like Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer or Landon Jackson of Arkansas — both of whom should be available late in Round 1 or early in Round 2.
There are two kinds of defensive tackles in this class: explosive, powerful, gap-shooting pass rushers — and big ol’ boys who hold their ground and swallow up running backs. There are plenty of both. A pair of Michigan Wolverines — Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant — lead the group, while Mississippi’s Walter Nolen Jr. and Oregon’s Derrick Harmon are right there with them.
While the draft may not be as deep in cornerbacks as some other positions, those at the top are second to none. Colorado’s Travis Hunter is explosive. He’s the kind of freak athlete we don’t see very often. Players like Will Johnson of Michigan and Darien Porter of Iowa State have the ball skills and instincts to play both inside and outside — and in both man and zone coverage schemes, too.
It’s much the same for the draft’s safeties. South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori might be one of the greatest pure athletes to ever step on a football field. While the opposite...
