Projecting roles for the Chiefs' 2024 draft class

Round 1, Pick 28: wide receiver Xavier Worthy

As a rookie, I think looking at Mecole Hardman's rookie year is a good start. Hardman mainly made his impact on manufactured touches and vertical routes, which Worthy should be much better at than even Hardman was. Worthy has a deeper bag than that, but as he transitions to the NFL, Andy Reid is going to take it slow with him.

With Hollywood Brown in the fold, they can take Worthy's development a bit slower than they were afforded for Rashee Rice. He'll mainly play in the slot and be used in certain packages, but with his speed and dynamic ability, he'll have an instant impact. As the year goes on, you hope he picks up more of the playbook and can add more to it. Brown does have a history of missing games, so having Worthy around makes it so the Chiefs can continue to stretch the field even if he's injured.

Round 2, Pick 63: offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia

Suamataia's exact role comes down to whether the Chiefs decide to sign a veteran left tackle or not. Suamataia gets a year to redshirt and learn under Andy Heck if they re-sign Donovan Smith or sign someone else. If I were running the Chiefs, that would be my plan. While I'm incredibly high on Suamataia long-term, I would be very scared of him starting immediately.

If the Chiefs don't sign a veteran, it is a show of confidence in Suamataia or Wanya Morris. They would both compete at left tackle. If Suamataia improves on the technical weaknesses of the game and picks up the playbook, I think he will be more talented than Morris, and he could win the job. If Morris wins, he'd be the backup and have that redshirt year. Regardless, there aren't many bad outcomes with Suamataia. Either he picks up the playbook and hits the ground running as a rookie or gets valuable experience learning how to play left tackle for 2025.

Round 4, Pick 131: tight end Jared Wiley

Wiley's role is easy to project because his skill set fits the Chiefs' exact need: an inline (Y) tight end. Before taking Wiley, the Chiefs didn't have that on the roster. Wiley has some work to do to be a good blocker for an inline tight end, but the flashes on film were there. He is an intelligent blocker and has a lot of length. He can stretch the seams and run an intermediate route tree as a receiver.

In 2022, one of the reasons the Chiefs had success in their 13 personnel packages was Jody Fortson's ability to win downfield. When he was injured last season, that role went to Blake Bell, who was a complete nonthreat and didn't have to be defended at all. This was a reason the Chief's 13 personnel efficiency cratered. With Wiley, the hope is he can be impactful as a receiver early enough to restore those 2022 numbers. I think he should be able to fill that need and outproduce Bell easily.

Round 4, Pick 133: safety Jaden Hicks

Hicks was my top-ranked safety in this class, but I'm curious to see what the plan with him in 2024 is. To me, Hicks's skillset resembles how the team uses Justin Reid. He's best at matching tight ends in man coverage and using his range in open space. He's a very good tackler with the ball skills and size to play in the slot. Like Reid, his agility limits the work he can do playing deep, but his explosiveness and athleticism stand out closer to the line of scrimmage.

For 2024, since the Chiefs have Reid, Cook, and Charmarri Connor already, Hicks is probably competing for a third safety role at best. He could beat Connor potentially, but I was impressed enough by Connor to give him a shot at that spot. Hicks is also redundant with Reid on the roster. But with Reid only under contract for one more year, Hicks would be the ideal redshirt for 2025. For 2024, I could see special teams and limited snaps being his main role.

Round 5, Pick 159: center Hunter Nourzad

Before this weekend, the Chiefs had eight offensive linemen on the roster, so the Chiefs needed depth, particularly on the interior offensive line. Nourzad provides that. Nourzad played center in 2023 but did have guard experience for Penn State in 2022 as well. He could profile as the potential Nick Allegretti replacement long-term as the swing piece on the interior. He's almost assuredly a lock to make the roster.

Round 6, Pick 211: cornerback Kamal Hadden

Hadden primarily played out wide at Tennessee, but his lack of length in the NFL might push him to the slot. The Chiefs don't necessarily have a backup slot to Trent McDuffie on the roster already, but there are options there. Nazeeh Johnson profiles as someone who can play in the slot, and with Hicks on board, there is a chance Charmarri Connor gets more work in those spots.

The key for Hadden will be special teams. If he makes the roster, that'll be his biggest impact. He'll compete with Nic Jones, Johnson and others for those fringe roster spots.

Round 7, Pick 248: guard C.J. Hanson

Even after Nourzad, the Chiefs needed more depth on the offensive line. Hanson provides that. Hanson has years of experience playing right guard, so there's a chance the Chiefs will view him as a potential Trey Smith replacement in the long term, but for now, he's a good guard depth for the team. Like Nourzad, I'd be shocked if Hanson doesn't make the roster, given how thin the Chiefs are on the offensive line.

Favorite undrafted free agent: linebacker Curtis Jacobs

I had a fourth-round grade on Jacobs and liked his film and profile. At 240 lbs., Jacobs has a ton of explosiveness and range. He's rangy in coverage and can run the pole, but he also excels as a blitzer and works downhill. The Chiefs have had a lot of success with linebackers like that recently, particularly with Willie Gay and Leo Chenal. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo works well with those types of linebackers, and I could see Jacobs being that type of player long-term.

He'll have to work on special teams and beat out either Cam Jones or Cole Christiansen for roster spots, but from what I saw on film, I think he can do that and make this roster. I'm excited for what I think he can become long-term.