[duncan_idaho]

I just ran my first of the week on sticktothemodel.com, which is my new favorite simulator. Check it out! Customizable, good draft board, trade engine is strong and not ridiculous either way.

In this sim, we assume that the Chiefs are able to trade back with a QB-desperate team that wants a falling Jaxson Dart, desperately. They are able to work the Saints and Giants against each other and get an above-fair-value return for 1.31 from New York.

2.34 (Trade: 1.31 for 2.34, 3.65) Josh Conerly, Jr., LT, Oregon.
Though Conerly needs to improve his strength, with the way this board fell he was the best value at this spot. Also considered Luther Burder, WR, Missouri, and J.T. Tuimolau, DE, Ohio State. Harmon, Grant, Nolen were all of the board at 31, as was Simmons (though I would never have picked that dude, as is probably obvious at this point.)

2.63 Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State.
I've become a large fan of Royals, whose twitch and quickness match the KC offense, and who has enough size to play the X role opposite Worthy at the Z and Rice at the Y.

3.65 Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon.
Really liking Burch of late. The size/speed/athleticism/strength are a rare combo. He's big like a Spags DE, but has a lot more twitch and bend. Gimme.

3.66 Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky.
OK, not QUITE what I was looking for at DT in this draft, but with the way the board fell, I would have had to move up in round 2 to get T.J. Sanders, and I didn't like that cost. Walker is a massive human with rare athleticism for his size. He needs some development, but if you get it right he could be a real difference-maker. And, at worst, I think he's a good two-gap plugger like Alfred Collins would have been.

4.112 (trade: NO, 3.95 for 112, 131) Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma.
Options at 95 were really limited to RB, and in this environment I felt good getting value later (sobs as he stares at Bhayshul Tuten). This deal was offered by the Saints, who came up to get an IOL. In Stutsman, I think that's a LB tailor-made for KC. Size, athleticism, noted intelligence. Should be able to handle the WILL nicely, and also be a nice backup green-dot option for Nick Bolton.

4.131 (trade: NO, 3.95 for 112, 131) Caleb Rogers, IOL, Texas Tech.
The second piece of the trade-down from 95, Rogers is a converted T with the athleticism to be a nice fit at LG in the future. Just adding to depth, but he does have starter upside, IMO.

4.133 Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
Was hoping I might be able to snag Giddens here, but he was gone. Happy with Etienne, who is a really nice fit in KC's offense as the 3rd down back/receiving back.

7.226 Jason Marshall, Jr., CB, Florida
Marshall is a player I've thought was a KC-style CB. He has all the tools KC likes - size, speed, leaping ability - but has been developed poorly by the Florida coaching circus during his time in Gainesville. I see a guy with the tools that KC's excellent coaching staff can do something with. And with McDuffie, Watson, Fulton, and Williams all in KC for 2025, the Chiefs have some time here. Maybe they get Marshall to start realizing his potential, and when Watson and Williams walk after this year, Marshall is ready to step in?

7.251 Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa.
Speaking of players with whom I've long been enamored, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave you met Luke? Lachey is intriguing, with some legit receiving skills. Not sure his athleticism has ever gotten back to what it was as a sophomore, but it's worth a stab this late, IMO.

7.226 Dante Trader, Jr, S, Maryland
Just a DB depth pick. There probably is a more athletic fit somewhere KC would take at this spot instead.

Post-mock depth chart:

QB: Mahomes/Minshew (Oladukon, PS)
RB: Pacheco/Hunt/Etienne (Mitchell can't stay healthy in TC and is cut; Steele to PS)
WR: Rice, Worthy, Brown/Royals, Smith-Schuster, Remigio (Skyy Moore is cut)
TE: Kelce/Gray/Hendershot (Wiley starts year on PUP, Lachey to PS)
OT: Moore, Taylor, Conerly, Morris
OG: Suamataia, Smith/Nourzad, Caliendo, Rogers,
C: Humphrey/Hanson

Offense:25 players

DE: Omenihu, Karlaftis/Anudike-Uzomah, Danna, Burch(Robinson, Harring, Thompson to PS)
DT: Jones, Pennel/Tillery, Walker, (yet-to-be-signed FA to PS)

LB: Bolton, Tranquill, Chenal/ Stutsman, Cochrane, Jones

CB: McDuffie, Watson, Fulton/Williams, Johnson, Roland-Wallace (for ST) (Marshall to PS)
S: Hicks, Cook/Conner, Edwards (Trader to PS)

Defense: 25

K: Butker
P: Araiza
LS: Winchester

There's my final 53. Can certainly quibble over a few spots at the end of the depth chart and who they would keep/who would hit the PS.