Way Too Early 2025 Mock (12/13/2024)

[kccrow]

The Chiefs 3-Peat, of course...

The coaching staff is retained, though Heck and Cullen should both be replaced and won't be. Development on both lines has been extremely subpar. Smith was touted as a 1st round prospect and only slid because of his heart issue and Karlaftis was one. Outside of those guys, nobody has really developed very well. A top OC in round 2 is not to be unexpected, it happens frequently so we aren't counting Creed. But who else have either of these guys made into something? Okay, off my soap box.

That said, I'm going to assume that the Chiefs FO will bank on the development of Suamataia, Morris, and Driskell at tackle so I'm not mocking a big splash there. Honestly, we should expect those guys to develop. The question is if they'll develop enough to forego making a big move in the draft for a tackle or signing a vet insurance policy.

Retire:
TE Travis Kelce

Re-sign UFAs:
QB Carson Wentz
WR Marquise Brown
RB Kareem Hunt
DT Tershawn Wharton
DE Charles Omenihu
LS James Winchester
CB Nazeeh Johnson (RFA)
LG Mike Caliendo (ERFA)
P Matt Araiza (ERFA)
Most PS Players (not Nelson)

Sign UFAs:
WR Elijah Moore (CLE, 25)
WR Josh Palmer (LAC, 26)
DT B.J. Hill (CIN, 30)
LB Jamien Sherwood (NYJ, 25)
DB Richie Grant (ATL, 27)

Let Walk:
WR DeAndre Hopkins, DB Justin Reid, DE Joshua Uche, DT Derrick Nnadi, WR Justin Watson, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Samaje Perine, LB Nick Bolton, DT Mike Pennell, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Mecole Hardman, K Matthew Wright, DT Marlon Tuipulotu, DE Malik Herring, LB Jack Cochrane, TE Peyton Hendershot, CB Keith Taylor, TE Jody Fortson, RG Trey Smith, K Spencer Shrader, LT D.J. Humphries

Draft:
1. DE Jaylahn Tuimoloau, Ohio State (6'4" 269) - Sets the edge like Spags likes, can take it home when he decides to turn up the gas, but has a little bit of unlocking that needs to happen to get him to his peak.
2. WR Tai Felton, Maryland (6'1" 185) - Might be the most underrated, under-the-radar, WR in the draft this year. He can win in multiple ways with his routes and has some speed plus the ability to create YAC.
3. CB Jason Marshall Jr., Florida (6'1" 201) - Boundary CB that excels in press with good fluidity and hips in transition and can make some plays on the football.
3. LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky (6'1" 245) - NFL-sized LB that is a thumper downhill but can stay on the field for 3 downs in a similar mold to Nick Bolton.
4. DT Yahya Black, Iowa (6'5" 317) - Purely a powerful run defender at the NFL level who can be a cog at NT.
7. RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State (5'11" 229) - Explosive first step and runs behind his pads with good leg drive and contact balance, solid receiver when called upon, and picks up the blitz fairly well.
7. DB Miles Scott, Illinois (5'11" 210) - A WR-turned-DB, Scott has some growth yet to do but he has the pedigree to be a ballhawk free safety and a plus special teams player.

Projected 53:
QB P. Mahomes, C. Wentz
RB I. Pacheco, K. Hunt, K. Allen, C. Steele
WR R. Rice, X. Worthy, M. Brown, E. Moore, J. Palmer, T. Felton
TE N. Gray, J. Wiley, B. Cupp
LT K. Suamataia, W. Morris
LG J. Thuney, M. Caliendo
OC C. Humphrey, H. Nourzad
RG M. Mettauer, C. Hanson
RT J. Taylor, E. Driskell

DE C. Omenihu, J. Tuimoloa, M. Danna
DT C. Jones, T. Wharton
NT B. Hill, Y. Black
DE G. Karlaftis, F. Anudike-Uzomah
LB L. Chenal, J. Sherwood, D. Tranquil, J. Dumas-Johnson, C. Jones
CB T. McDuffie, J. Watson, J. Williams, J. Marshall Jr, N. Johnson, C. Roland-Wallace
DB B. Cook, J. Hicks, C. Conner, R. Grant, M. Scott

ST H. Butker, M. Araiza, J. Winchester

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Therein lies the issue... there really aren't any this year. There's not a few guys you can hang your hat on and think they'll all be really good LTs like the past few seasons.

I really like Wyatt Millum but I don't know if he's a guy you bouncing up into the top 15 for. We'll see. Maybe. Someone is going to take Campbell from LSU pretty high but I wouldn't spend the capital it'd take to go get that guy.

What about Simmons if they’re confident he will recover 100% from his injury?

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

What about Simmons if they’re confident he will recover 100% from his injury?

I don't think there's an appreciable difference between Suamataia and Simmons as prospects, honestly. Similar size, similar athleticism, similar issues with technique and hand placement.

You're buying the same thing you already have. Suamataia will improve. Everyone is scared to let him.

Now, if you're thinking one will end up working out at LT and one at RT and all will be golden going forward, that's a fine way to look at it. I just think you're going to need to give Simmons as much time as you give Suamataia, and that would work out if you're planning to plug one at RT and let Taylor go in 2026.

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I don't think there's an appreciable difference between Suamataia and Simmons as prospects, honestly. Similar size, similar athleticism, similar issues with technique and hand placement.

You're buying the same thing you already have. Suamataia will improve. Everyone is scared to let him.

Now, if you're thinking one will end up working out at LT and one at RT and all will be golden going forward, that's a fine way to look at it. I just think you're going to need to give Simmons as much time as you give Suamataia, and that would work out if you're planning to plug one at RT and let Taylor go in 2026.

Is the 2025 draft that much worse on the OL? Or in other words, where would Simmons have gone in 2024? Seems like he's still a more highly graded prospect than Suamataia and has more LT experience against higher level competition.

Honestly I'm fine with Simmons, Suamataia, and Morris all being here with the idea that one hopefully fits at LT, one at RT, and the other either a swing tackle or at RG. You can't count on Suamataia improving without a backup option. Your two choices in FA are possibly Cam Robinson and maybe Ronnie Stanley, and there's no guarnatee Baltimore doesn't extend Stanley. I see Robinson hitting the FA market most likely, but he's commanding $20+ million and he can probably get at least a 3-4 year contract. Will KC pay him that?

[Couch-Potato]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Therein lies the issue... there really aren't any this year. There's not a few guys you can hang your hat on and think they'll all be really good LTs like the past few seasons.

I really like Wyatt Millum but I don't know if he's a guy you bouncing up into the top 15 for. We'll see. Maybe. Someone is going to take Campbell from LSU pretty high but I wouldn't spend the capital it'd take to go get that guy.

That’s why I asked. There’s a handful or so of 1st rounders, but maybe only 1 blue chip OT from what I’m hearing about this draft. Because of this, I think we sit tight and take one at #32 or wait to take our shot at OL in the 2nd.

I’ve also been interested in Simmons, because it seems like he’ll be available for us potentially, but waiting a season for a guy to get healthy just so he can compete for the job doesn’t sound overly attractive. I’m game if he’s going to lock down one of our OT spots when he's healthy.

I don’t see anyone in FA that looks solid enough. Heard someone on Youtube ask the following... “would the Chiefs trade their 1st, and maybe a 3rd or 4th as well, to the Chargers for Rashawn Slater?” Dude has a 91.4 PFF rating this season so not sure why LA would move on from him, but sounds like a more of a sure thing than anyone in FA or the draft. What do you guys think?

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Couch-Potato

Heard someone on Youtube ask the following... “would the Chiefs trade their 1st, and maybe a 3rd or 4th as well, to the Chargers for Rashawn Slater?” Dude has a 91.4 PFF rating this season so not sure why LA would move on from him, but sounds like a more of a sure thing than anyone in FA or the draft. What do you guys think?

Why in the hell would they trade Slater? And to a division rival to boot? That'd be about as dumb of a move as that franchise could make. They have both tackle spots locked in for the next decade. Unless they are completely inept, it'll never happen. And yeah, I'd do that trade in a heartbeat.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

Is the 2025 draft that much worse on the OL? Or in other words, where would Simmons have gone in 2024? Seems like he's still a more highly graded prospect than Suamataia and has more LT experience against higher level competition.

Honestly I'm fine with Simmons, Suamataia, and Morris all being here with the idea that one hopefully fits at LT, one at RT, and the other either a swing tackle or at RG. You can't count on Suamataia improving without a backup option. Your two choices in FA are possibly Cam Robinson and maybe Ronnie Stanley, and there's no guarnatee Baltimore doesn't extend Stanley. I see Robinson hitting the FA market most likely, but he's commanding $20+ million and he can probably get at least a 3-4 year contract. Will KC pay him that?

We'll see what happens yet. The Broncos just extended Bolles for 4 years and the Jags extended Little. That's 2 off the market already.

The only player Baltimore has worth tagging is Stanley, so that option is wide open for them.

Cam Robinson, Alaric Jackson, and Dan Moore might be the next guys up and the guy to steal is NOT Cam Robinson, it's Alaric Jackson. We'll see if he gets extended though and, like the Ravens, the Rams only really have him as a potential franchise player.

[philfree]

Originally Posted by kccrow

The Chiefs 3-Peat, of course...

The coaching staff is retained, though Heck and Cullen should both be replaced and won't be. Development on both lines has been extremely subpar. Smith was touted as a 1st round prospect and only slid because of his heart issue and Karlaftis was one. Outside of those guys, nobody has really developed very well. A top OC in round 2 is not to be unexpected, it happens frequently so we aren't counting Creed. But who else have either of these guys made into something? Okay, off my soap box.

That said, I'm going to assume that the Chiefs FO will bank on the development of Suamataia, Morris, and Driskell at tackle so I'm not mocking a big splash there. Honestly, we should expect those guys to develop. The question is if they'll develop enough to forego making a big move in the draft for a tackle or signing a vet insurance policy.

Retire:
TE Travis Kelce

Re-sign UFAs:
QB Carson Wentz
WR Marquise Brown
RB Kareem Hunt
DT Tershawn Wharton
DE Charles Omenihu
LS James Winchester
CB Nazeeh Johnson (RFA)
LG Mike Caliendo (ERFA)
P Matt Araiza (ERFA)
Most PS Players (not Nelson)

Sign UFAs:
WR Elijah Moore (CLE, 25)
WR Josh Palmer (LAC, 26)
DT B.J. Hill (CIN, 30)
LB Jamien Sherwood (NYJ, 25)
DB Richie Grant (ATL, 27)

Let Walk:
WR DeAndre Hopkins, DB Justin Reid, DE Joshua Uche, DT Derrick Nnadi, WR Justin Watson, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Samaje Perine, LB Nick Bolton, DT Mike Pennell, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Mecole Hardman, K Matthew Wright, DT Marlon Tuipulotu, DE Malik Herring, LB Jack Cochrane, TE Peyton Hendershot, CB Keith Taylor, TE Jody Fortson, RG Trey Smith, K Spencer Shrader, LT D.J. Humphries

Draft:
1. DE Jaylahn Tuimoloau, Ohio State (6'4" 269) - Sets the edge like Spags likes, can take it home when he decides to turn up the gas, but has a little bit of unlocking that needs to happen to get him to his peak.
2. WR Tai Felton, Maryland (6'1" 185) - Might be the most underrated, under-the-radar, WR in the draft this year. He can win in multiple ways with his routes and has some speed plus the ability to create YAC.
3. CB Jason Marshall Jr., Florida (6'1" 201) - Boundary CB that excels in press with good fluidity and hips in transition and can make some plays on the football.
3. LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky (6'1" 245) - NFL-sized LB that is a thumper downhill but can stay on the field for 3 downs in a similar mold to Nick Bolton.
4. DT Yahya Black, Iowa (6'5" 317) - Purely a powerful run defender at the NFL level who can be a cog at NT.
7. RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State (5'11" 229) - Explosive first step and runs behind his pads with good leg drive and contact balance, solid receiver when called upon, and picks up the blitz fairly well.
7. DB Miles Scott, Illinois (5'11" 210) - A WR-turned-DB, Scott has some growth yet to do but he has the pedigree to be a ballhawk free safety and a plus special teams player.

Projected 53:
QB P. Mahomes, C. Wentz
RB I. Pacheco, K. Hunt, K. Allen, C. Steele
WR R. Rice, X. Worthy, M. Brown, E. Moore, J. Palmer, T. Felton
TE N. Gray, J. Wiley, B. Cupp
LT K. Suamataia, W. Morris
LG J. Thuney, M. Caliendo
OC C. Humphrey, H. Nourzad
RG M. Mettauer, C. Hanson
RT J. Taylor, E. Driskell

DE C. Omenihu, J. Tuimoloa, M. Danna
DT C. Jones, T. Wharton
NT B. Hill, Y. Black
DE G. Karlaftis, F. Anudike-Uzomah
LB L. Chenal, J. Sherwood, D. Tranquil, J. Dumas-Johnson, C. Jones
CB T. McDuffie, J. Watson, J. Williams, J. Marshall Jr, N. Johnson, C. Roland-Wallace
DB B. Cook, J. Hicks, C. Conner, R. Grant, M. Scott

ST H. Butker, M. Araiza, J. Winchester

So you're going with the same two young not ready for prime time LTs? I think I'd bring in some insurance.

[Chris Meck]

Yeah, we can't go into '25 with the two guys that have stunk so far.

[kccrow]

So, let's ditch Hollywood and Josh Palmer in this mock, re-sign Justin Watson, keep Remigio, and sign LT Alaric Jackson from the Rams. More warm and fuzzies? That said, you just blew using a 2nd round pick for his first two seasons and he'll end up at RT in 2026 in all likelihood doing this.

Projected 53:
QB P. Mahomes, C. Wentz
RB I. Pacheco, K. Hunt, K. Allen, C. Steele
WR R. Rice, X. Worthy, E. Moore, T. Felton, J. Watson, N. Remigio
TE N. Gray, J. Wiley, B. Cupp
LT A. Jackson, K. Suamataia
LG J. Thuney, M. Caliendo
OC C. Humphrey, H. Nourzad
RG W. Morris, M. Mettauer or C. Hanson
RT J. Taylor, E. Driskell

DE C. Omenihu, J. Tuimoloa, M. Danna
DT C. Jones, T. Wharton
NT B. Hill, Y. Black
DE G. Karlaftis, F. Anudike-Uzomah
LB L. Chenal, J. Sherwood, D. Tranquil, J. Dumas-Johnson, C. Jones
CB T. McDuffie, J. Watson, J. Williams, J. Marshall Jr, N. Johnson, C. Roland-Wallace
DB B. Cook, J. Hicks, C. Conner, R. Grant, M. Scott

ST H. Butker, M. Araiza, J. Winchester