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