The 2024 NFL Draft is now over. Undrafted free agents have been signed. Some are still being signed. Teams are moving to fill in their rosters and ensure they have 90 live bodies for training camp. The Chiefs are no different.
Kansas City added seven drafted players and 24 undrafted free agents. Given those numbers, the Chiefs will be bringing in roughly 59 roster holdovers and veteran free agents to camp.
CHIEFS 2024 NFL DRAFT: Grades and superlatives | Expert analysis
No matter what they did this offseason, the Chiefs are going to be seen as a contender. Mahomes and Reid are still there. So are Jones and Travis Kelce. This team has plenty left in the tank. They've managed to retool and reshape this roster while winning back-to-back titles, and appearing in another Super Bowl. They should expect nothing less than another deep playoff run given this haul. Reid is somewhere right now with a cold, half-eaten cheeseburger sitting on a table next to him as he salivates over the possibilities.
After going over their haul, here's a look at the winners and losers of their draft.
Chiefs' winners & losers following 2024 NFL Draft
Winners
Head coach Andy Reid
Reid came out of the 2024 NFL Draft like a kid on Christmas morning. He added a few new toys to play with, as five of their seven draft picks came on the offensive side of the ball. The Chiefs have the fastest wide receiver in NFL Combine history, depth at tight end, and three offensive line prospects. For a coach like Reid, there can have some fun for now with a couple of investments for later.
QB Patrick Mahomes
Speaking of Reid having new toys, that means so does Mahomes. The addition of Xavier Worthy should make him happy, but it's the offensive line help that may be more important. BYU tackle Kingsley Suamataia was considered a first-round prospect by some and the Chiefs got him in the second round. He's already on the depth chart as the team's swing tackle and has a strong chance of winning the starting LT job.
Running back room
Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire Both made it out unscathed. Pacheco has been their most consistent. Edwards-Helaire is a former first-rounder. Neither guy has shown the ability to be the guy, though. The fact that the team only brought in undrafted free agents at their position bodes well for both to make the 53-man roster. However, they should be looking over their shoulders. An undrafted free agent is much cheaper, will work harder, and will get more reps by playing special teams. If one of them impresses enough, Pacheco or CEH could be cut or traded.
Losers
OTs Wanya Morris and Jawaan Taylor
With Kingsley Suamataia taken in the second round, Wanya Morris might not be long for the starting left tackle job. He was a third-rounder in 2023 who hasn't done much to lay claim to the starting job entering camp. With Jawaan Taylor listed as the starter at right tackle, Suamataia's flexibility could see him starting there. Mahomes is this team's most valuable asset. Keeping him upright and healthy is a serious priority.
WR Kadarius Toney
Not only did the Chiefs bring in Hollywood Brown, but they landed Worthy with the 28th overall pick in the first round. Three of their undrafted free agents are also receivers. The real salt in his wound: they declined Toney's fifth-year option. He's now fourth or fifth at best on the depth chart. He better learn those special teams formations.
The defense
Only two of the seven draft picks were used on defense, while 10 of the 24 undrafted free agents were on that side of the ball. This unit was largely responsible for the team's overall success in 2023. Bringing back Chris Jones, but trading L'Jarius Sneed was a choice. Business sometimes gets in the way of maintaining a good team, however, they didn't dedicate a lot of offseason resources to the defense apart from the re-signings of Jones, Mike Danna and Drue Tranquill. Evidently, they feel what they brought back was good enough to compete this coming season.
