Kansas City Chiefs 2024 NFL draft picks: Selection analysis
Let's take a closer look at each of the Chiefs' 2024 draft picks, including No. 28 overall pick Xavier Worthy.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The 2024 NFL draft began Thursday night in Detroit and will wrap up on Saturday. The Kansas City Chiefs are scheduled to make seven of the draft's 257 picks, beginning with the No. 28 selection of the first round on Thursday night.
ESPN will provide pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Chiefs' selections as they are made.
A look at each of Kansas City's scheduled selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 28 (via Buffalo): Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
My take: The Chiefs didn't want to merely rebuild at wide receiver after last season's group underachieved. They wanted to rebuild with speed. Selecting Worthy, who ran a combine record 4.21 40-yard dash, is a major step in that direction. Worthy joins another fast receiving acquisition, free agent signee Marquise Brown. The Chiefs struggled last season to connect on many big plays down the field and they hope these moves, particularly drafting Worthy, corrects the problem.
When will he be expected to get regular playing time? It's a disappointment if Worthy doesn't contribute in a meaningful way immediately. The Chiefs talked about how quickly he was able to help at Texas as a freshman, when he caught 62 passes and scored 12 touchdowns. While he may not have that kind of impact as a rookie, he still needs to have significant production. He will also get ample opportunities as a kick return specialist.
What we're hearing about Worthy: "It's a speed game and the more speed you have on the field, the harder it is for defenses to take away different elements of the game," general manager Brett Veach said. "Just our ability to play vertical and have speed on the field at all times and having Xavier and Hollywood . . . I think as the season goes on here, I think we'll have just an offense that can attack in multiple different ways and always keep defenses guessing.''
Round 2, No. 63 (via San Francisco): Kinglsey Suamataia, OT, BYU
My take: Veach said last week the Chiefs would look for a player to provide competition for Wanya Morris at starting left tackle and here is that competition. Morris, a third-round pick last year, has the benefit of experience after starting a handful of games last season. But the Chiefs didn't trade up a spot to draft Suamataia in the second round for him to be a backup forever.
The need he's helping fill: Chiefs tackles were 31st in run block win rate last season, ahead of only the New York Jets. But as long as Patrick Mahomes is their quarterback, protecting him will be job No. 1. The Chiefs have led the league in pass block win rate in each of the last two seasons.
What's next: The Chiefs have two picks in the fourth round and one in each of the final three rounds. They have a hole in their depth chart at running back, where Jerick McKinnon is unsigned. They could use some depth at cornerback and on the defensive line.
Round 4: No. 133
Round 5: No. 159 (via Dallas)
Round 6: No. 211 (via San Francisco)
Round 7: No. 248 (via Buffalo)