It seems increasingly evident that the Kansas City Chiefs could bring back offensive tackle Donovan Smith, who played with the Chiefs on a one-year deal last season. With the cap space the Chiefs have gotten from the L'Jarius Sneed trade, they can be expected to sign Smith back. Whether they do or don't sign him back, it remains clear that offensive tackle is still a pretty big need for the Chiefs as they try and go for the first-ever three-peat.
There are a ton of needs on this roster that need to be addressed before the Chiefs can think about three-peating. It won't be easy, but filling in some of those holes will make the job easier than it would be. They need to address the edge rushers, wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers, and offensive tackles. They can do that in the draft.
Now, where they go with their first pick, which is at No. 32 this year rather than No. 31 like last year, I have no idea. They could easily go edge rusher; if they did, they could get some really good guys. If they go wide receiver, they could get guys that help turn the offense back around. But they could also go offensive tackle and get a guy that helps protect Patrick Mahomes for the future.
If they were to go with an offensive tackle in the first round, which I think they should do at this very moment, there are three guys they should target who would be perfect for their offense. Now, if they end up signing Smith back to the roster, I think they may need to move down their list a bit to maybe the third round. But right now, these are the three guys they should get in the first round at offensive tackle if they decide to go that route:
If you have followed the Chiefs for some time now, you know they love offensive linemen from Oklahoma University. Creed Humphrey, the best center in the league, played at OU. Trey Smith, before transferring to Tennessee in college, was at OU. And Wanya Morris, who they drafted last season, played at OU. So, taking an offensive tackle from OU would follow a trend we have seen several times.
According to A to Z Sports' Big Board, Guyton is the 32nd overall player and the fifth-ranked offensive tackle in the draft. With how many tackles are going to go in the first round, Guyton will easily be the best one in the area the Chiefs are drafting. He could fall to No. 32, or he could go before. I have seen plenty of mock drafts that have Guyton going No. 25 to the Green Bay Packers, and I have seen some others having him just before the Chiefs pick. If the Chiefs grabbed him, they would be getting a very talented tackle. Here are some of his strengths and weaknesses:
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
Now, there is a very big chance that Mims does not make it to 32, and it's probably a bigger chance that he doesn't than the chances of him making it. But it can happen, as this is the NFL draft, where some of the craziest things happen. Mims has some flaws that could hold him back until the end of the first round. A to Z Sports' Charles Goldman recently did a mock draft with the Chiefs' first pick being Mims, so it can happen.
On A to Z Sports' Big Board, Mims is the 11th-ranked player in the draft and the fourth-ranked tackle in the draft. He has injury concerns that could cause him to fall in the draft. His huge frame and size have shown him to draw comparisons to Cam Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars. If he is there at 32, the Chiefs have to take him. Here are some of the strengths and weaknesses he has shown during his time in college:
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
When you look up Morgan on some big boards, you may see him listed as a guard, and that's because he has played guard but played 700 snaps at left tackle last season for the Arizona Wildcats. Morgan is interesting because he is very good at both positions but seems to get more attention as a tackle. Drafting Morgan would make sense for a few reasons, as he helps with the current OT issue, but if Morris develops nicely and the Chiefs can't pay Trey Smith at right guard next year, you now have Morgan, who could possibly fill in there.
Morgan had a total blocking grade of 84.3, a run-blocking grade of 77.0, and a pass-blocking grade of 87.3, per Pro Football Focus. His overall offensive-blocking grade (84.3) was fifth in the Pac-12. Morgan is better as a pass blocker but can get it done in the run game as well. Here are some of the strengths and weaknesses he has:
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
The Chiefs will need to walk away from the 2024 NFL Draft with at least one offensive tackle. If they do decide to do that in the first round, these three guys are players they should target.
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