- An offensive sort out in Round 1: After spending most of his faculty profession at left guard, Donovan Jackson took over at sort out in Week 9 of 2024 and thrived. In Ohio State’s 4 playoff video games, he didn’t enable a single sack or quarterback hit.
- Investing at tight finish in Round 3: Mason Taylor totaled 599 receiving yards in 2024, with 100 yards coming after the catch. He additionally proved dependable in tight protection, securing 9 of 17 contested targets.
Estimated studying time: 2 minutes
The Kansas City Chiefs‘ offensive line can be underneath the microscope this offseason after their 40-22 Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, by which quarterback Patrick Mahomes was underneath relentless strain. The unit required patchwork options in 2024, and people shortcomings have been totally uncovered on the sport’s greatest stage.
With 32-year-old Joe Thuney having to shift to left sort out down the stretch and Jawaan Taylor struggling at proper sort out, main questions stay. Former second-round decide Kingsley Suamataia is ready within the wings, but it surely’s unclear whether or not his finest match is at sort out or guard.
The Chiefs even have work to do within the trenches on protection, with seven defensive linemen set to hit free company. Given their restricted cap house and simply six draft picks, Kansas City should maximize its assets to stay in Super Bowl rivalry.
Round 1, Pick 31: T Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
The Chiefs have a number of wants alongside the offensive line, and Jackson’s late-season play at left sort out suggests he might be a long-term resolution at a number of positions. After spending most of his faculty profession at left guard, he took over at sort out in Week 9 of 2024 and thrived. In Ohio State’s 4 playoff video games, he didn’t enable a single sack or quarterback hit.
Round 2, Pick 64: DI Deone Walker, Kentucky
Walker arrived at Senior Bowl week as a towering 6-foot-7, 340-pound drive and instantly showcased his pure energy. While he’s constructed to dominate towards the run, he additionally proved to be an efficient cross rusher at Kentucky, producing 23 whole pressures with a ten.9% pass-rush win charge.
Round 3, Pick 66: TE Mason Taylor, LSU
Taylor totaled 599 receiving yards in 2024, with 100 yards coming after the catch. He additionally proved dependable in tight protection, securing 9 of 17 contested targets.
Round 3, Pick 96: OL Jalen Rivers, Miami (FL)
Rivers battled accidents all through his faculty profession however ended 2024 in lockdown mode. Over his ultimate six video games for the Hurricanes, he allowed only one sack and 4 whole pressures.
Round 4, Pick 132: Edge Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
Rucker endured a tricky 2024 season, lacking a month with a knee damage earlier than a cracked fibula towards North Carolina State ended his faculty profession early. However, he has the instruments to be a wonderful situational cross rusher on the subsequent degree. In 2023, he racked up 64 whole pressures with a formidable 19.4% pass-rush win charge.
Round 7, Pick 227: LB Karene Reid, Utah
Over 415 run-defense snaps up to now two seasons, Reid missed simply 4 whole tackles — with just one coming in 2024 — highlighting his reliability as a certain tackler.