Best-Case Scenario Picks for Chiefs in First Round of 2023 NFL Draft

If the Chiefs have a successful first round, it could be because of one of these prospects.

The 2023 NFL Draft will soon be in full swing, and the Kansas City Chiefs are projected to finish off the first round of the NFL's biggest event for the month of April.

General manager Brett Veach and the Chiefs enter the draft holding the 31st overall pick, which is the final selection of Day 1 this year due to the Miami Dolphins not having a pick. Kansas City will have many options to choose from but because pick No. 31 is so late, it's far from a guarantee that elite talents will fall to the end of the opening round.

There are absolutely some picks that may not be ideal for the Chiefs, but what about ones that could be classified as home run-level selections? Let's take a look at some picks that may not be likely, but would be terrific outcomes via either a trade-up or a lucky fall to the last pick of round one. 

Offensive Tackle

Broderick Jones (Georgia), Darnell Wright (Tennessee), Anton Harrison (Oklahoma)

Projected by many to be selected in the top half of the first round, the odds that either of Jones or Wright falls to anywhere near a small trade-up range for the Chiefs is extremely low. If Veach wanted to execute a massive move up the board for one of them, though, that option may be on the table. Harrison is a much more realistic target and someone whose draft stock has been projected anywhere from around pick No. 20 to early in the second round. He doesn't offer the immediate floor of Jones or Wright, but his ceiling is still quite high and he can play in year one. 

Wide Receiver

Jordan Addison (USC), Zay Flowers (Boston College), Quentin Johnston (TCU)

Much like Jones and Wright, Addison and Flowers are widely projected to be picked above a Chiefs range that would necessitate a move-up of only five or six picks. Wideout-needy teams around No. 20 could swoop in for them, but the possibility of one or the other slipping still exists. Johnston's stock seems to be falling a bit as the pre-draft process has continued, and he just might be available at the end of the first round. If he is, he'd be a fantastic pickup for Kansas City. 

Interior Defensive Line

Bryan Bresee (Clemson)

Michigan's Mazi Smith came close to making this exclusive list but instead, only Bresee makes it through the final cut. The former Clemson defensive lineman is a phenomenal athlete who tested very well in the pre-draft process and would give the Chiefs an explosive, game-wrecking threat alongside Chris Jones. Bresee isn't a traditional nose tackle like Derrick Nnadi, but the Chiefs could get creative with his usage and he has enough of a floor as a run defender that the selection can still be completely justified. Bresee likely won't be available at 31 but if he somehow is, the Chiefs should sprint to the podium to turn in that pick. 

Defensive End

Lukas Van Ness (Iowa), Myles Murphy (Clemson), Nolan Smith (Georgia)

Of all the positions in every year's draft, defensive end is one of the most notable ones that sees a drop-off after the top tier or two of picks come off the board. Van Ness and Murphy are projected to see their names be included in that group, and Smith might not be too far behind them. Van Ness and Murphy would be tremendous fits in Steve Spagnuolo's defense and while Smith is smaller than typical Chiefs defensive ends, the team has clearly done its homework on him and he'd be an amazing off-speed pitch with his high-end pass rush ceiling and surprisingly good run defense. There isn't a likely home run pick out of the EDGE group as-is, but moving up for any of these prospects would be worth it. 

Secondary

Cam Smith (CB, South Carolina), Brian Branch (S, Alabama)

Smith has conducted a top-30 visit with the Chiefs and has just about every tool needed to be a successful NFL cornerback for a long time. Corner may be a bit of a luxury pick for the Chiefs in 2023 but considering there is still some unproven depth at that position and L'Jarius Sneed may not be around next season, it's justified. Branch is easily the best safety in this year's class and would also be a small luxury considering the lack of an immediate need, but the same logic can be used for this hypothetical move as well.

Read More: Final KC Chiefs 2023 Seven-Round NFL Mock Draft