FPC Chiefs 2023 NFL Mock Draft: 3.0

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Draft week is finally here! After months and months of speculations, rumors and predictions, we are just a few days away from the official 2023 NFL Draft. People are starting to place their finishing touches on mock drafts and pre-draft rankings. With this being our last Monday before the draft, it is time to conduct our final FPC Chiefs 2023 NFL mock draft for the Kansas City Chiefs.

What does our final draft haul look like, compared to the last two FPC Chiefs mock drafts for 2023? To read our first and second editions of this year’s mock draft articles, click here and here. Without further ado, let’s get this third edition rolling.

This mock draft was conducted on nflmockdraftdatabase.com. Follow them on Twitter (@_mockdrafts).

1st Round, 31st Overall

OT Dawand Jones- Ohio State

Admittedly, it feels like momentum for Dawand Jones going in the first round is starting to stall. It feels like only a few teams may take a chance on him late in the first round. Yet, I would still be comfortable taking him in this spot, ending the opening round of selections. We will see if the league agrees on his overall value. Either way, the Kansas City Chiefs would be getting a mammoth of a blocker that they can potentially stick in right away at right tackle. His mix of length, hand technique and adequate movement skills could fit in well with Kansas City.

2nd Round, 63rd Overall

EDGE Derick Hall- Auburn

A dense, thick pass rusher on the edge, Derick Hall appears to possess many qualities that the Chiefs would like on the defensive line. His arm length (34 1/2″) and heavy hands are items that Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has clung to in the past. Hall is still developing and refining his pass rush repertoire. Nonetheless, the Chiefs have been willing to take recent chances on pass rushers who win off of relentlessness, motor and working through the opponent, rather than around them. Hall can certainly do that with power, even if he is not always able to bend around the corner.

3rd Round, 95th Overall

WR Jayden Reed- Michigan State

We decided to wait on wide receiver until the third round, based on how the board fell. In this scenario, Jayden Reed was an intriguing option. He could easily go earlier than this on day two of the draft, in my opinion. Meanwhile, Reed appeared to offer the most upside as a route runner and separator of the top names available in this spot. With the Kansas City Chiefs, you could utilize the Michigan State product to work from the slot as a rookie, at worst.

4th Round, 106th Overall

SAF Jartavius Martin- Illinois

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TRADE!!!

Chiefs Receive: Pick 106

Colts Receive: Pick 122, Pick 166, Pick 250

A trade up in round four here early on the third day of the draft. Safety is a secondary team need that could use another piece for depth. In this scenario, the Chiefs land a name that should arguably deserve more attention than what he appears to be getting. Jartavius Martin can produce in both man coverage and zone coverage. With how Kansas City likes to mix and match, moving people around the defensive formation, Martin could even present upside as a slot defender. His overall physicality jumps off the screen.

4th Round, 134th Overall

IDL Jaquelin Roy- LSU

Defensive tackle is another team need that the Chiefs should probably address early on in the 2023 NFL Draft. In this scenario, we could not do so until the fourth round. Kansas City just needs more stability behind Chris Jones on the interior defensive line. LSU’s Jaquelin Roy could be used as a nose tackle or as a shade on either side of the center. This player presents a fascinating mix of instincts and tenacity upfront. To boot, Roy is swift when reading and reacting to play direction and blocks. He could possibly muddy up the line of scrimmage as a solid run defender.

6th Round, 178th Overall

RB Keaton Mitchell- East Carolina

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Keaton Mitchell was able to produce heavily as both a runner and a pass catcher for East Carolina. That versatility will always hold some value to an offensive attack like Kansas City. Mitchell will not be able to win consistently against contact or with power. But, his field vision is impressive, given his lighter frame. Mitchell is most appealing, due to his explosiveness and long speed. That could be a pair of favorable complementary traits to add behind Isiah Pacheco, as he enters his second year with the Chiefs.

6th Round, 217th Overall

TE Payne Durham- Purdue

At some point, it would not be surprising to see the Chiefs add another tight end to the mix. Payne Durham may profile best as an in-line tight end at the NFL level. In that spot, the Purdue product is a competitive run blocker. Kansas City could also eventually see him provide upside as a heavy, large target in the middle of the field. He works the middle of the field and the seams smoothly, making him a major threat in the red zone.

7th Round, 249th Overall

CB Alex Austin- Oregon State

There is still a possibility that Kansas City adds another cornerback to compete with last year’s influx of 2022 rookie cornerbacks. There are a few traits to like from Oregon State’s Alex Austin that could make him a fit with the Chiefs. First and foremost, his length and size are items that can frustrate opposing receivers. He is still a fluid mover with his larger frame, though. Kansas City also plays a ton of press man coverage, an area in which Austin thrived in during his college career.

Be on the lookout for our live reaction and coverage of the 2023 NFL Draft later this week at Full Press Coverage. To do so, follow us on Twitter (@FullPressNFL, @FP_Coverage, @FPC_Chiefs).

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.