After the Kansas City Chiefs fell a game short of a historic third Super Bowl title in a row, they must dust themselves off and retool a roster that has been stretched thin in recent seasons.

General manager Brett Veach has consistently added quality young players to the roster over this dynastic stretch, lessening the pressure on the Chiefs come draft night. However, the team still has a handful of needs.

With the 31st pick, an additional day two selection courtesy of the Tennessee Titans, and seven picks in total, this is the 2025 NFL Draft outlook for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City Chiefs Needs & Draft Strategy

With one of the best quarterbacks in league history, a pair of talented receivers, and young stars across the defense, the Kansas City Chiefs can be deliberate in their improvements during this offseason. It’s not a talent-poor roster in need of a blue chip prospect regardless of position. Rather, the Chiefs can target a handful of key needs.

After a career year, with 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss, Tershawn Wharton is likely to find a quality payday in free agency. That leaves Kansas City short along the interior of its defensive line, where All-Pro Chris Jones will need a new running mate.

With George Karlaftis, who led the team in sacks with eight, and the physical Michael Danna on either side, the Chiefs have the foundation of a strong defensive line. Landing an additional tackle capable of occupying space and freeing up the talents of Jones and Karlaftis would be an outsized addition.

Despite using first—and second-round picks on wide receivers in the last two drafts, the Chiefs should be heading back to the receiver well in the draft—in effect, to begin replacing Travis Kelce.

Rashee Rice was on pace for a fantastic sophomore year, with 24 catches and 288 yards in four games, before a torn ACL ended his season. Rice will return at full health and continue his development as an electrifying threat over the middle. Similarly, Xavier Worthy came on strong at the end of a rookie year that saw him total 59 catches, 638 yards, and six touchdowns. The speedster will continue to help stretch the field.

In terms of a pass catcher need, what is left is a big-bodied ball winner after DeAndre Hopkins was phased out. That need becomes considerably more pressing if Kelce retires, vacating 97 catches and 823 yards from a year ago.

Kansas City’s third need remains on offense, where its backfield needs some life. In an injury shortened 2024, Isiah Pacheco mustered just 310 yards on 3.7 yards per carry, while veteran Kareem Hunt came back into the fold with 728 inefficient yards, totaling on a 3.6 yards per carry average.

Pacheco’s return from an ankle injury was worrisome, and he’s a limited runner with a physical style. The Chiefs will likely, wisely, opt not to pay him. Hunt, for his part, is headed into his age 30 season and should be no more than a rotational piece at this point in his career.

Potential Kansas City Chiefs Draft Picks 2025

Provided the Kansas City Chiefs again look to the trenches at the top of their draft and try to address their need for defensive tackle, a few names stand out as possibilities.

It would require other positions to crowd him down the board, but Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams would greatly boost the Chiefs’ defense. At 6’3” and 327 pounds, Williams could immediately slot in alongside Chris Jones and offer outstanding run defense. His athleticism, however, offers the chance at a higher upside.

Beyond Williams, the Big Ten duo of Derrick Harmon from Oregon and Michigan’s Kenneth Grant would be worthy consolation—and potentially even give Kansas City the flexibility to trade down before selecting one of them.

In the second tier of wide receivers, there are four players who would fill the Chiefs’ need for a possession wideout.

Illinois’ Pat Bryant and Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor would be on the higher end of the range of picks the Chiefs would need to use. Meanwhile, the Iowa State pair of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel bring similar skill sets and wouldn’t find outsized roles with Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy already in place.

At running back, as Kansas City seeks out a player who could fill a full-time role in a year’s time, size profile is paramount. Utilizing the additional day two selection it has, a handful of players are potential fits in the backfield. On the high end, Quinshon Judkins from Ohio State, as does UCF’s RJ Harvey, fits the bill.

On the lower end of rounds two and three, Miami’s Damien Martinez and Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson are similarly good fits. The Chiefs’ aggressiveness in targeting a running back will likely depend on their confidence in Isiah Pacheco’s return to form.