2023 NFL mock draft: Chiefs Wire staff’s 7th annual dueling mock draft
STEVE SISNEY/The Oklahoman
| Pick | Player |
| Round 1, Pick 31 | Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison |
| Round 2, Pick 63 | Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman |
| Round 3, Pick 95 | Missouri EDGE Isaiah McGuire |
| Round 4, Pick 122 | South Carolina DT Zaach Pickens |
| Round 4, Pick 134 | Illinois RB Chase Brown |
| Round 5, Pick 166 | Purdue CB Cory Trice Jr. |
| Round 6, Pick 178 | Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle |
| Round 6, Pick 217 | Ferris State EDGE Caleb Murphy |
| Round 7, Pick 249 | Louisville OG Caleb Chandler |
| Round 7, Pick 250 | Virginia WR Keytaon Thompson |
I’ve done a lot of mock drafts in the last couple of months and this one is by far my favorite. I believe my first five picks could be legitimate contributors as rookies. Harrison would immediately plugin as the Chiefs’ starting right tackle and could have an outside shot at being their left tackle if Jawaan Taylor disappoints.
Tillman would be a great value at No. 63, and I wouldn’t mind if the Chiefs had to move up a little bit to grab him. The Chiefs need a big, physical receiver who can make contested catches, block well and break tackles. At 23 years old and with four years of college ball under his belt, Tillman is better equipped to pick up Andy Reid’s offense than a typical rookie.
McGuire is someone I have really come to like for the Chiefs over the last few weeks. He has the prototypical size for a Steve Spagnuolo DE and his measurables are among the best of all EDGE guys in this draft. This past season in a matchup against Georgia he dominated first-round projected OT Broderick Jones.
Staying in the trenches, Pickens is a guy I feel is flying under the radar and could push to start opposite Chris Jones. Pickens is a brick wall against the run, and he had some impressive pass-rushing displays during Senior Bowl week.
Back on the offensive side of the ball, Brown and Whyle could also make impacts as rookies, especially Brown. He reminds me a bit of Isiah Pacheco as he’s a downhill, one-cut runner who can also make plays as a receiver, maybe even more so than Pacheco.
Whyle will have a tougher time finding playing time with so many veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, but he’s a smooth route runner who would really benefit from Andy Reid’s schematics.
The Chiefs hit a home run drafting cornerbacks last year, and Trice Jr. could continue that trend. He has great size and would be a natural fit in Spagnuolo’s press-man coverages. With L’Jarius Sneed’s future up in the air after 2023, the Chiefs need CB depth.
Rounding out my mock draft are project players Murphy, Chandler and Thompson. Murphy was insanely productive in Division II for Ferris State and plays with a high motor. Chandler is an athletic interior offensive lineman who is versatile, and Thompson is a Swiss army knife receiver who is dangerous with the ball in his hands and could contribute on special teams.
Closing out on a side note, I would support the Chiefs trading up in the first round to grab a playmaker. The Chiefs are still a Super Bowl contender and don’t have many holes to fill, so they definitely don’t need 10 draft picks. I also remain intrigued by the possibility of acquiring Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins, whom the Chiefs have had reported interest in.