Chiefs: Best-case and worst-case scenario for Kansas City’s first-round pick

The Kansas City Chiefs have many options with their No. 31 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

With the No. 31 overall pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft, the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs could end up with one of several players with that first-round selection.

Since Kansas City used its No. 32 pick last year on a luxury item in former LSU standout running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, we are largely expecting the Chiefs to address a primary need with this year’s top-32 pick. Given how Super Bowl 55 went, one would think an offensive tackle would be the biggest position group of need. They can also go with a pass rusher or a wide receiver here.

Kansas City Chiefs: Who are the best and worst outcomes for them at No. 31?

Alright. Let’s look at all three position groups and who could potentially go to the Chiefs at No. 31. If we are looking at offensive tackle, the best-case scenario would be if Teven Jenkins falls to them at the end of the first round out of Oklahoma State. Guys like Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw and USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker are not falling to the Chiefs under any circumstances whatsoever.

Jenkins is the best of three likely offensive tackle candidates at No. 31, along with Michigan’s Jalen Mayfield and Texas’ Samuel Cosmi. Any of these three would be good, but Jenkins is the best value. Once you get past Mayfield or Cosmi, it gets a little dicey with Notre Dame’s Liam Eichenberg and North Dakota State’s Dillon Randuz. Kansas City would be reaching for those two.

If they were to go with a pass rusher, the best outcome at No. 31 is for Michigan’s Kwity Paye to fall catastrophically. Since that is not likely to happen, taking Azeez Ojulari out of Georgia would be a great choice there. Reaching on Penn State pass-rusher Jayson Oweh is not what you want to do. Again, pass rusher is the the third most likely position group Kansas City would address at No. 31.

Finally, the best wide receiver they could get at No. 31 is Terrace Marshall Jr. out of LSU, maybe Kadarius Toney out of Florida if they are lucky. While Rashod Bateman out of Minnesota would be an understandable selection with that pick, you do not want to the Chiefs to reach on Elijah Moore out of Ole Miss or Tylan Wallace out of Oklahoma State at No. 31 when they are second-rounders.

Overall, Paye is the best player the Chiefs could get at No. 31 with Wallace being the biggest reach.