The Kansas City Chiefs have a few needs to address with the 2023 NFL Draft just a few hours away. Luckily for them, they have the draft capital to fill those voids as Kansas City is set to have 10 picks in the draft.
The Chiefs will certainly be on the lookout for some wide receiver help. They could use someone to replace the production of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman who departed in free agency. Kansas City has been linked to veteran DeAndre Hopkins, but signs are pointing to the Arizona Cardinals completing a trade with the Baltimore Ravens centered around him.
After wide receiver, the next biggest need for the team is in the trenches. Finding another offensive lineman after Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie left in free agency would be ideal. Right now, the only replacement they have for those players is Jawaan Taylor, who was signed away from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Along the defensive line is where the Chiefs could use the most help. Frank Clark was released as a cap casualty and Carlos Dunlap is a free agent. Khalen Saunders departed in free agency as well, with Charles Omenihu being the only player signed to replace them.
Omenihu and second-year player George Karlaftis will be relied upon as the go-to options on the edge. Adding another player to the mix there would be ideal, especially an established option. One player that could pique the interest of the Chiefs is Chase Young of the Washington Commanders.
Young just had the fifth-year option on his rookie contract declined this week. That means he is going to become a free agent in 2024, along with Montez Sweat. Retaining both will prove difficult, so if the Commanders receive a strong offer, they could opt to trade Young now instead of tempting fate in free agency and potentially losing him for nothing.
What could a trade between the Chiefs and Commanders look like? Kansas City could offer their second, fourth and sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to Washington in exchange for Young and see if they bite.
While the Commanders would likely hold out for a first-round pick, there is too much risk involved for the Chiefs to meet that price. Young looked the part of a star as a rookie, but that was three years ago as he struggled in 2021 before tearing his ACL and rupturing his patellar.
Because of that, there has to be some give and take. Getting three draft picks in exchange for him is solid value for the Commanders, while the Chiefs are taking a shot on Young regaining his form and being a lynchpin for their defensive line for years to come.
If Kansas City doesn’t like anyone on the board when they come on the clock at No. 31, they can get aggressive and offer that pick to the Commanders. But that will change the other compensation, with the fourth turning into a fifth-rounder and no second Day 3 pick being included.
There isn’t a player at No. 31 that will have the kind of upside or impact that Young can have when healthy. Consolidating selections also makes sense for the Chiefs as there is no chance 10 rookies are making their roster.
