The offseason is rapidly approaching as free agency will start in about a week, and the NFL Draft Combine just finished up in Indianapolis this weekend.

NFL teams now have a clearer picture of their draft boards and the Chiefs are getting a clearer picture of what their approach may look like come draft day in April. The Chiefs have several needs this offseason, and may look to be aggressive to fill those needs.

Today, I put together a mock draft with the current picks held by the Chiefs in the 2025 draft to give a picture of the Chiefs’ potential options this offseason.

Round 1, Pick 31:  Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

Left tackle is the biggest need for the Chiefs this offseason and Aireontae Ersery is quickly becoming one of my favorite options this offseason. Over the last three years, Ersery started 38 games where he was incredibly successful and displayed elite athletic ability.

Keeping Patrick Mahomes healthy is a massive priority for the Chiefs and addressing left tackle is a huge part of that. I have a top 25 grade on Ersery, but I think it is very likely he is available for the Chiefs at 31 and they can get a steal.

Ersery is a dominating force at LT and knows how to use his six-foot-six, 330-pound frame to get leverage and make an impact in both the run and pass game. I think his skillset is a great fit in the Chiefs offense and he is exactly what the team needs at left tackle going forward. I have mentioned that I also would like to see the team add a veteran swing tackle to help the development of Ersery, and I think that would make a lot of sense even if they did select him in the first round.

Left tackle is one of the hardest positions to get right in the NFL and the Chiefs have had a revolving door on the blindside since the departure of Eric Fisher. The Chiefs have rotated through guys like Orlando Brown, Donovan Smith, Wanya Morris and others, and this offseason they are tasked with finding the starter of the future. The Chiefs will need to address this position early in the draft, and if Ersery is there, they should not think twice about sending the pick in at 31.

Round 2, Pick 63: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

The Chiefs’ wide receiver room has been a major question mark for the team over the last few seasons. Jayden Higgins is one of my favorite names in the draft and he put on a show at the combine, showing upside to be one of the better outside receivers in the draft. Higgins has a real NFL frame, standing at a legit six-feet-four inches, 215-pounds and showed off eclectic movement skills. Higgins ran a 4.47 forty-yard dash and looked great in the drills running crisp routes and flashing good hands.

A variety of names have moved in and out at receiver during the organization’s struggles at the position. The team has made significant changes recently, adding guys like Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy early in the draft. I think adding a physical, outside WR is important for the Chiefs, and Higgins is exactly the type of player I have been hoping to see them add over the last few years.

Worthy has proven to be a deep threat, and Rashee Rice has been a true do-it-all all receiver so far in his career, but now I would like to see them add a true outside threat.

Higgins’ film is fun to watch as he shows an ability to get open with quickness as well as make contested catches at a high level. This kid draws pass interferences better than anyone I have watched in a while, and his ability to win early, as well as make tough catches is incredible. The Chiefs need that true X guy and while he may not be a superstar immediately, he has the build and athletic skills to play on the outside. If Higgins is on the board in the second round for the Chiefs, he would be the perfect addition to their wide receiver room.

Round 3, Pick 66: Jordan Burch, DL, Oregon

Jordan Burch is one of the best athletes in the draft this year and I think Steve Spagnuolo will know exactly how to get the most out of him. Burch is a raw athlete and will need molding in order to get the best out of him and I think the Chiefs could be one of the best fits for him.

Burch was once a five-star prospect who started his career at South Carolina, but really came on to the scene at Oregon this year with 8.5 sacks and quickly became one of my favorite prospects in the draft.

He’s admittedly a tough evaluation and his role is unclear, as his athletic profile is kind of in the middle of an edge rusher and a defensive tackle. Steve Spagnuolo has had loads of success with guys like Malik Herring and Charles Omenihu, who were in a similar conversation coming out of college. With both of those guys hitting free agency, the Chiefs may look for another guy who has the versatility to play inside and out.

Burch can be that as he has the length and power to cut it on the interior, but also has the burst and athletic ability to play off the edge.

Many teams will be scared off by the risk of needing to fit Burch into their scheme, but I see a day one role for him in the Chiefs defense. Burch came in far lighter than people expected at the combine, but I think he cut some weight to try to move faster and fit in with the edge rushers. He was listed at 295 when he played at Oregon, but at the combine weighed in almost 30 pounds lighter at 267. Burch may be more comfortable playing a little heavier than that, and I think he would be able to do that on the Chiefs’ defense and he should be high on their board come draft day.

Round 3, Pick 96: Jeffery Bassa, LB, Oregon

The Chiefs will likely be losing Nick Bolton to free agency this offseason, and with this pick they select another Oregon Duck with Jeffery Bassa. Currently, Bassa is one of my most underrated players in the draft and is a guy who I think could make an immediate impact in Kansas City. Leo Chenal will likely fill the middle linebacker role left behind by Nick Bolton and the Chiefs will be looking for a do-it-all type of guy in their linebacker room.

Bassa is currently my sixth-ranked linebacker in the draft and I think his skills will translate day one to the NFL. The Chiefs will have a variety of ways that they can use Bassa in the NFL, similar to how they used Willie Gay in the past. Bassa is a fast linebacker who plays thin and may lack high-end strength but has quickness to make plays all over the field. I think Bassa would be an ideal pickup for the Chiefs in the middle rounds and could make an impact in 2025 and beyond.

Round 4, Pick 168: O’Donnell Fortune, CB, South Carolina

The other day I shared a tweet singing the praises of O’Donnell Fortune who has become one of my favorite corners in the draft. He is an impressive athlete who can do it all on the outside, with great length and ball skills to attack and make plays for his team. The Chiefs love these long athletic corners who they can get on day 3 and mold into true NFL players, and Fortune is a perfect fit.

The Chiefs have had so much success in the later rounds drafting corners and it should almost be a necessity for them to add one on Day Three of every draft. With Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams likely hitting free agency in 2026, the Chiefs will need corners for the future. Trent McDuffie is one of the best corners in football, but in order for him to be effective, the team will need solid corners around him. Fortune would be just that for the Chiefs and has the potential to be a full-time contributor for the next several seasons.

Round 7, Pick 256: Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech

Tahj Brooks is a smaller, stockier running back who plays with compact power and great vision out of the backfield. In interviews at the combine, several NFL representatives said that Brooks was the best pass blocker in the draft, something that is very valuable in the modern NFL. The Chiefs are a very pass-heavy team and pass protection is very valuable in their offense, making Tahj Brooks a game-changing addition late in the draft.

Brooks is also a skilled power back and he has a great ability to hit gaps and make plays in short yardage situations. He is a solid receiver but lacks great speed or burst, which will hurt his stock some but his value as a passing down back is elite. This year’s running back class is very deep and the team should wait until late to add one, as it is more than possible you can get a day one player on day 3 for the Chiefs.

UDFA: Traeshon Holdon, WR, OregonHoldon

After the draft is over, the Chiefs take a risk on former five-star recruit Traeshon Holdon. Yet another big outside receiver, Holdon is a physical outside threat at receiver who has a great frame and plenty of upside to be a great NFL receiver. Holdon started his career at Alabama but struggled to find the field consistently and made his way to Oregon where he was great for the Big 10 champs in 2025.

Holdon is still a raw prospect and will have to compete for a roster spot with guys like Skyy Moore and Justyn Ross in training camp. The Chiefs will need depth in their WR room, and in the worst-case scenario, Holden can provide that and give them a rotation physical threat on the outside.

UDFA: Taylor Elgersma, QB, Laurier Golden Hawks (Canada)

The Chiefs’ situation backing up Patrick Mahomes is unclear, and they take a risk on the Canadian quarterback Elgersma after the draft. Elgersma is a massive question mark, and he did not receive a combine invite this offseason. But he has a great frame and on film shows signs of having an NFL arm. He will have to adjust to American football, and a significant amount of development will be needed. But worst-case scenario, Elgersma hits the practice squad and spends some time developing this season.

UDFA: Hunter Wohler, S, Wisconsin

Steve Spagnuolo loves to run sets with several safeties so it is likely that the Chiefs will look to add some depth in their safety room. Guys like Jaden Hicks and Bryan Cook looked good in 2024, and they displayed a lot of upside for the future. But with Justin Reid hitting free agency, there is some room for the team to add a safety. Wohler is a solid box guy who is a hard hitter and loves to get downhill and could be a very good fit in the Chiefs defense.

UDFA: Fentrell Cypress, CB, Florida State

Cypress is an average-sized corner who slips out of the draft here after some struggles in 2024. Florida State really struggled this season, and their down year hurt the stock of a lot of their prospects. Cypress was attacked a lot, but often because he was playing across from Azareyeh Thomas who was one of the best corners in the nation. Cypress has the potential to be a solid rotation corner who can play any role in the NFL, and he will compete for a roster spot in 2025.

How This Draft Helps the 2025 Chiefs

This draft addresses the biggest need for the Chiefs immediately by taking Ersery to be the left tackle of the future. The team will prioritize helping Patrick Mahomes after the struggles of the Chiefs offense in 2024. They also selected Jayden Higgins to give Mahomes another weapon on the outside who can be a reliable target down field and early on routes. These two early picks should help the offense be more productive in 2025 and gives the team a few immediate contributors.

After that, the Chiefs attack defense and fill some gaps left behind by free agents. Adding Burch and Bassa allows Spagnuolo to get creative, moving guys around in a variety of roles. Fortune also provides depth at corner with plenty of potential to be a day one player for the Chiefs on the boundary.

The rest of the picks for the Chiefs are mostly depth, with the upside to potentially be contributors in the future. The Chiefs will need an effective draft in order for them to find success again in 2025 and beyond, and with this draft they get several young options who can make an impact day one and have upside to be contributors down the line.