Every year, there seems to be a pick that surprises in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

In 2024, the San Francisco 49ers went against the grain by selecting Florida WR Ricky Pearsall. In 2022, the New England Patriots deviated from consensus with Chattanooga C Cole Strange. The verdict is still out on those two recent picks, but the logic behind it remains.

When things get underway on Thursday, April 24, the Kansas City Chiefs could be well-positioned to make a shocking and unexpected selection. While the first few picks might be set in stone, things can get somewhat unpredictable when we get deeper into Round 1. This year in particular, the near-unanimous pre-draft feedback is that teams have a high variance in this year’s draft grades. Teams are sticking to their guns and aren’t being influenced by any groupthink.

With that in mind, here’s a look at six players who could go higher than consensus and be in the mix when the Chiefs come on the clock to make a pick at No. 31. . .

Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston

This draft class has many different cornerback flavors, but Hairston is one of the few to land as a Tier 1 CBaT from the great Craig Stout (if you know, you know). Hairston also received a late first-round grade on the A to Z Sports Top 200 Big Board. He ran a 4.28s 40-yard dash, jumped a 39.5-inch vertical jump, and a 129-inch at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. The 21-year-old is known for his elite ball-hawking ability in zone coverage (six interceptions, three pick-sixes, and 10 passes defended over the last two seasons), but that doesn’t mean he can’t excel in press coverage at the next level. His hip fluidity and change in direction give him a translatable skill set and make him one of the more exciting prospects in this class.

Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson

Henderson is another player who landed a late first-round grade on the A to Z Sports Top 200 Big Board. Many NFL Draft analysts expect this year to feature a bit of a revival at the running back position. Henderson should be the next guy to go after Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton. The 5-foot-10 and 210-pound back has much going for him beyond production and a recent national title win. He’s an ace in the hole in pass protection, a pass-catching weapon out of the backfield or flexed out wide, and generally just a threat to put points on the board every time he touches the ball. He has a skill set that every team in the NFL needs, but one that the Chiefs are notably lacking (pass-catching and pass pro).

Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery

Ersery is another prospect with a late first-round grade on the A to Z Sports Top 200 Big Board (I swear, this is the last plug). This Kansas City native is among the few offensive tackle prospects with whom the Chiefs have had multiple touchpoints during the pre-draft process. They met with him at the Senior Bowl, extensively after his pro day, and hosted him on a top-30 visit. Those are just the instances we know about, too. At 6-foot-6 and 331 pounds, Ersery is a dancing bear who can really move (1.74s 10-yard split). He validated the tape (like his dominance of projected top-3 pick Abdul Carter) with the athleticism shown during pre-draft workouts and at the Senior Bowl.

Arkansas DE Landon Jackson

Jackson put enough on tape at Arkansas to be a multiple First-Team All-SEC selection, but he has the athleticism and measurables to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He also could be lab-made for a Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo. Here’s what I wrote about Jackson in a mock draft after the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine:

Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins

This 22-year-old is widely viewed as a Day 2 pick, but I could see him sneaking into the end of Round 1 after the pre-draft process he just had. At 6-foot-4, 214 pounds, he posted a 4.47s 40-yard dash, a 39-inch vertical, and a 128-inch broad jump. That’s on top of catching 140 passes for 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns over the past two seasons at Iowa State. He’s been compared to Nico Collins and Drake London during the pre-draft process, but I still see Marquez Valdes-Scantling when I watch him. He’s a silky smooth route runner with speed to threaten deep and impressive deceleration for someone his size. He’d be a nice complement to what Kansas City currently has in their receiver room.

LSU TE Mason Taylor

A few big-name NFL Draft talking heads have recently mentioned Taylor as a late first-round prospect. He obviously has the NFL pedigree as the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame EDGE Jason Taylor and nephew of Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas. The real appeal of what the younger Taylor offers a team is found between the hash marks. He’s a true flex tight end who can line up all over the formation and provide a mismatch. Taylor is a polished route runner with glue-like hands who knows how to get himself open against man and zone coverages. Does that sound familiar?. The 20-year-old ran a 4.64s 40-yard dash and added 28 repetitions of 225 at the LSU pro day, weighing in at 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds. It’s easy to understand how an NFL team could fall in love with this type of player.