Grading the Chiefs' 2024 NFL draft class: Brett Veach reloads for the three-peat

The 2024 NFL draft has come and gone. 

After several drafts during which the defensive side of the ball has been the focus for the Kansas City Chiefs, five out of seven draft picks came on the offensive side. Brett Veach made a concerted effort to add weapons and protection for Patrick Mahomes to make his life easier. 

He also rewarded Steve Spagnuolo, Dave Merritt, and Donald D'Alesio with some pieces in the secondary after their defense helped lift the Chiefs to another championship season in 2023. 

Putting a grade on the Chiefs' 2024 draft class this early might seem like a waste, but it's all part of the evaluation process. It helps us grow in our ability to analyze and understand the intricacies of the NFL draft strategy. So with that in mind, here's our pick-by-pick analysis.

Round 1, Pick No. 28 overall: Texas WR Xavier Worthy

Breaking down the pick: Everything about this pick has just been awesome. From the trade-up with Buffalo to the reaction from his new teammates. Worthy is exactly what the Chiefs' offense has been lacking in recent years at the receiver position. What has me most excited about this pick is that Worthy gets to come in and learn from a veteran like Hollywood Brown. I think that pairing will make Worthy a much better pro in the long run. 
Final Grade: A

Round 2, Pick No. 63 overall: BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia

Breaking down the pick: The Chiefs had a clear need here, but there is one reason this pick won't be getting an A-grade from me. I have some concerns about how quickly Suamataia will slot into a starting role. He struggled with his inside shoulder when aligning on the left side at the Senior Bowl. Power can give him problems at times, too. I think he can play left tackle and be a quality one at that, but it might take some time. The competition in Year 1 might not be as stout for Wanya Morris as it could or should be.
Final Grade: B+

Round 4, Pick No. 131 overall: TCU TE Jared Wiley

Breaking down the pick: I know Chiefs fans wanted the team to double-up at wide receiver, but I feel like this was the better move for the team. The Ringer's Danny Kelly had Wiley as TE2 in the entire 2024 NFL draft. He has a massive catch radius, does damage in the middle of the field, and is a great athlete. Wiley is coming off a season where he led the FBS in touchdown receptions by a tight end. Getting this guy in a room to learn from Travis Kelce will pay major dividends. The only downside is that this pick felt a little forced as the position group really thinned out with five TEs being selected ahead of him in Round 4.
Final Grade: A-

Round 4, Pick No. 133 overall: Washington State S Jaden Hicks

Breaking down the pick: About as perfect a value pick as you could ask for. The Athletic's Dane Brugler had Hicks ranked as his 39th overall player in the 2024 NFL draft. He's the exact type of positionless defensive back that Steve Spagnuolo loves to use in his scheme. Either safety spot, dime linebacker, nickel corner and he has some coverage snaps that are so good that I wouldn't be shocked to see him play some outside corner, too. 
Final Grade: A+

Round 5, Pick No. 158 overall: Penn State OL Hunter Nourzad

Breaking down the pick: It's not a sexy pick, which is the main reason why I'm not grading it higher, but this was a big need for the Chiefs after Nick Allegretti's departure. Nourzad can play all three interior offensive line positions. K.C. really needed the depth there, not just for the 2024 NFL season, but for the future with a few players in contract years this season. 
Final Grade: B+

Round 6, Pick No. 211 overall: Tennessee CB Kamal Hadden

Breaking down the pick: The Chiefs traded away L'Jarius Sneed this offseason and Hadden feels like the perfect skillset to add to the room. He's a physical boundary cornerback who is always around the ball. His coverage in the seven games before his injury in 2023 was as close to lockdown as you'll see at the NCAA level and it came in the SEC. 
Final Grade: A

Round 7, Pick No. 248 overall: Holy Cross OG C.J. Hanson

Breaking down the pick: I understand why the Chiefs made this pick. They have a lot of future needs on the interior offensive line and need depth/competition. It's just not the sexiest pick, especially when you already grabbed two other offensive linemen. The redeeming quality here is knowing that if Hanson had played for an FBS school, he'd probably have been picked in the top 150. He has the athleticism and makeup to be a 10-year starter in the league.
Final Grade: C+

Final Grade: A-

Youth and athleticism were the themes of this draft class for Brett Veach. It's tough to draft at the end of each round, so you've got to find some traits to hang your hat on. Those are certainly some good ones. However, it does come with some risks. How ready will the young players in this draft class be? Can they contribute in the NFL game immediately? Players like Xavier Worthy and Jared Wiley should be able to slot into the passing game quickly. Jaden Hicks and Kamal Hadden on the defensive side of the ball as well. The offensive linemen, though? There is always a steep learning curve coming from college to the NFL. Even Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi admitted that they needed to get Kingsley Suamataia in the building before knowing how ready he is to be a starter at left tackle.