As per usual in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Kansas City Chiefs are picking late in the NFL Draft once again, this year at spot 31, the penultimate pick in the first round.
With the fun beginning just days away and mock drafts being spat out from every corner of the NFL world, I decided that rather than bogging you down from analyzing every pick that could potentially be made, I’d simply give you five names most likely to become the newest member of the Chiefs on Thursday night.
1. Missouri WR Luther Burden lll
Measurables: 5’11 - 208 lbs - 4.41 40-Yard Dash
Still just 21 years old and a St. Louis native, Luther Burden is about as explosive as it gets at wide receiver in this draft class, something the Chiefs desperately need. His start-stop acceleration is next level, allowing him to break from defenders, and he has the top-end speed to hit that next gear.
While Burden’s route running can be a bit inconsistent in terms of staying down and maintaining body control, he has shown the ability to win on all three levels with nearly a full route tree.
Still a believer in Luther Burden. Feels like too much overthink which is common this time of the year pic.twitter.com/sYytaV58Pq
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 23, 2025
Burden is just as good at taking a screen pass to the house as he is at perfectly tracking and hauling in a deep ball. His yards-after-catch ability is always on display, due to his movement on the field, by eliminating pursuit angles for defenders to bring him down. The ex-Tiger's game mirrors Jerry Jeudy's, perhaps less flashy, but with more reliable hands and much nastier.
How he fits with the Chiefs offense is a lot like how Rashee Rice fits, which may be a deterring factor, in terms of wanting to have guys who can do different things. But at the end of the day, if you were to ask me if the Chiefs could have two Rashee Rice’s on the field with Xaiver Worthy stretching the defense, I’m all in.