6 Chiefs on Thin Ice Following the NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone, with the Chiefs coming away big winners with a slew of exciting draft picks and smart moves. They've been busy signing undrafted free agents as well, so it appears Kansas City's roster will once again be loaded as the organization tries to win a historic third straight Super Bowl.

Some players, like Texas WR Xavier Worthy, figure to make immediate impacts, though some later-round selections could find significant playing time too.

That means some Chiefs might be on their way off the roster, especially if this draft class is as promising at it appears to be. With that in mind, let's look at several players on thin ice following the draft.

6 Chiefs on Thin Ice After the NFL Draft

1. Lucas Niang - OT

Lucas Niang already faced an uphill battle toward making a big contribution, and the Chiefs' actions in the draft prove they don't envision much of a future for Niang with the club. Kansas City drafted three offensive linemen, including BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia, who all displayed versatility in college that will endear them to the coaching staff.

While Niang has suited up frequently for the Chiefs over the last three years, he hasn't seen significant snaps since 2021. This is the final year of his rookie contract, so this is likely his final chance to prove he belongs on the roster moving forward.

The 2020 third-round pick has plenty of experience with this coaching staff, and he might even be the true backup right tackle to Jawaan Taylor at this point. Even if that's the case though, Suamataia and Wanya Morris are younger, more promising players.

Fifth-round selection Hunter Nourzad has some experience at tackle too. The Chiefs emphasized reworking the offensive line depth in this draft, likely an indication they intend to move on from Niang after this season.