Chiefs 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: Potential Chris Jones Replacement Among Upside Picks

It's officially NFL Draft season and time to start thinking about how Brett Veach might use the Chiefs' picks to bolster the roster.

Veach did a masterful job over the last couple of years finding value, netting a big number of contributors in both the early and late rounds. With some obvious needs this offseason, I'm optimistic he'll deliver once again.

Using the Pro Football Network mock draft simulator, I went through all seven rounds to see who might be available for Kansas City. This mock prioritized rare athletic upside and potential long-term replacements for a couple of key players to keep the championship window open as the core of old ages.

Chiefs 7-Round NFL Mock Draft

1. T'Vondre Sweat - DT, Texas (Pick 32)

At 6'4", 362 LBs with nimble feet, good burst and quick hands, Sweat is a mountain of a man that may remind Chiefs fans of Dontari Poe. Considered one of the best run defenders in the nation, he led a swarming Longhorns defense and routinely chewed up double teams while tallying 28 QB pressures this season.

It's easy to imagine Sweat in Chris Jones' role, absorbing blockers up the middle to allow George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu and others to shine on the outside. If Jones sticks around, Sweat could learn from the former Defensive Player of the Year candidate and grow before ultimately taking his place.

Sweat looked dominant at the Senior Bowl against top competition and scouts rave about his motor. There are questions about his lack of a dominant pass-rush move, but that's why learning under defensive line coach Joe Cullen and potentially Jones would be so valuable.

The Chiefs can afford to be patient with Sweat, and the sky is the limit for a player with his size and power. After watching how miserable the Chiefs made Brock Purdy in the Super Bowl by getting pressure up the middle, I'm salivating at the idea of what Sweat could be after a couple of years with the organization.

It's certainly possible Kansas City looks at a wide receiver or even an offensive tackle here, and Oregon's Troy Franklin was certainly a consideration, though for the purposes of this mock I wanted to see what those options would look like in later rounds.

We'll hop into the next round on the following page, though first be sure to claim FanDuel Sportsbook's $150 bonus for any $5 winning bet today! Just sign up, deposit at least $10 and bet $5 or more on any game right now and you'll be credited $150 in bonus bets if you win. Don't miss out on an odds boost this good - sign up for FanDuel now!