2021 NFL Draft: Late-round prospects Kansas City Chiefs should target

Now that most of the offseason’s top-tier free agents have been signed, it’s time to start focusing on the 2021 NFL Draft. The Kansas City Chiefs were able to sign a handful of starting-caliber players from this year’s free agency. But their Week 1 roster is hardly set in stone. This team will need to use early picks to add a left tackle and an edge defender. This is on top of needing a handful of backup positions filled before the 2021 season starts. No drafting a running back with a first-rounder this year, Kansas City.

The free agency period went very well for the Chiefs, as they were able to add starting-level talent while also re-signing key free agents. They re-signed depth pieces on the defensive line and for the secondary. They were able to retain free-agent wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, to provide some depth on the roster after the emigration of Sammy Watkins to the Baltimore Ravens.

The unit that saw the biggest makeover this offseason however was the offensive line. After releasing both starting tackles prior to free agency, many wondered how well the Chiefs would re-stock an already shaky offensive line. But with the signing of ex-New England Patriot Joe Thuney at left guard, former LA Rams center Austin Blythe, the un-retirement of Kyle Long at right guard, and the retention of right tackle Mike Remmers, the Kansas City offensive line looks to have upgraded during the offseason. The future face of the NFL, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, should have a much easier time under center this year.

But there are still spots on the 22-man starting roster that need to be filled: A Starting cornerback spot needs to be filled, not to mention a left tackle and an edge defender on the right side of the defensive line are all going to be priorities early in the 2021 NFL Draft. The linebacker corp is lacking depth pieces while most of the offensive line is on one-year deals. This means the Chiefs scouting department will need to do their homework on late-round prospects, as the coaching staff will need a few of these late-round picks to pan out as backups and developmental players for the future.

But fear not Chiefs fans! NFL Mocks is here to provide you and the Chiefs’ front office with a comprehensive list of quality late-round prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft. We’ll dive in and explore some of the lesser-known talents available on Day Three: Prospects who aren’t household names but could become meaningful starters in the NFL.

We’ll explore three prospects, analyze their college accomplishments and explain why they would be good fits in Kansas City. Whether they are playing in the AAC or the SEC, the Big Ten or Big Sky, they are players who are better than their draft stock indicates. Click below to get started.