3 mid-round prospects Chiefs fans should get to know
The 2023 NFL Draft is less than 5 weeks away and every team will begin to put the finishing touches on their draft boards. We all know the consensus top prospects such as Bijan Robinson, Tyree Wilson and Peter Skoronski. Then there are those middle round prospects that don’t get the recognition they deserve. Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft are where the general managers make their money. Just ask Chiefs GM Brett Veach with the 2022 draft. Hitting on those picks can be the difference between contending for the Super Bowl and clawing for a Wild Card spot.
Now as Brett Veach tries to accomplish the same goal like last season, here I highlight 3 prospects that I think will go late on Day 2 or Day 3 that the Chiefs should consider. All three of these players most certainly have their flaws, as they are projected middle round players, but I believe each one has the ability to make an impact, not only this upcoming season but for the longevity of their respective careers.
Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State
While several Ohio State players are getting their fair share of attention, Zach Harrison is one Day 2/3 player that the Chiefs should have their eye on. Harrison is a lengthy, uniquely sized EDGE at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds who utilizes his long reach to his advantage. Harrison finished his final two seasons with 60 combined pressures but with only 5.5 sacks. Harrison is a polished rusher in that he has a ton of moves that he has no issue sequencing and has a fair amount of counters under his belt as well. So he packs the length and explosiveness the Chiefs love in their edge rushers. There’s room for improvement when it comes to his patience, but Harrison has all the tools to be a mainstay defensive playmaker for the Chiefs for years to come.
— FBVids (@vids_fb) October 27, 2022
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
Whether or not L’Jarius Sneed would be on the roster in 2024, the Chiefs could use cornerback depth. TCU’s Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is one projected second/third-round talent that could make the Chiefs cornerback room even better. The 23-year-old defender enjoyed a solid career in four seasons at TCU. He suited up in 49 games in that time, recording 125 total tackles, 41 defended passes and 5 interceptions. Hodges-Tomlinson’s 41 total tackles, 2 interceptions and a touchdown in 2022 led him winning the Jim Thorpe Award as a senior, showing a glimpse of what he could potentially do in the NFL. If he can continue developing with the Chiefs, he’ll be a defensive contributor for the foreseeable future.
If the Bears are looking for a Corner to play in the Slot, I think Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson out of TCU would fit that mold very well. Size is a concern on the outside for me, but he’s got the speed and coverage skills to be a lockdown force on the inside. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/ZGWOuVXbzH
— The Chicago Bear Cave (@chicagobearcave) March 22, 2023
Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia
Bryce Ford-Wheaton might not be the instant-impact receiver a contender like the Chiefs is looking for, but you can’t ignore his ceiling. There just aren’t many 6-foot-4 WRs who can run a 4.38 second 40-yard dash or nail a 41-inch vertical jump. He’s not a very polished route-runner (he’d be a top-10 lock if he were), so he’s likely to come off the board in the late third or early-fourth round. That puts him right in the Chiefs’ range at No. 95 or No. 122, and his rare size-speed combo could make him an excellent JuJu Smith-Schuster replacement. Ford-Wheaton reminds me of DK Metcalf with his ability to win vertically with speed and strength with the ability to get off the line of scrimmage would be a major asset in Andy Reid’s offense.
West Virginia WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton has a similar size and athleticism profile to DK Metcalf.
Ford-Wheaton and Metcalf are the only players at their position to weigh at least 220 lbs, jump more than 40" in the vertical, and run a sub-4.40 40 at the combine since 2003. pic.twitter.com/nk93gZQFqv
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 4, 2023
Follow Chiefs Fan 4 Life on Twitter @ChiefsFan4Lyfe. Check out the rest of my work, including the search for Mahomes’ primary backup continues along with why the Chiefs consider Stetson Bennett in the later-rounds and the other backup options in the draft to consider if Bennett is gone.
Want more Chiefs Focus? Subscribe to our podcasts, follow us on Twitter, follow us on Instagram, like us on Facebook or catch us at our YouTube channel.
