The Kansas City Chiefs signed Chris Jones to a colossal long-term contract this offseason, but might not be done upgrading the defensive line, and could eye Brade Fiske during the 2024 NFL Draft as a long-term replacement for the future Hall of Famer.
Sure, the Chiefs have needs at cornerback — following La’Jarius Sneed’s departure and would be wise to bolster the wide receiving corps during the upcoming draft, but, consistent depth along the line of scrimmage is an underrated vital importance to competing for championships.
Braden Fiske in Kansas City Chiefs’ Sights?
In ESPN’s latest three-round NFL Mock Draft projection, with Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates alternating selections, Yates projects the Chiefs will select Fiske with the No. 64 overall selection, in the second round of the upcoming draft.
“Kansas City spent big to retain Chris Jones,” Yates points out. “And Fiske would make the interior even better, as he is very disruptive and plays with explosiveness.”
Last season, Fiske posted 43 total tackles with six sacks along the Seminoles’ dominant front-seven, and could make one of the more disruptive defensive interiors in football even more of a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
Braden Fiske NFL Draft Scouting Report
Fiske certainly fits the profile, philosophically, of the type of player the Chiefs want to build around.
Despite a receiving corps that dropped more passes than any other unit around the NFL, Kansas City won a Super Bowl in 2023 in large part due to dominating the line of scrimmage and Patrick Mahomes’ heroics.
At 6-foot-5 and 297 pounds, Fiske could prove a dominant force alongside Jones before ultimately replacing him in coming years.
“Defensive tackle with below-average mass and length,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein writes of Fiske. “Who makes up for it with above-average quickness and a constantly revving engine. Fiske uses sudden hands and nimble feet to whip single blocks. Once he finds daylight, he flies to whoever has the ball.”
Across five collegiate seasons, including the 2023 campaign after transferring to FSU from Western Michigan, Fiske posted 19.5 sacks with 36 tackles for loss, 191 total tackles, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
In Kansas City, Fiske could learn behind one of the best to ever play the position while adding quality snaps as he develops as a rookie.
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