Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Way-too-early Kansas City Chiefs 2024 NFL Draft preview

The 2024 NFL Draft is on April 25-27 in Detroit. Here is the first-round order, per Tankathon.

The Kansas City Chiefs won their third Super Bowl in five years in 2023. Despite retirement rumors, head coach Andy Reid recently confirmed he's returning. While the club has an excellent foundation, it must tweak its roster to become the first team to three-peat in the Super Bowl era. The Chiefs must make the most of the 2024 NFL Draft.

2023 record: 11-6 | First-round pick: No. 32 | Team needs: WR, OT, CB

Potential first-round picks: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas; Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma; Cooper DeJean, Iowa, CB

The Chiefs offense sputtered throughout 2023 thanks to an erratic receiving corps, which led the league in drops (44). As a result, quarterback Patrick Mahomes — a two-time MVP — threw 27 TDs in 16 games, the second-lowest mark in his career.

Worthy, 20, amazed at the scouting combine when he broke the 40-yard dash record (4.21). In three seasons at Texas, he finished with the sixth-most receptions (197), fourth-most receiving yards (2,755) and third-most receiving TDs (26) in program history. The speedster could provide the explosiveness Kansas City needs.

Starting left tackle Donovan Smith is a free agent. The Chiefs should consider seeking a replacement in the draft. Pro Football Focus gave Smith a below-average 55.4 grade last season, and he tied for 11th in the league in penalties (nine in 12 games). Kansas City also allowed the league's fourth-most pressures (164), per Pro Football Reference. 

Guyton only started 14 games in four seasons at Oklahoma and TCU, but ESPN's Field Yates noted "He's oozing with upside." 

Listed at 6-foot-8, 322 pounds, he clearly has the physical tools to develop into a solid starter.

The Chiefs franchise tagged L'Jarius Sneed before the deadline on Tuesday, but he might be traded if there's another team that's willing to give him a long-term deal. Sneed's backup Joshua Williams has started six games in two seasons.

Bringing in another defensive back would be smart. DeJean earned first-team All-American honors in 2023. In 10 games, he had 41 total tackles, two interceptions and five passes defended. Per NFL.com, he is the fourth-best CB in the draft class.

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