The Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the NFL in recent years. They have won three Super Bowls in a row, winning three Lombardi Trophies under Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. Their sustained success is no accident. The team showed smart roster building, strategic vision, and strong draft decisions. With eight selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, Kansas City aims to extend its championship series. Fans are already making online betting predictions for the next season’s winner. As the draft approaches, it’s the perfect time to check the most defining draft moments from the past five seasons. Explore how previous choices shaped today’s draft.
2021: Defense Gaps
The 2021 NFL Draft marked a significant moment for the Chiefs. They tried to recover from their Super Bowl LV loss and rebuild the offensive line that collapsed against Tampa Bay. Kansas City entered the draft with a clear mission: protect Patrick Mahomes and reinforce the roster’s long-term stability. Most of their decisions were made before the draft even began.
The Chiefs traded their first-round pick to Orlando Brown from Baltimore. During the draft, they focused heavily on versatility, trying to cover blond spots. Linebacker Nick Bolton brought a high IQ to the defense. Center Creed Humphrey appeared as one of the league’s top young linemen. Joshua Kaindoh, Noah Gray, Cornell Powell, and Trey Smith became later selections that proved Kansas City’s commitment to athleticism and defense.
2022: Chaotic Selections
The 2022 draft is considered one of the most dynamic in history. Kansas City joined the draft with several picks and a long list of needs. The team struggled to show a good performance once the top defensive players departed.
Brett Veach refused to wait for their turn, so they made several chaotic selections to claim Trent McDuffie from Washington CB. McDuffie was praised for his athleticism and unique gaming technique that made him a key player in the manager’s plans. The Chiefs also selected George Karlaftis, whose strength and energy added stability to the defensive line. Skyy Moore replaced Tyreek Hill by adding speed and strength to the game.
2023: Focus on Brett Veach’s Effective Strategy
Kansas City turned the 2023 NFL Draft into a whole performance. They brought thousands of fans to Union Station. With the city hosting the event for the first time, there was added excitement for the Chiefs to make a splash. The team was drafted in each round due to their success. They primarily focused on athleticism, defense, and long-term development. While the draft didn’t produce as many stars as the previous year, the picks showed Brett Veach’s effective strategy. The manager paid attention to the market competition instead of relying solely on quick results.
Kansas City selected players who fit Spagnuolo’s system. They also needed someone to fill in premium positions and reinforce the trenches. The draft also demonstrated the team’s confidence in developing young athletes into future starters, which proved to be successful in 2021 and 2022. The 2023 draft symbolized Kansas City’s desire to become one of the effective centers of American sports culture. Hosting Super Bowls and now the NFL Draft turned out to be a great public event to gain public attention.
2024: Kansas City’s Roster Philosophy
The Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII and celebrated their victory. Once the narrative of the 2023-24 NFL campaign was officially over, they proceeded with the draft selections for the new season. With that said, another story involved many chapters around the corner. The 2024 draft quietly reinforced Kansas City’s most reliable roster philosophies. They targeted positions of long-term value (corners, defensive line, offensive line).
The Chiefs also drafted athletes with versatility, mainly those capable of fitting different defensive lines. With this approach, they added depth to Mahomes’ supporting cast, especially on the offensive line. This allowed them to maintain a strategic vision without overspending in free agency. The franchise consistently capitalized on late-round talents, addressing multiple runs. By the end of the 2024 draft, the Chiefs got Xavier Worthy, Kingsley Suamataia, Jared Wiley, Jaden Hicks, Kamal Hadden, and a few other players. With that said, the Chiefs didn’t become victims of their own success. They turned out to be great at evaluating and selecting late in the draft.
2025: The Chief’s Top Selections
With eight selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, Kansas City enters the offseason with a balanced roster. They also had several areas where fresh talent could make a significant impact. The team focused on athletic defensive backs to keep Spagnuolo’s defense strong. Offensive playmakers were required to give Mahomes additional options. Versatile defensive linemen could complement Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. The Chiefs got Josh Simmons, Omarr Norman-Lott, Ashton Gillotte, Nohl Williams, Jalen Royals, and Jeffrey Bassa. Their selections proved the team’s ability to identify immediate contributors in the early rounds and uncover hidden gems late in the draft. More importantly, they have shown the ability to integrate rookies into a winning culture without overwhelming them. The Chiefs showed a hallmark of smart coaching and organizational stability.
The key issue for Kansas City was the lack of financial resources to make further selections. They simply couldn’t throw money at the deficiency. The Chiefs had just $11.5 million in their cap space. With that in mind, they could be out of the running for many top players. Fortunately, the Chiefs found a way to clear more space for selections. Let’s see how they will manage to cover their financial gaps next season.
