It goes without saying how incredible Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is and how important he is to maintaining the AFC dynasty. He's the type of talent that renders a rebuild impossible and demands aggressiveness from the front office.
Similarly, the Chiefs are ordained by their superstar to spend heavily on offense. That left fans confused when guard Joe Thuney was traded to the Chicago Bears for pennies on the dollar. Kansas City is poised to replace him with Kingsley Suamataia, but added to the offense by signing San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Jaylon Moore to protect the blindside.
Moore will enter the season as the starting left tackle for the first time in his career in 2025, parlaying his time spent replacing Trent Williams last season into a two-year, $30 million deal.
The contract was one of free agency's biggest gambles, and one Kansas City can ill afford not to hedge.
In an ESPN notebook, Matt Miller linked the Chiefs to a potential Round 1 trade in pursuit of that insurance.
"I've heard that the Kansas City Chiefs are actively looking to trade up in Round 1," Miller wrote. "They signed left tackle Jaylon Moore in free agency but were otherwise quiet, opting to re-sign their own versus hitting the open market. A move up in Round 1 would likely be for a long-term offensive tackle solution; I heard the goal would be to move in front of the Houston Texans (No. 25) and Los Angeles Rams (No. 26) if the Chiefs like a specific left tackle still on the board."
A rookie offensive lineman wouldn't move the needle in terms of the 2025 Super Bowl odds; the pick probably wouldn't start. But having a backup plan for Moore, or a long-term replacement for right tackle Jawaan Taylor, could quickly become invaluable.
There shouldn't be a shortage of options, either. Assuming the Chiefs trade up after the No. 16 pick or so, several enticing prospects will likely be on the board.
Ohio State's Josh Simmons looked like one of the best linemen in the country before a knee injury threw his stock into doubt, making him a high-upside, accessible option. His teammate, Donovan Jackson, replaced him and has proven competence at both tackle and guard – extra intriguing given Suamataia's unproven status.
Oregon's Josh Conerly Jr. is a freak athlete, and names like Grey Zable and Kelvin Banks Jr. could play into the conversation, too.
It wouldn't be the sexiest use of a first-round pick. But protecting Mahomes is a priority, and if a long-term starter comes of it, few will worry about the later draft picks lost in the process. Surplus value at receiver and tight end helped fuel Mahomes' first dynasty. Finding more of the same up front could facilitate the second.
