Chiefs land ideal Patrick Mahomes protector in latest mock draft

Chiefs land ideal Patrick Mahomes protector in latest mock draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Kansas City Chiefs will enter the NFL Draft armed with two first-round picks for general manager Brett Veach to revamp the roster with.

Holding No. 9 and No. 29, the Chiefs have picks at either end of the first-round, but it is what the franchise will do at No. 9 that is the big talking point.

Corner, edge, and receiver are three positions the Chiefs need to fortify, and the franchise could fill two of those needs in the first round.

But for NFL.com's Mike Band, in his latest mock draft, he goes in another direction, having the Chiefs selecting Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.

"Kansas City could take a defensive player here, but if Mauigoa reaches No. 9, this feels like the kind of premium-position value Brett Veach does not usually pass up," Band wrote. "With Patrick Mahomes coming off a major knee injury, Mauigoa gives Andy Reid a sturdy Day 1 right tackle option opposite Josh Simmons."

More:Dolphins GM makes defiant statement over Pro Bowl RB

Chiefs get Mahomes protection

With Jawaan Taylor being moved on this offseason, the Chiefs do have a need at right tackle, and Mauigoa fits the bill.

A plug-and-play starter for the Chiefs at right tackle, the hope is that he will bring a far better level of consistency from the position than Taylor did. And with far fewer penalties as well.

Mahomes was sacked 34 times in 14 games, just two shy of his career high, so that is a problem, one that Kansas City hopes, in this situation, Mauigoa fixes.

Yes, other positions like corner could be considered a big need, but protecting No. 15 is and should always be the priority.

More NFL news:

• Bills GM makes superb Keon Coleman quote ahead of 2026 season
• Analyst urges Steelers to think long-term at 1 position in NFL Draft
• Bengals' Orlando Brown squashes Joe Burrow rumors
• ESPN urges Steelers to go in one key direction in NFL Draft
• Texans GM makes defiant C.J. Stroud statement