2024 NFL Draft: How teams should copy repeat Super Bowl champion Chiefs by adding similarly skilled prospects

The Kansas City Chiefs became the first back-to-back Super Bowl champion in 20 years for a lot of reasons, and beyond the seismic impact of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, they leaned heavily on young players once again. The Tyreek Hill era is long in the rearview in Kansas City, and now the organization is officially more successful after trading the star than it was with him. 

Here’s a look at 2024 NFL Draft prospects who could perform similar tasks to those carried out by Chiefs stars and vital role-players en route to winning the Lombardi Trophy for the third time in five seasons. It’s a list other teams should be looking at to copy the Chiefs through the draft.

Thick but explosive, hard-running RB

• For Chiefs: Isiah Pacheco
• 2024 prospects to fit this role: USC’s Marshawn Lloyd, Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright

Backs over 200 pounds with sub 4.40 speed are a challenge to find, but the Chiefs got one in the seventh round of the 2022 draft with Pacheco. Now, Lloyd and Wright probably won’t run 4.37 at the combine like the former Rutgers star did, but they’re similarly sized and flashed explosiveness through the second level like Pacheco. 

Also, they run with a rugged, through-contact style that’s become the trademark of Kansas City’s feature back. In the Super Bowl, Pacheco only averaged 3.3 yards per carry. However, he caught six passes for 33 more yards. Both Lloyd and Wright have receiving capabilities too and flip on the jets in a flash with the ball in their hands at well over 200 pounds. 

Long, highly athletic man-coverage outside cornerback

• For Chiefs: L’Jarius Sneed
• 2024 prospects to fit this role: Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, TCU’s Josh Newton, Notre Dame’s Cam Hart

Sneed is another Day 3 diamond in the rough discovered by Chiefs GM Brett Veach. And heck, Sneed played safety at Louisiana Tech and has emerged as one of the stickiest, playmaking outside cornerbacks in football. He’s set to sign a monster extension in Kansas City after the season he had with two picks, 16 total pass breakups (including the playoffs), a monstrous forced fumble in the AFC title game. Oh, and he only allowed one touchdown on close to 800 coverage snaps. 

Sneed is truly a rare cat, and it’s not just because of where he started positionally in college. He ran 4.37 with a 41-inch vertical at his pro day in 2020. It’s nearly impossible to predict how any prospect will test just based on film alone…