INDIANAPOLIS — This isn’t the final draft board. This is the Watchlist. As Brett Veach and the Chiefs’ staff settle into Lucas Oil Stadium next week, these are the 17 names they’ll have their binoculars locked on.
Coming off a season where the defense felt the weight of every snap and the offense searched for that missing gear, Veach cannot afford to miss with his high-pitch picks. With the Chiefs sitting at No. 9 overall, the mandate is clear: find the game-changers.
THE WATCHLIST: TOP 17 PROSPECTS TO SCOUT IN INDY
| # | Player | Pos | School | PFF Analytic / 2025 Key Stat | The “Veach Binocular” Focus |
| 1 | Jeremiyah Love | RB | Notre Dame | 90.2 PFF Grade (1,372 Yds) | Doak Walker winner; an explosive, high-volum e RB1. |
| 2 | Denzel Boston | WR | Washington | 87.7 PFF Grade (11 TDs) | 6’4″ frame with elite high-point ability; red-zone lock. |
| 3 | Caleb Banks | DT | Florida | 35-Inch Arms / 334 lbs | A physical freak; watch his 10-yard split for burst. |
| 4 | R Mason Thomas | EDGE | Oklahoma | 12.5 TFLs / 9.0 Sacks | The Next Justin Houston: Elite bend and 90.4 PR grade. |
| 5 | Anthony Hill Jr. | LB | Texas | 88.8 Tackling Grade (69 Stops) | Sideline-to- sideline eraser with 4.4 speed. |
| 6 | Zion Young | EDGE | Missouri | 57 Pressures (Mizzou Power) | High-motor disruptor; earned All-SEC honors. |
| 7 | Chris Brazzell II | WR | Tennessee | 80.6 Receiving Grade (1,017 Yds) | 6’5″ vertical catalyst; massive catch radius. |
| 8 | Michael Trigg | TE | Baylor | 82.5 Rec Grade (Elite Hands) | Natural mismatch creator; the modern “F” TE. |
| 9 | Prototypical frame; watch his power-to-speed drills. | EDGE | Penn State | 90.7 Pass Rush Grade (7 Sacks) | Prototypical frame; watch his power-to-s peed drills. |
| 10 | Jalon Kilgore | DB | S. Carolina | 79.8 PFF Grade (10 | Versatile star; |
| PBUs) | Quick-strike slot threat; the Sooners’ engine. | ||||
| 11 | Josh Cameron | WR | Baylor | 872 Yds / 0 Drops (69 Catches) | Fitzgerald Vibes: Elite hands and big-game reliability. |
| 12 | Keionte Scott | CB | Miami (FL) | 90.5 Coverage Grade (No. 3 CB) | Physical, aggressive slot defender and tone-setter. |
| 13 | Deion Burks | WR | Oklahoma | 86 Targets (Elite YAC Potential) | Replacement Alert: The heir apparent to Jawaan Taylor. |
| 14 | D. Crownover | OT | Texas A&M | 72.4 Run Block Grade (336 lbs) | Gap-plugging nose tackle; anchor of the front. |
| 15 | Cameron Ball | DT | Arkansas | 21 Defensive Stops (Run Wall) | Gap-pluggi ng nose tackle; anchor of the front. |
| 16 | Zachariah Branch | WR | Georgia | 81 Catches (School Record) | 10.33 100m speed; a joystick in open space. |
| 17 | Omar Cooper Jr. | WR | Indiana | 87.8 PFF Grade (11 TDs) | 7.1 Yards After Catch; a true YAC specialist. |
THE HENSE TODD BREAKDOWN: SCOUTING THE HIGH-PITCH PICKS
The Right Tackle Solution: Dametrious Crownover (Texas A&M)
Let’s talk business: Jawaan Taylor’s 2025 season was a struggle. Between leading the league in penalties (13) and a 43.8 PFF run-blocking grade, his $20 million APY price tag is becoming a liability. Enter Dametrious Crownover. At 6’7″ and 336 pounds, Crownover is a mountain of a man who finished 2025 with a 72.4 run-blocking grade.
He is a pure Right Tackle specialist with the anchor to handle NFL power. If Veach wants to save $20M in cap space by moving on from Taylor, Crownover is the “Golden Jacket” replacement who can actually move bodies in the run game.
The Edge Ghost: R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma)
When you watch Thomas turn the corner, you see it: that Justin Houston dip and that Derrick Thomas closing speed. He finished 2025 with an elite 90.4 pass-rush grade. He is “hell on wheels” off the edge, and at 250 lbs, he has the frame to add that Houston-level bulk while keeping his 15+ mph burst. He is the most natural “Sack Artist” in this class.
The “Larry Fitz” Clone: Josh Cameron (Baylor)
At the bottom of the list but high on the talent scale is Josh Cameron. Baylor’s ace finished with zero drops on 69 catches—pure Larry Fitzgerald energy. He’s not just a slot guy; he’s a contested-catch machine who wins with IQ and iron hands. In a high-stakes offense, Cameron is the reliable “Security Blanket” Mahomes hasn’t had since the peak Kelce years.
THE MANDATE IS CLEAR
The Combine kicks off next week. These 17 players represent the future of the Kingdom. Brett Veach has the picks, the binoculars, and the mandate. No misses.
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