Yup, you're good to go
Obviously any "hole" below the wort level needs a valve. My whirlpool inlet is actually attached to my chiller. I've considered putting one directly on my kettle. If I did it would be a QD on a weldless bulk head a couple inches from the top, 90° elbow inside facing down, then a 1/2 tube going down below wort level where it would then have a 90° bend to create the tangent whirlpool flow.
If it weren't for the cost, labor, and added difficulty to clean, I would do it. My recirculation immersion chiller gets the job done, though not as cool looking.