KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A theme emerged as the Chiefs made each selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. They selected prospects who were durable in college, had plenty of film to evaluate, have shown positional versatility and possess maturity and leadership traits. Position-wise, they addressed their few major needs on the roster by adding depth or shoring up those spots.
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The hope is these seven players will be ready contributors if the opportunity for more snaps next season is presented. But the Chiefs are even more optimistic players such as SMU receiver Rashee Rice, Oklahoma tackle Wanya Morris and Texas defensive tackle Keondre Coburn can be even more productive in their second seasons once they become accustomed to playing in the NFL.
Here’s a full breakdown of the Chiefs’ 2023 draft class:
The picks
- Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Round 1 (pick No. 31)
- Rashee Rice, WR, SMU, Round 2 (No. 55)
- Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma, Round 3 (No. 92)
- Chamarri Conner, S, Virginia Tech, Round 4 (No. 119)
- BJ Thompson, DE, Stephen F. Austin, Round 5 (No. 166)
- Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas, Round 6 (No. 194)
- Nic Jones, CB, Ball State, Round 7 (No. 250)
Best pick
This is an easy one. You have to go with the Kansas City native joining the team he grew up rooting for, with the draft being held in his hometown. Anudike-Uzomah is the ideal pass rusher for the Chiefs, who patiently waited to select him with the last pick of the first round. Anudike-Uzomah is the next foundational member of a Chiefs defense that is getting younger and more athletic to support superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
New story. Watching the draft in his hometown, Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s lifelong dream became a fortuitous, life-changing reality when the hometown Chiefs selected him with the 31st pick.
“This is all I dreamed of.” https://t.co/hWzpc4JsDl
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 28, 2023
Biggest immediate impact
Once again, based on his talent, Anudike-Uzomah has one of the easiest paths in this class to get on the field and contribute early into his rookie season.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo always loves adding pass rushers in the draft to develop, and Anudike-Uzomah will grow alongside fellow defensive end George Karlaftis, who was selected in the first round of last year’s draft. Anudike-Uzomah could be most effective on third downs, when the Chiefs could move pass rusher Charles Omenihu inside next to superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Biggest surprise
Even though it’s a second-round pick, Rice was a surprising selection in that round, especially with general manager Brett Veach’s execution of a trade to move up and select the receiver they wanted. Entering the draft, the Chiefs wanted to add another receiver to the roster — and plenty of the top prospects at the position were interested in becoming teammates with Mahomes. Quentin Johnston (TCU) and Zay Flowers (Boston College) participated in passing sessions with Mahomes, but the Chiefs most wanted Rice, who also worked out with Mahomes earlier this month. It should be fascinating to see how Rice, who has a nice blend of skills, progresses with Mahomes.
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Biggest question mark
The selection of Morris means the Chiefs — and we — don’t know who will be the opening-day right tackle. The Chiefs, though, did gain a level of insurance at the position that they didn’t have before Day 2 of the draft. The player Morris will compete against for the job is three-year veteran Lucas Niang, a third-round pick in 2020 who started nine games in 2021 before suffering a torn left patellar tendon in January 2022. If Morris is a reliable player, even in a backup or swing tackle role, he should be considered a valuable selection.
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Remaining needs
One small surprise is that the Chiefs didn’t select a guard or a running back. The team could add a prospect or two at each position who went undrafted. By not selecting a guard, this could mean that Darian Kinnard, a fifth-round pick last year, could transition from tackle to guard alongside veteran backup guard Nick Allegretti. Isiah Pacheco is the starting running back and Clyde Edwards-Helaire is still on the roster, but not selecting a running back in the draft should lead Veach to re-sign veteran Jerick McKinnon to solidify the depth chart.
Post-draft outlook
After becoming Super Bowl LVII champions last season, which was their second title in four years, the Chiefs did not need a draft class that had to be described as flashy, splashy or extravagant. Instead, the Chiefs just needed to add capable players who will be ready to help the team win when called upon. Not every plate appearance in baseball needs a home run swing. The Chiefs already accomplished that in 2017 (by acquiring Mahomes) and 2021 (with all 10 players selected making the roster). This year’s class should be just fine if they hit a double, to continue the baseball verbiage, to keep the franchise’s success ongoing.
(Photo of Felix Anudike-Uzomah: David Eulitt / Getty Images)
