As the 2023 NFL draft is quickly approaching and just over 3 weeks away, many questions are still looming for the Chiefs and their fans. Since the few signings in free agency, there hasn’t been much action on the transaction front for the defending champs, which warrants- are they just looking toward the draft for their next big moves?
While round 1 is the most anticipated round in the draft- arguably day 2 may be the most important to find starters and potential pro bowlers on both sides of the ball. We have seen it in the most recent drafts with the additions of Creed Humphrey, Nick Bolton, Willie Gay, and Skyy Moore. It’s time to dive into some potential targets for the Chiefs on Friday’s day 2 of the draft.
In rounds 2-3 of the draft the Chiefs have picks 63 and 95 overall, and although in a previous article, I wrote- having the Chiefs trading up to draft WR Smith-Njigba. It’s also a genuine possibility they don’t and stand pat picking at their normal slots in rounds 1-3. If the Chiefs can’t get one of the receivers in round 1- I would love for them to target one on day 2. A couple of names to look at would be Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee) and Kayshon Boutte (LSU).
Hyatt is a big playmaker and Bersted onto the national scene after the insane game against Alabama where he went for 6-207-5. He has big play ability to take the top off the defense and open the field again for Mahomes. Although there are some concerns about his ability to go get contested balls, there may not be a lot, as he has burners- which could be easily schemed up by Andy Reid. Hyatt shows flashes of Desean Jackson, who could also step in and be another look at KR/PR after the inconsistency at that position outside of Toney. Hyatt’s 4.4 speed would work well in the Chiefs’ offense and create even more to gameplan around, as the Chiefs were lacking the big play threat after the departure of Tyreek Hill.
Kayshon Boutte is another receiver I really like in the late 2nd-3rd. Boutte struggled mightily in the combine and that may have affected him enough to be a value pick near the 3rd round. Boutte showed out as a Freshman at LSU after being a 5-star recruit out of High School but since has taken a back seat due to injuries and QB changes. Boutte was supposed to be 1st round material after his Freshman year, but now since then may drop into the 3rd or even lower. He possesses great hands and shows the ability to work off the corner in the open field and find spacing, he has enough speed to burn DBs off the ball and plays bigger than his frame of 6’0 190lbs. Boutte flashes Stefon Diggs/Tyler Boyd comparisons for good reason. Scouts might have pushed him to the middle of the pack when it comes to measurables for wideouts, but Boutte is another receiver I can see being a solid #2, potentially a #1 in the right system.
If the defending champs pull a WR in the first round, I would love for them to go after Felix Andudike-Uzomah DE out of K-State. This guy was an absolute game wrecker for the Wildcats, who finished this year with 8.5 sacks but often faced double even triple teams off the edge, helping him get all-American honors. Uzomah doesn’t take snaps off- he’s a high-intensity rusher with impactful hands and great speed. Did I mention he is a local kid? Not only K-State but he went to high school in the Chiefs’ backyard at Lees Summit High School. Uzomah is a high reward- low-risk round 2 target for the Chiefs. I think if you match him on the opposite side of Karlaftis and next to All-Pro Chris Jones, Uzomah can record 5-7 sacks in his rookie season, which will only help Chris Jones and the rest of the D line. What was once a massive hole in the defense just a few short years ago- could potentially be one of the best D lines in all of football.
Other targets for the Chiefs in rounds 2-3:
B.J. Ojulari- DE LSU
Josh Downs- WR North Carolina
Adetomiwa Adebawore- DL Northwestern
Jaquelin Roy- DT LSU
Braeden Daniels- OT/G Utah
Eli Ricks- DB Alabama
Siaki Ika- DT Baylor
Tucker Kraft- TE South Dakota St.
Luke Schoonmaker- TE Michigan
A.T. Perry- WR Wake Forest
Jaelyn Duncan- OT Maryland
Zach Harrison- DE Ohio State
