Six weeks into the 2023 season, there is no question that the Kansas City Chiefs are a serious threat to repeat as Super Bowl champs. Most of the top NFL betting sites across the country view the Chiefs as the clear favorites in the AFC, even if the 49ers and Eagles are bonafide threats from the NFC. With Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs always have a chance, although it would be great for Kansas City’s Super Bowl hopes to get a lift from the team’s draft class. With six weeks in the books, let’s take a closer look at Kansas City’s draft picks and the type of impact they could make between now and the end of the season.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, First Round:
Despite being a first-round pick, Anudike-Uzomah hasn’t quite made a huge impact just yet. He has half a sack and one forced fumble on the season. Anudike-Uzomah has mostly come off the bench and played limited snaps. That’s not such a bad thing since Kansas City’s defensive line is in good shape. The door is also open for Anudike-Uzomah to carve out a bigger role by the end of the season.
Rashee Rice, Second Round:
Rice has easily been Kansas City’s most impactful rookie thus far. He’s second on the team behind Travis Kelce in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Given Kansas City’s lack of elite talent at wide receiver, Rice is arguably the team’s most important rookie. In fact, he might be the most talented wide receiver on the roster, so his development this season will be critical for the Chiefs in their quest for another Super Bowl.
Wanya Morris, Third Round:
As the backup to left tackle Donovan Smith, the Chiefs hope they don’t have to rely on Morris this year. As a result, Morris has rarely seen the field this season. The rookie from Oklahoma remains untested, which could be a problem if Smith gets hurt at any point.
Chamarri Conner, Fourth Round:
Conner is technically listed as the backup to safety Justin Reid. But he’s already proven to be so much more. The Chiefs are finding different ways to get Conner onto the field, using him at safety and in the slot. Conner is capable of dropping back into coverage but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has also used Conner to blitz. In other words, he’s quickly become an important and versatile part of the Kansas City defense.
B.J. Thompson, Fifth Round:
Not surprisingly, Thompson has been buried on the depth chart during the early part of the season. The Chiefs are hoping the fifth-round pick out of Stephen F. Austin will develop into a useful player down the line. But his time hasn’t come just yet.
Keondre Coburn, Sixth Round:
Coburn earned some praise during the preseason and made Kansas City’s roster. However, his playing time has been limited to this point. Coburn made one tackle in Week 1 against the Lions but has had a limited role on the Kansas City defense outside of providing depth since then.
Nic Jones, Seventh Round:
Jones is another late-round rookie who is biding his time. He broke multiple fingers during the preseason, which held him back early in the season. However, Jones has seen some action in a couple of games as the backup to nickel back Trend McDuffie. He might have a chance to work his way into a bigger role as the season progresses because he did turn some heads during the preseason before his injury.
