The Kansas City Chiefs NFL draft picks 2023 is the list of players that the Chiefs selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, which was held from April 27 to 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs were the defending Super Bowl champions and had the last pick in the first round. The draft was hosted by the Chiefs for the first time in their history.
History: The NFL Draft is an annual event where NFL teams select new players from college football or other eligible sources. The draft was first proposed by Bert Bell, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, in 1935 as a way to distribute talent evenly among teams and ensure financial stability. The first NFL Draft was held in 1936 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, where 90 names were written on a blackboard and teams chose in reverse order of their previous season’s record. The draft has evolved over the years, especially with the emergence of the rival American Football League (AFL) in 1959, which competed with the NFL for draft picks until the two leagues merged in 1970. The draft has also changed its format, location, and rules several times to adapt to the changing needs and preferences of the league, teams, players, and fans.
Players Here is a 2023 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Kansas City Chiefs draft picks 2023:
Round 1: No. 31 – Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State. The Chiefs added some pass-rushing help with their first pick, selecting Anudike-Uzomah, a versatile and athletic edge defender who can play both defensive end and outside linebacker. Anudike-Uzomah had 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in his senior season at Kansas State, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Round 2: No. 55 (from MIN through DET) – Rashee Rice, WR, SMU. The Chiefs lost two of their top wide receivers in free agency, so they used their second pick to address that need. Rice is a speedy and explosive playmaker who can stretch the field and make defenders miss. He had 74 receptions for 1,129 yards and nine touchdowns in his junior season at SMU, ranking among the top 10 in the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Round 3: No. 92 (from CIN) – Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma. The Chiefs traded up to get Morris, a former five-star recruit who transferred from Tennessee to Oklahoma for his final season. Morris is a powerful and agile offensive tackle who can protect Patrick Mahomes’ blindside and open lanes for the running game. He started 10 games at left tackle for Oklahoma in 2023, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors.
Round 4: No. 119 (from DET through MIN) – Chamarri Conner, S, Virginia Tech. The Chiefs added some depth and versatility to their secondary with Conner, a hard-hitting and instinctive safety who can play both free and strong safety positions. Conner led Virginia Tech with 91 tackles and four interceptions in his senior season, earning third-team All-ACC honors.
Round 5: No. 166 – BJ Thompson, LB, Stephen F. Austin. The Chiefs took a flyer on Thompson, a small-school prospect who impressed scouts with his size, speed, and athleticism. Thompson is a former basketball player who switched to football in his junior year at Stephen F. Austin. He had 45 tackles and six sacks in his senior season, showing potential as a pass rusher and coverage linebacker.
Round 6: No. 194 (from DET) – Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas. The Chiefs added some bulk and strength to their defensive line with Coburn, a run-stuffing nose tackle who can clog up the middle and free up his teammates to make plays. Coburn had 34 tackles and two sacks in his senior season at Texas, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors.
Round 7: No. 250 – Nic Jones, CB, Ball State. The Chiefs used their final pick to take Jones, a developmental cornerback who has good size and length for the position. Jones had 32 tackles and two interceptions in his senior season at Ball State, helping the Cardinals win their first MAC championship since 1996.
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are members of the West division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Chiefs have won two Super Bowl championships, in 1969 and 2019, and have appeared in four Super Bowls in total. The Chiefs are led by head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was their top draft pick in 2017.
The NFL draft is an annual event in which NFL teams select eligible college football players to join their rosters. Each team is assigned a draft order based on their performance in the previous season, with the worst team picking first and the Super Bowl champion picking last. Teams can also trade their draft picks with other teams to acquire more picks or move up or down in the draft order.
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The Last Five Top Draft Picks of the Kansas City Chiefs are as follows:
- 2022 (No. 21 overall): Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington: McDuffie is a versatile and athletic cornerback who can play both man and zone coverage. He has good instincts, ball skills, and tackling ability. He was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2021 and a second-team All-American by The Athletic.
- 2021 (No. 58 overall): Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri: Bolton is a fast and physical linebacker who can play both inside and outside. He has excellent instincts, range, and leadership skills. He was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2019 and 2020 and a second-team All-American by The Associated Press in 2020.
- 2020 (No. 32 overall): Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU: Edwards-Helaire is a dynamic and elusive running back who can also catch passes out of the backfield. He has great vision, balance, and agility. He was a key member of LSU’s national championship team in 2019, rushing for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns and catching 55 passes for 453 yards and one touchdown.
- 2019 (No. 56 overall): Mecole Hardman, WR, Georgia: Hardman is a speedy and explosive wide receiver who can also return kicks and punts. He has excellent acceleration, agility, and hands. He was a second-team All-SEC selection as a return specialist in 2018 and a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie in 2019.
- 2018 (No. 46 overall): Breeland Speaks, DE, Ole Miss: Speaks is a powerful and versatile defensive end who can play both inside and outside. He has good strength, quickness, and motor. He was a second-team All-SEC selection in 2017 and had four sacks and eight tackles for loss in his rookie season with the Chiefs.
ALSO READ: Indianapolis Colts Draft Picks 2023: Complete Round-by-Round Selections and Analysis
FAQs
Q: Who was the Chiefs’ first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft?
A: The Chiefs selected Felix Anudike-Uzomah, an edge rusher from Kansas State, with the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Anudike-Uzomah is a versatile and athletic defender who can play both inside and outside. He had 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in his senior season with the Wildcats.
Q: Which position did the Chiefs address the most in the 2023 NFL draft?
A: The Chiefs addressed their offensive line the most in the 2023 NFL draft, selecting two offensive tackles and one guard. The Chiefs traded up to get Wanya Morris, a former five-star recruit from Oklahoma, in the third round1. Morris has good size, strength, and mobility and can play both left and right tackle. The Chiefs also picked BJ Thompson, a guard from Stephen F. Austin, in the fifth round. Thompson is a powerful and agile blocker who can also play center. The Chiefs added another tackle in the seventh round, Nic Jones from Ball State1. Jones is a developmental prospect who has good length and athleticism.
Q: Which player did the Chiefs trade up to get in the 2023 NFL draft?
A: The Chiefs traded up to get Rashee Rice, a wide receiver from SMU, in the second round. Rice is a speedy and explosive playmaker who can stretch the field and make defenders miss. He had 1,276 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in his junior season with the Mustangs.
Q: Which player did the Chiefs trade down to get in the 2023 NFL draft?
A: The Chiefs traded down to get Chamarri Conner, a safety from Virginia Tech, in the fourth round. Conner is a hard-hitting and versatile defensive back who can play both safety and nickel corner. He had four interceptions and nine pass breakups in his senior season with the Hokies.
Q: Which player from the 2023 NFL draft is expected to have the biggest impact for the Chiefs in their rookie season?
A: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the Chiefs’ first-round pick, is expected to have the biggest impact for the Chiefs in their rookie season. Anudike-Uzomah will likely start opposite Frank Clark as the Chiefs’ primary pass rusher. He has the potential to be a dominant force on the edge and help improve the Chiefs’ defense.
