The Chiefs rookies were terrific in 2022. The encore draft class? Quite different

A few days before the Chiefs won last winter’s Super Bowl, their general manager, Brett Veach, was swarmed by a small crowd inside a hotel lobby.

Over a span of about 20 minutes, more than half the conversation covered the same topic.

The rookies.

Because sure enough, that weekend, the Chiefs would set an NFL record for the quantity of them to play in the Super Bowl. It was, literally, a historic draft class.

Things change quickly in the NFL.

To be fair, years from now, we still might be looking back at that class as an amazing outlier.

Just nine months later, though, we’re in the midst of the Chiefs’ bye week, and with it arrives my annual analysis of the team’s rookie class — both of the production to date and potential signs for the future. I’ll note that these players are merely eight games into four-year contracts. But I’ll also note that last year at this time, it already looked like the development of a pretty good draft.

A lot more questions, or even doubt, this time.

In a sport in which success is largely defined by drafting and developing your own, the Chiefs have taken that to the extreme. Rather, the makings of their roster (and salary cap) and forced them to take that to the extreme.

Now more than ever. They re-upped Patrick Mahomes at the onset of the season — emphasis on upped — which means for the next three years, one player is scheduled to occupy more than one-fifth of their allotted salary cap.

They have to turn their cheap labor — draft picks — into valuable pieces, and at least occasionally into star pieces. That’s a harder task, considering they draft at the back end of each round. It’s certainly appeared harder this year than it did a year earlier.

Consider this: The Chiefs’ 2022 draft class totaled 3,721 snaps for the Super Bowl champions. The Chiefs were giving about 220 snaps per game to drafted rookies. In 2023, by contrast, they are offering them just 59 per game, just 26.8% of the 2022 total.

Only two rookies this season have totaled more than 58 defensive or offensive snaps through eight total weeks — first-rounder Felix Anudike-Uzomah and second-rounder Rashee Rice. And neither rank in the top-11 in their respective units.

You could certainly point out — should point out — that the Chiefs had the benefit in 2022 of two first-rounders and two second-rounders. And that there were more opportunites for the group from a year ago. In other words, they should have gotten more out of that crew.

A counterpoint, though: The Chiefs have received more snaps from only one equal-round value pick this season than they did last year, and that’s only because Keondre Coburn, a sixth-rounder, played nine defensive snaps. Oh, by the way, the Chiefs had no sixth-round pick in 2022, and Coburn has already been released.

It’s not an argument strictly lifted by quantity.

It’s the per-player production too.

Which leads me to the grades. Keep in mind that these are adjusted by round — the grades reflect that there’s more expected from a first-round pick than a seventh-round selection.

Felix Anudike-Uzomah, edge (1st round, 31st overall)

It was clear from the day the Chiefs selected Anudike-Uzomah, a Lee’s Summit High graduate, that it would take time. But it’s not a great sign that his snaps are dwindling, not increasing, each week. He’s been on the field for just 28 snaps over the past four games combined. (Last year’s late first-rounder, George Karlaftis, took a bit to get going, but he never saw fewer than 30 snaps in a game while playing the same position.) Anudike-Uzomah actually ranks third among rookie edge rushers in quarterback hits, with five, so the flashes of talent are there. But it’s obvious the Chiefs need to see more before trusting him with a bigger workload.

Grade: C-

Rashee Rice, wide receiver (2nd round, 55th overall)

The best of the bunch. Currently. And in terms of future projections, too. Rice has the makings of a high-level receiver, even if his current totals (32 catches, 378 yards, 4 touchdowns) don’t pop off the page.

He is the highest-graded rookie receiver in the AFC and the second highest overall, per Pro Football Focus — a better grade than any of the late first rounders plucked with four consecutive picks (Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnston, Zay Flowers or Jordan Addison).

Rice’s best attribute is his work after the catch. The Chiefs target him on shallow routes — his average depth of target is just 5.9 yards. But among the 95 receivers with at least 20 targets this season, Rice leads the NFL (not just rookies) with an average of 8.2 yards after catch per reception.

That’ll play.

Grade: A

Wanya Morris, tackle (3rd round, 92nd overall)

Morris is a backup swing tackle, though preferably a right tackle, and the Chiefs have stuck with Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor as the bookends on their offensive line. Those are not positions that rotate in the backups for depth, which has left Morris in a purely reserve role. He is part of the game-day roster, but he has played just three offensive snaps. It’s fine for third-round picks to offer depth in the immediacy, but at some point, whether it’s this season or future seasons, Morris will need to develop into a dependable lineman who can be part of the starting five. That remains to be seen.

Grade: Incomplete

Chamarri Conner, defensive back (4th round, 119th overall)

The Chiefs are really deep in the secondary, so they haven’t needed Conner much on defense. But when he has been on the field, the skills have flashed. Connor actually has PFF’s fifth-best coverage grade among rookies. He’s shown versatility early — playing at safety or slot corner — which bodes well for his future in KC, even if his first-year role has been limited.

It’s the roster that has prevented his inclusion, not a lack of preparedness. He looks to be a contributor down the line. Another sign of that? He’s second in Chiefs special teams snaps. Conner and Leo Chenal have been their most consistent special teams players this season.

Grade: B+

BJ Thompson, edge (5th round); Keondre Coburn, defensive tackle (6th round); Nic Jones, cornerback (7th round)

It’s not a good sign that it makes sense to pile the three back-end picks together into just one summary.

But for all of the production the Chiefs got from a couple of late-round picks a year ago — Jaylen Watson and Isiah Pacheco were both taken in the seventh round in 2022 — they have no production thus far from players they selected in Rounds 5-7 of the 2023 draft.

Zilch.

Thompson has not appeared in a game this year. Jones has played only special teams. And Coburn had nine snaps before the Chiefs cut him. (The Broncos scooped him up after his release.) So, combined, that’s nine defensive snaps from three players.

Not great. But I’ll close where I started: It’s obviously early in these careers, so there’s still time — or that’s the hope, anyway.

But the Chiefs just as obviously deem there’s some growth that needs to take place.

Collective grade: D-