Chiefs draft Felix Anudike-Uzomah in first round of 2023 NFL Draft
The Kansas City Chiefs had to wait till the very last pick to decide who was going to be the next guy to have his named called as a member of the 2022 Super Bowl champions. But, when you win the Super Bowl, that's what happens – you pick last.When they picked last, they saw […]
The Kansas City Chiefs had to wait till the very last pick to decide who was going to be the next guy to have his named called as a member of the 2022 Super Bowl champions. But, when you win the Super Bowl, that's what happens – you pick last.
When they picked last, they saw a handful of guys available that they may not have thought would be. Yet, none of them were a receiver. At pick 19 there wasn't a single receiver taken yet, until there was then four straight taken. The Chiefs were forced to take an edge rusher.
So with the 31st pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the edge rusher from Kansas State, and the local kid from Kansas City.
It's no secret that the fact that there were no more round one worthy offensive tackles or receivers, kind of meant the Chiefs would go pass rush. With the absence of Frank Clark who is still a free agent, the Chiefs get a guy who can do it all on that side of the ball.
This guy had 13 sacks in 2021 and eight sacks last year. He does exactly what the Chiefs need and will be able to do it for a very long time. he and George Karlaftis will be a dominant duo for years to come.
A to Z Sports' Tyler Browning evaluated Felix Anudike-Uzomah and wrote the following:
Generally a high motor player, will chase down ball carriers sideline to sideline. There are times where he appears uninterested in being on the field and gives minimal effort. Can cross face of offensive linemen with ease. Has shown he can be effective on receiving open gaps on stunt plays. Improved in 2022, became much more able to move laterally across the line.
Below is The Athletic's Dane Brugler's scouting report, as well:
A two-year starter at Kansas State, Anudike-Uzomah was a right end and lined up on the outside shoulder of the tackle in defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman’s 3-3-5 scheme. Despite Kansas State being his only Power 5 offer out of high school (as a blueshirt), he became one of the most decorated defenders in school history as an All-American and the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (25.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles over the last two seasons). Anudike-Uzomah mashes the accelerator with strength in his joints to angle his body and pry open rush lanes with his power. He can shock blockers at contact, but his refinement is a work in progress, and he is inconsistent as an edge setter versus the run. Overall, Anudike-Uzomah has only average get-off and arc speed as a rusher and must become more consistent in the run game, but he plays hard and mixes up his rush to keep his pursuit alive, which is what he does best. He projects as a physical, face-up power rusher with the impact potential to compete for an NFL starting role as a rookie.
