Where NFL.com ranks Kansas City Chiefs' 2021 rookie class
The Kansas City Chiefs didn't have a first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, but that didn't stop them from having a solid draft class. In fact, NFL.com thinks the Chiefs had the best draft of any franchise in the NFL last year. NFL.com's Gennaro Filice and Nick Shook recently ranked the rookie classes from this past […]
The Kansas City Chiefs didn't have a first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, but that didn't stop them from having a solid draft class.
In fact, NFL.com thinks the Chiefs had the best draft of any franchise in the NFL last year.
NFL.com's Gennaro Filice and Nick Shook recently ranked the rookie classes from this past season and they think Kansas City, sans a first-round pick, had the No. 1 overall rookie class in the league.
Kansas City's grade is all about maximizing picks. The Chiefs sent their first-round pick in 2021 and other selections to Baltimore to acquire left tackle Orlando Brown (assets well spent), then nailed their second-round pick by choosing Bolton, a Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team selection who graded out as the 13th-best linebacker in the league, per Pro Football Focus. Kansas City followed that up by finding its center of the future in Humphrey, who began his NFL career by performing better than any other player at the position, per PFF. He also earned PFWA All-Rookie honors. Kaindoh missed most of his rookie season, having landed on injured reserve in early October with an ankle injury. Gray saw some playing time at tight end behind Travis Kelce and Blake Bell while also playing special teams regularly. Powell was cut at the end of camp and returned as a practice squad member before signing a reserve/future contract in February. And finally, a premier Day 3 find came in the form of Smith, who teamed with Humphrey and Joe Thuney to make an excellent interior trio. Smith also earned PFWA All-Rookie recognition and will be an important part of Kansas City's offensive line for years to come.
Landing a first-round talent like offensive lineman Trey Smith in the sixth round certainly makes a draft class look better.
But what I think this ranking from NFL.com really shows us is that it's not all about the first round. Kansas City didn't even have a first-round pick and they still finished with a better class than any other team in the NFL.
There's plenty of value in the mid to late rounds of the draft. You just have to find it.
And the Chiefs certainly did in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Featured image via Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
