The Kansas City Chiefs are hitting the bye week at the perfect time. It's the midseason mark and they carry a 7-2 regular season record after defeating the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany. 

Things haven't been perfect, but the Chiefs are at a good point at this juncture of the season. They've even managed to get a good amount of help from their 2023 rookie draft class. It's not quite the same level of help and performance that the team saw from the players selected in the 2022 NFL draft, but it's hardly something to scoff at. 

Below we'll provide rookie report cards for each player in the order they were drafted, and we'll even include an undrafted free agent, too. *Disclaimer: No grades for sixth-round DT Keondre Coburn (now with Broncos), but if we did do them, they wouldn't be good.

DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah

From a statistical perspective, there are probably a lot of Chiefs fans who think that Anudike-Uzomah has been a disappointment. Frankly, I think he’s ahead of the curve. 

Sure, he only has 10 total tackles, a half-sack, and seven pressures on the year. Yet, the 21-year-old pass rusher out of Kansas State has been active and played in every game so far this season. There are other first-round draft picks at the position who were selected ahead of Anudike-Uzomah who can't say the same. 

As much as I'd like to see him take off a bit more in the second half of the season, I don't think it'll happen quite like it did with George Karlaftis last year. Unless, of course, there happens to be an injury at that position group. That said, he's getting valuable repetitions behind some really, really good defensive ends that will benefit him down the line. 

Grade: C+

WR Rashee Rice

Easily the most impressive of the Chiefs’ rookies. He’s proven to be one of the best rookie receivers in this draft class. His stats stack up with the best rookie receivers of Andy Reid’s tenure as an NFL head coach. 

Through nine games this season, Rice has recorded 32 receptions on 41 targets for 378 yards and four touchdown grabs. He's tied with Travis Kelce for the team lead in touchdown receptions so far this season. It's all going to be about building on that performance in the second half of the season for Rice. The biggest thing might be eliminating the occasional drop from his repertoire. 

Rice is coming off a game where he saw a career-high in snaps, and he mentioned after the game that things are really starting to come together for him. He's being trusted with option routes on certain plays, which is a big development in earning the trust of QB Patrick Mahomes. 

Grade: A-

OT Wanya Morris

Morris hasn’t really had much of a chance to play for Kansas City yet. He’s been coming in for some jumbo formations, and he’s clearly the team’s choice for backup left tackle since Prince Tega Wanogho went to injured reserve. In his one snap in pass protection all year, Morris stonewalled a Khalil Mack bull rush on a quick throw. Still, the sample size isn’t big enough to give him any sort of a grade just yet.

Grade: Incomplete 

DB Chamarri Conner

Conner is averaging just a dozen or so snaps on defense per game, often rotating between nickel corner and linebacker. He seems to have at least one flashy play every game and he’s also become a key piece for Dave Toub on special teams. 

No. 27's versatility makes him a huge asset for this team, as he boasts the ability to play literally any spot in the defensive secondary. I think we'll wind up seeing a larger role for him in the second half of the season, and he'll certainly be a key piece for the defense come 2024.

Grade: B+

EDGE BJ Thompson

As with Wanya Morris, it’s really tough to provide a grade for Thompson. The Chiefs knew going into this thing that he was going to be a bit of a project, so it’s really no surprise that he’s been a healthy scratch every week this season. That said, it’s not fair to give him a grade when he hasn’t seen the field at all this season.

Grade: Incomplete

CB Nic Jones

Jones dealt with a hand injury early in the season that stunted his growth a bit. He’s now playing special teams with regularity and he’s one of the team’s key backups at the cornerback position. I’ll be curious to see if he gets any action later in the season due to injury or otherwise. 

Grade: B-

LB Cam Jones

The only undrafted free agent to make the team in 2023, Jones has exceeded expectations. He’s played just a handful of defensive snaps and he didn’t blow anyone away, but he wasn’t inept either. He has, however, been a multiphase special teamer and regularly is near the team lead in special teams snaps. 

No matter what, he's a good developmental piece to have with some key linebackers set to hit free agency in 2024.

Grade: B-

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