4 second-year Kansas City Chiefs players who are trending toward larger roles during training camp
Kansas City Chiefs training camp is just starting to heat up, both metaphorically and literally. The pads came on for the first time this Friday, giving players their first taste of "real" football. With five days of training camp practice under our belts, we're starting to get an idea of the players who are trending […]
Kansas City Chiefs training camp is just starting to heat up, both metaphorically and literally. The pads came on for the first time this Friday, giving players their first taste of "real" football.
With five days of training camp practice under our belts, we're starting to get an idea of the players who are trending in the right for the 2024 NFL season. Some of the most noticeable leaps are being made by second-year players, who are building off a Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2023.
Which second-year players stand to earn a much larger role during the upcoming season? Find my thoughts below:
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
No player has as much pressure to have a larger role over their rookie year than Anudike-Uzomah. The former first-round draft pick didn't live up to expectations. It's worth noting, however, that he's still one of the youngest players on the team, even with a whole new rookie class.
After a disappointing rookie campaign, Anudike-Uzomah worked hard this offseason to improve his get-off and work on hand-fighting techniques with Chiefs legend Tamba Hali.
“It basically just gave me motivation just to – with his knowledge of the game and how he had so much success in his years at (the) Kansas City Chiefs," Anudike-Uzomah said of Hali. "He basically just bestowed that knowledge on me and just (has) been helping me and George (Karlaftis) get our game better, get offs and handwork and stuff like that.”
His year-over-year improvement isn't just wishful thinking either. His get-off is noticeably quicker and he won multiple 1-on-1 repetitions during the first day of pads. Chiefs HC Andy Reid believes Anudike-Uzomah has already shown that he's more comfortable with his role, but also more confident in his ability.
"(He’s) more comfortable," Reid explained. "(He’s) getting himself upfield (and) moving. I think he’s more confident in what we’re doing and what he’s doing.”
Anudike-Uzomah has been mixing in with the first-team defense at training camp alongside George Karlaftis and Mike Danna, which suggests that he'll be the first man off the bench in the edge rusher rotation this upcoming season.
RB Deneric Prince
If I had to guess on one second-year player going from virtually no snaps to a big role, I'd point you toward Deneric Prince. He's someone that the Chiefs were very high on a season ago during OTAs, but he fizzled out during training camp and the preseason.
That hasn't been the case so far this year and the coaching staff gave him an extended look during the first padded practice on Friday.
He took the vast majority of first-team and second-team repetitions at running back and put together some strong carries and catches. The one area where he might still need the most work is pass protection, but it appears that he's grown his game quite a bit after spending the entire 2023 NFL season on the practice squad.
WR Nikko Remigio
Remigio basically had a redshirt year in 2023 and he's seemingly made the absolute most of it. When Matt Nagy says he's rooting for you, it counts for something. When special teams coordinator Dave Toub says you're probably the team's top kick returner, it counts for something. Just yesterday, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes raved about him.
“He’s smart (and) a hard worker," Reid said. "He tries his best every play, and he studies. You can tell he studies because he knows all the spots. He’s got a great attitude, (a) positive attitude, so those are the kind of guys you pull for."
“He just works extremely hard, he’s always asking the right questions, always wants to get extra work and that’s what you want," Mahomes said. "He’s a true pro's, pro. He just comes to work every single day with a smile on his face. He wants to work hard and get better and better. It’s not like he’s going out there and hating on someone else. He wants everybody to get better with him, and I think that’s why everybody loves him in that (wide receiver) room. He’s seen the positive signs coming every single day, and he continues to get better.”
Remigio might not just wind up making the 53-man roster, but also playing a pivotal role as a return specialist and depth receiver.
DB Chamarri Conner
Conner actually played most in 2023 of all the players listed above, but he's on a collision course for an even larger role with the team during the 2024 NFL season. He's seen repetitions as both a starting safety opposite Bryan Cook. He was also a starter at nickel corner opposite Trent McDuffie and a yet-to-be-decided No. 2 cornerback.
Last season, he was mostly only coming onto the field in Buffalo Nickel looks with three safeties on the field. He also played a ton of special teams. I wouldn't be shocked if he nearly doubled his snap defensive snaps (305) from last year during the 2024 NFL season.
Runners up: Wanya Morris, Chu Godrick, Ekow Boye-Doe, Cam Jones
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