Now that the 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone, we can see what the results of the 2022 draft might be able to tell us about this year’s class.
With seven picks spread out across the three-day event in 2023 (down from last year’s 10-man draft class), Kansas City has fewer prospects, though the Andy Reid-coached team is hoping it struck gold with its selections.
Such was the case a year ago, with all but one of Kansas City’s draft picks seeing the field during the team’s Super Bowl championship season — a title run that also paid big dividends for fans taking part in sports betting in Kansas.
This year’s class is led by 31st overall pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah out of Kansas State, who was a two-time All-Big 12 selection at defensive end.
Kansas City also picked fellow Big 12 prospects Wanya Morris out of Oklahoma and Keondre Coburn of Texas to go with SMU wideout Rashee Rice, Virginia Tech defensive back Chamarri Conner and Ball State cornerback Nic Jones.
Chiefs 2023 NFL Draft Class
- 1st round (31st overall): Felix Anudike-Uzomah (DE)
- 2nd round (55th overall): Rashee Rice (WR)
- 3rd round (92nd overall): Wanya Morris (OL)
- 4th round (119th overall): Chamarri Conner (DB)
- 5th round (166th overall): BJ Thompson (DE)
- 6th round (194th overall): Keondre Coburn (DT)
- 7th round (250th overall): Nic Jones (CB)
Chiefs 2022 Class Among Most Productive
Of the 32 NFL teams, Kansas City finished in a tie with the New York Jets for the second-most valuable draft class using Pro Football Reference’s Weighted Career Approximate Value (wAV).
The Chiefs finished behind the Seahawks, who’s class had a wAV score of 40.
BetKansas.com, which offers bettors Kansas sportsbook promo codes, stacked up the Chiefs’ leaguewide ranking versus where the NFL Network ranked each of the league’s teams in the immediate aftermath of last year’s draft.
NFL Network analysts had the Chiefs’ class ranked third overall, so Kansas City’s rookies performance was right on the money of expectations.
Based on the network’s projections from a year ago versus where the Chiefs wound up, it seems like Kansas City’s 2023 rookies will finish a tad lower this year based solely on the lack of draft pick quantity.
The Chiefs also were buoyed by the production seventh-round running back Isiah Pacheco turned in, as he rushed for 830 yards and five scores. Pacheco and fellow seventh round pick Jaylen Watson gave the 2022 class a third of its wAV value.
Re-Ranking 2022 NFL Draft Class
Why Chiefs 2022 Draft Class Excelled
In total, nine of the Kansas City’s 10 draft picks finished with at least a single wAV figure, with fifth round tackle Darian Kinnard being the lone draftee with no approximate value score.
First round defensive end George Karlaftis III and Pacheco led all Chiefs with 7 wAV points each, while linebacker Leo Chenal had 4 wAV and Trent McDuffie and Watson had 3 wAV apiece.
The end result of that top-to-bottom production was a tie with the Jets for the second spot leaguewide, in terms of total production of the 2022 class and a great season for Chiefs fans on Kansas betting apps.
What 2022 Class Can Teach Us About 2023?
With three fewer draft picks and a defense-heavy class of selectees, it seems the Chiefs’ 2023 draft class is bound to lack the overall production numbers of last year.
With Kansas City taking three defensive linemen, two defensive backs, an offensive lineman and a wideout this year, it seems the most likely prospects to contribute in 2023 are Anudike-Uzomah and Rice.
If both can live up to the standard last year’s first round defensive end (Karlaftis) and wideout (Skyy Moore) put forth, then Kansas City will likely be among the top teams for draft class production again this season.
