Could the Chiefs Have a Defensive Line-Focused 2023 NFL Draft?
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Free agency has died down over the last week as teams have turned their attention to the 2023 NFL Draft. For the Kansas City Chiefs, that means continuing to supply their Super Bowl-winning roster with more young talent. Usually, Brett Veach prefers not to have glaring holes entering this time of year. The wide receiver position is the obvious one, however, the defensive line room is not nearly as set as it may seem.
The Chiefs having one of the best defensive players in the league, Chris Jones, on their defensive line helps the perception of the unit as a whole. Jones is the dominant force in the middle of the defensive front, making the jobs for the players around him easier. Players like George Karlaftis, Mike Danna and offseason signing Charles Omenihu have benefitted and, in Omenihu's case, will continue to benefit from that. However, that's about it regarding reliable talent on Kansas City's defensive front.
The only other names that fans would currently recognize are Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton. The problem is that Nnadi is coming off the worst season of his career and Wharton is recovering from a torn ACL. Both players know the defense and have the coaching staff's trust but have different reasons for folks to be wary about the team relying on them getting a heavy workload throughout the season.
Nov 27, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis (56) celebrates with defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) after a sack against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Familiar faces like Frank Clark, Carlos Dunlap and Brandon Williams are still on the market and could come back closer to training camp to give the unit a veteran boost. At the moment, though, it is headed toward the Chiefs augmenting their defensive line room through the draft.
Due to the glaring need at wide receiver, it is presumed that the Chiefs could target it during the draft's first round. If that's not the case, they may look at a strong defensive line class and get a very talented piece early, similar to what they did with Karlaftis last year. Hometown kid Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas State) is a trendy selection for the Chiefs at 31. He's not a perfect Spagnuolo fit, but he checks most of the boxes the defensive coordinator likes in his edge rushers. Uzomah can eat snaps early as a run defender while he works to maximize his pass-rushing ability. Other names that may be intriguing to the Chiefs at the end of Day One include Bryan Bresee (Clemson), BJ Ojulari (LSU), and Derick Hall (Auburn).
Rounds two and three are the sweet spots for a defensive tackle in this draft. There's a plethora of talented players that would complement Jones extremely well. Two players that are seamless fits would be Keeanu Benton (Wisconsin) and Gervon Dexter (Florida). Both are outstanding athletes who can both play against the run and pass.
Benton plays like a traditional nose tackle. He is a stout run defender in the middle of the front seven with exceptionally violent hands, knocking blockers off him. He also showed some ability to develop as a pass rusher with his quickness and explosion. Dexter is a curious case and a freak show athlete, testing as one of the best in history. However, the Florida product has a slow get-off that causes him to only sometimes maximize those traits on the field.
Dexter still holds himself against offensive linemen, showing off his freakish strength. Allowing him to work with Jones and defensive line coach Joe Cullen could pay out massively for Kansas City. Another name to watch is Jaquelin Roy, who played under former Chiefs linebackers coach Matt House at LSU.
Saturday is when the draft could get interesting for the Chiefs. Typically teams reset their boards before the start of Day Three. Depending on how they address the defensive line room during the first two days, they can attack a specialist role like a nose tackle, speed rusher, tweener, etc. That player will likely never become a starter but can provide a reliable body in a specific role during their cheap rookie contract.
Comparing some of these scenarios to what the current defensive line room looks like:
| Position | Current Room | Round One DL | Day 2 DL |
|---|---|---|---|
DE | George Karlaftis | Felix Anudike-Uzomah | George Karlaftis |
DE | Charles Omenihu | George Karlaftis | Charles Omenihu |
DE | Mike Danna | Charles Omenihu | Clark/Dunlap (Vet Signing) |
DE | Josh Kaindoh | Clark/Dunlap (Vet Signing) | Mike Danna |
DE | Malik Herring | Mike Danna | YaYa Diaby (Day 3 EDGE) |
DT | Chris Jones | Chris Jones | Chris Jones |
DT | Derrick Nnadi | Derrick Nnadi | Gervon Dexter |
DT | Tershawn Wharton | Keondre Coburn (Day 3 NT) | Derrick Nnadi |
DT | Danny Shelton | Tershawn Wharton | Tershawn Wharton |
Either one of those scenarios would instantly improve the Chiefs' defensive line unit. That's with just using one Top 100 pick, one Day 3 pick and signing a veteran. There is room to use even more capital and make this year's defensive line what the cornerback room was last year and the offensive line the year before. A total revamp and heavy investment could be coming at the end of April, significantly upgrading the ceiling of Kansas City's young defense.
