2023 NFL Draft: Chiefs Recap and UDFA Tracker
After a long weekend of surprises and draft-day drama from all 32 NFL teams, the Kansas City Chiefs' 2023 NFL Draft haul has been finalized.
Entering Thursday evening with 10 picks at their disposal, the team ended up using seven of them to add new players into the fold. General manager Brett Veach navigated the board for the draft's three days, utilizing trades on Friday and Saturday to secure picks on both sides of the ball.
With the draft now in the rearview mirror, Arrowhead Report is recapping the Chiefs' 2023 draft haul below while also keeping track of the undrafted free agent market. Prospects who didn't get picked in this year's draft are free to latch on with NFL clubs as early as Saturday, and UDFA news will be rolling in over the next several days.
This story will be continually updated with undrafted free agent news.
Round 1: Felix Anudike-Uzomah (DE, Kansas State)
To cap off the first round of the draft, the Chiefs went with a player they had ranked highly on the board and someone who just so happened to also help address a team need at a premium position. Anudike-Uzomah is an athletic defensive end who should be a productive player in his rookie campaign as he works to hold his own as a run defender and be a factor as a pass-rush specialist.
Round 2: Rashee Rice (WR, SMU)
The Chiefs traded up in the second round to draft Rice, with whom they held a top-30 visit during the pre-draft process. Rice also worked with quarterback Patrick Mahomes a bit during the offseason, and that connection helped seal the deal on the pick. Rice often won against zone coverage at SMU and projects to be a contested-catch threat in the NFL while he looks to fine-tune his abilities and potentially gain separation more easily.
Round 3: Wanya Morris (OT, Oklahoma)
Another byproduct of a Veach trade-up on Day 2, the Chiefs landed Morris with pick No. 92. The former Tennessee Volunteers and Oklahoma Sooners standout is a lengthy offensive tackle who already has experience playing with current Chiefs right guard Trey Smith. He's a potential candidate to compete with Lucas Niang for the starting gig at right tackle if he progresses well and shows up in a big way throughout the offseason.
Round 4: Chamarri Conner (DB, Virginia Tech)
Kansas City shipped two picks away in order to move up for Conner, who did a little bit of everything at Virginia Tech. He's an athletic safety who's capable of dropping into the slot as needed, which makes him an ideal fit in Steve Spagnuolo's defense. The icing on the cake for the Chiefs? Conner is excited to play special teams and could thrive there, which is music to Dave Toub's ears.
Round 5: BJ Thompson (DE, Stephen F. Austin)
This pick surprised many upon its announcement, as Thompson is light for a defensive end — let alone a Spagnuolo-style one that typically weighs closer to 255 or 260 pounds. Nonetheless, the Stephen F. Austin product is a tremendous athlete and has improved in key areas over the last several months. He boasts some impressive upside despite his age and could be used on pass-rushing downs as a rookie if he has a good next few months auditioning with the team.
Round 6: Keondre Coburn (DT, Texas)
With Khalen Saunders no longer in the picture and both Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi being under contract through just the 2023-24 season, the Chiefs desperately needed some more defensive line depth. They got just that with Coburn, who is a big-bodied defensive tackle and someone who should serve as more of a traditional nose tackle in Spagnuolo's even-front scheme that requires quality run defense from its interior players.
Round 7: Nic Jones (CB, Ball State)
The Chiefs drafted a whopping three cornerbacks last season and still have L'Jarius Sneed in the fold for at least the 2023-24 season. The need for a cornerback in this year's draft wasn't pressing. With that said, Jones has experience playing on the outside at Ball State and had a breakout final season. If he can carry that momentum into the NFL with him, he could possibly make Kansas City's roster and serve as secondary depth.
Kansas City Chiefs UDFA Tracker
Saturday UDFA news:
- Missouri State wide receiver Ty Scott is signing with the Chiefs, according to NFL Draft Diamonds.
- Purdue cornerback Reese Taylor will sign with the Chiefs as a UDFA, per Tom Dienhart of On3.
- Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that the deal includes $70,000 guaranteed.
- Jerome Carvin, a former Tennessee Volunteers offensive lineman and someone who has experience working with Smith, is signing with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. Grant Ramey of On3 first reported the news.
- MLFootball reports that Carvin's deal is worth up to $2.7 million with a $12,500 signing bonus.
- Fresno State wideout Nikko Remigio is signing with the Chiefs, per Sidelines - FresnoState and his representation at Equity Sports.
- Louisiana Tech offensive tackle Josh Mote is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp, per Aaron Wilson.
- Grand Valley State Football's official account shares that offensive tackle Quinton Barrow has signed with the Chiefs.
- Guelph Gryphons defensive back Siriman Bagayogo is invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp, according to his agent Fred Weinrauch.
- NC State linebacker Isaiah Moore is signing with the Chiefs, per the team's football account on Twitter.
- A local prospect is getting invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp. Wilson reports that Washburn wideout and return man James Letcher is the player.
- Letcher signed with the Chiefs, according to a conflicting tweet from Washburn Football.
- Indiana linebacker Cam Jones has signed with the Chiefs, per the football team's official Twitter account.
- Pelissero reports that the deal includes a $15,000 signing bonus and a $135,000 base salary guarantee.
- Cincinnati offensive lineman Jeremy Cooper has been invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp, per Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network.
- According to Jordan Schultz of theScore, Tulsa running back Deneric Prince is signing with the Chiefs.
- Aaron Wilson reports that Prince's contract includes $231,000 guaranteed, a $216,000 base salary guarantee and a $15,000 signing bonus.
- Wilson reports that Kansas City is signing Texas safety Anthony Cook.
- Marshall safety Isaiah Norman is signing with the Chiefs as a UDFA, per Matt Lombardo of Heavy.
- Lombardo also reports that Appalachian State offensive lineman Anderson Hardy is signing with the Chiefs.
- Toledo tight end Jamal Turner is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp, per Wilson.
- New Hampshire wide receiver Sean Coyne is invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp, per a tweet from the football team's account.
- Another Missouri State player is signing with the Chiefs. Per Wyatt D. Wheeler of the Springfield News-Leader, cornerback Montrae Braswell is signing with Kansas City.
- Southern Utah punter Jake Gerardi has received an invite to Chiefs rookie minicamp, per Rachel Hopmayer of Spectrum News 1.
- Merrimack defensive back Anthony Witherstone is signing with Kansas City as a UDFA, per source.
- Another Merrimack player, tight end Tyler Roberts, is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp. Kevin Stone of New England Football Journal had the report first.
- Fresno State wideout Zane Pope is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp, per Wilson.
- Harvard defensive lineman Truman Jones is signing with the Chiefs, per Mark Daniels of MassLive.
- Tyrick James is signing with the Chiefs as a UDFA, per himself and Guerry Smith.
- Kansas State cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe has been invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
- Louisiana-Monroe and former UConn defensive tackle Caleb Thomas has a tryout with the Chiefs, per New England Football Journal.
- Fowler reports that Kansas City is signing former Missouri safety Martez Manuel.
- Tarleton State offensive lineman Blake Haynes signed with the Chiefs, per Wilson.
- University of New Haven quarterback Connor Degenhardt has accepted an invite to attend Chiefs rookie minicamp, he announces.
- James Madison University quarterback Todd Centeio received an invite to Chiefs rookie minicamp, per the team's official Twitter account.
- Rocket Nation announces that Toledo defensive end Jamal Hines has received a rookie minicamp invite from the Chiefs.
- Wilson reports that NAU cornerback Alonzo Davis accepted the Chiefs' invitation to their rookie minicamp.
Sunday UDFA news:
- Indiana defensive lineman Demarcus Elliott signed with the Chiefs, per Indiana Football's official Twitter account.
- Brown University running back Allen Smith is invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp, per the team's Twitter announcement.
- Missouri Western defensive end Arnold Crayton has received an invite to Chiefs rookie minicamp, according to Tommy Rezac of KFEQ.
- Wilson reports that Harvard running back Aidan Borguet is invited to Kansas City's rookie minicamp.
- Virginia Tech tight end Connor Blumrick is invited to rookie minicamp in Kansas City, per Damien Sordelett of the Roanoke Times.
- Central Connecticut State linebacker Chiz Umunakwe received a rookie minicamp invite from the Chiefs, according to the football team's Twitter account.
- Northwest Missouri State defensive lineman Zach Howard is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp, per Chris Roush of KQ2.
Monday UDFA news:
- Arkansas State wideout Te'Vailance Hunt received an invite to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp, per Logan Whaley of Region 8 News.
- Missouri long snapper Jake Hoffman is invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp, per the team's announcement on Twitter.
- Missouri Western Football announces on Twitter that safety Kobe Cummings is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp.
- Washburn University wideout Peter Afful is invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp, per the team's Twitter post.
- Sam Houston safety BJ Foster is going to Chiefs rookie minicamp, the team announces on Twitter.
- Rutgers punter Adam Korsak was invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp, per Wilson.
- Wison also reports that LSU safety Joe Foucha will be attending the Chiefs' rookie minicamp.
- BYU linebacker Payton Wilgar is attending Chiefs rookie minicamp this weekend, per Kevin Reynolds of The Salt Lake Tribune.
Tuesday UDFA news:
- Northwest Missouri State linebacker Sam Phillips has been invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp, the team announces.
Wednesday UDFA news:
- Delaware football offensive lineman Joshua Stevens is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp, per the team's tweet.
