Armani Watts, Kahlil McKenzie means half of Chiefs rookie class has signed
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed two more draft picks bringing the total left over to sign at three rookies left, including Breeland Speaks.
The first of the Kansas City Chiefs draft class to sign was sixth round cornerback Tremon Smith. Now two more are in the fold with the news that fourth round safety Armani Watts and sixth round defensive lineman (turned offensive lineman) Kahlil McKenzie are both officially signed to NFL contracts.
That leaves three more rookies yet to sign: second round defensive end Breeland Speaks and both third round picks in defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi and linebacker Dorian O’Daniel.
Watts was a safety with four years starting experience out of Texas A&M, a young game-ready defensive back able to likely step in and compete for Ron Parker’s starting role. Parker was the Chiefs starting free safety opposite Eric Berry for the last few years until he was released earlier this offseason in an overall attempt to get younger, cheaper and perhaps better in the secondary.
McKenzie is one of the more interesting Chiefs prospects out of the draft class with the expected transition from full-time defensive line in college to the reps he’s getting at guard and center with the Chiefs offensive line in rookie minicamp. He was getting early praise for his frame, strength and athleticism already in the early going, which felt similar to what Chiefs fans heard about Laurent Duvernay-Tardif when he was first drafted also as a sixth round project.