While members of Chiefs Kingdom can technically file this under, “Uh, tell us something we don’t already know,” the truth is we also like to hear, once again, all about the brilliant work of the Kansas City Chiefs‘ rookie class in 2021. So don’t mind us if we listen closely once again to a report that applauds them.
The latest such praise comes from NFL analysts Nick Shook and Gennaro Felice who worked together on an in-depth look at every single pick from the 2021 NFL Draft. One year later, they ranked every single draft class overall following their first full year in the league and came away with rankings.
Only one team got a “A” grade and that belongs to the Chiefs, who sit at No. 1 overall in the league’s ratings. That’s because the Chiefs hit home runs on four of their overall draft assets.
The Kansas City Chiefs draft class from the 2021 NFL Draft was rated as the league’s best overall at NFL.com.
- First, the Chiefs used their late first-round pick to fill the left tackle position with Orlando Brown Jr. in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens. Brown went to the Pro Bowl in his first season with the team and will soon receive a long-term extension to keep him around for years to come.
- The Chiefs used a second-round pick and their first actual selection last spring on linebacker Nick Bolton who led the league in tackles for loss despite playing less reps than he should have.
- The Chiefs had two second-round picks in this draft thanks to the aforementioned trade and grabbed a future All-Pro center in Creed Humphrey out of Oklahoma.
- Speaking of offensive line help, in the sixth round, the Chiefs finally pulled the trigger on Trey Smith out of Tennessee, a mauler of a guard who had slipped off some draft boards entirely due to lingering medical concerns.
For a team to come away with two or even three new starting players is a major win in a draft class after a single season. For a team who has made successive Super Bowl appearances to do the same is outrageous. Whether via trade or using the actual pick, Brett Veach nailed his last draft and there are reasons to believe that others like Noah Gray could add some further value from this rookie class—let alone what Josh Kaindoh turns into at the edge position.
That makes Chiefs fans feel pretty good about what they might add with another full arsenal of picks this spring.