2023 NFL Combine: KC Chiefs meet with Isaiah Foskey

The Chiefs have spent some time with Isaiah Foskey, the all-time sack leader from Notre Dame.

While it might seem to be an obvious need to everyone, fans of the Kansas City Chiefs will be glad to see their favorite team putting in the work at the 2023 NFL Combine with some of the best edge defenders available in this year’s crop of prospects for the NFL’s first-year player draft.

The Chiefs are in the midst of a multi-year rebuild of their defensive front, one that began in earnest last year with a first-round investment in George Karlaftis out of Purdue. This year, they might add another cornerstone pass rusher out of the Midwest given their interest in Isaiah Foskey, the all-time leading sack artist in Notre Dame history.

If that sounds like a significant achievement, it is. Foskey has been a pass-rushing marvel for the Fighting Irish for the last few years. He had 11 sacks in each of the last two years and set the career record against Boston College late this past season before extending it to 26.5 total with 1.5 sacks in his final game against USC.

Foskey’s Combine results should have helped him with a 4.41 second time in the shuttle and a 4.58 second time in the 40-yard dash, both of which ranked him among the better prospects at his position.

At this point, Foskey does face questions about his ability to step right in and be a cornerstone defensive end for a team like the Chiefs. Pro-level tackles are going to fare much better against his skill set than the variety of competitors on Notre Dame’s independent schedule, but that’s true of any pass rusher. Scouting concerns about his hand work in blocks, greater variety of moves, and a stronger build will all come in time when working with an NFL staff over the course of his first year.

Together with Karlaftis, Foskey could be a very nice addition for the Chiefs to work alongside a likely extended Chris Jones. Together with a returning Mike Danna