Scouting edge rushers for the Chiefs in the 2023 NFL Draft
By Grant Tuttle
The Chiefs invested one of their first-round picks last year in the EDGE position and signed Charles Omenihu. Could they add another? We discuss their options.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been investing in the EDGE position. After drafting George Karlaftis a year ago and signing Charles Omenihu this offseason, it is not an obvious area of concern. With that in mind, the Chiefs could certainly be interested in adding more young pieces for depth and as rotational pieces. A team can never have too many talented pass-rushers in today’s NFL.
So, who’s available? We have compiled a list of potential fits for every round of this year’s draft. Without further ado, we start with their round-one option.
Round 1: Keion White, Georgia Tech
Keion White is a young, extremely athletic, and long defensive end prospect. While he is pretty raw and inexperienced, his blend of size and athleticism is difficult to find. With a good first step and powerful hands, White is a difficult task for many offensive tackles. While his technique needs some refining and development, the potential is obvious.
White has been a divisive player in the predraft process. For the Chiefs, grabbing White in the first round would certainly be a gamble, but it could be one that paid off in a big way for their young defense. White could be rotated in on obvious passing downs and Charles Omenihu could be kicked inside to defensive tackle.
Round 2: Colby Wooden, Auburn
The Chiefs could use a Frank Clark replacement. Colby Wooden projects more as a rotational piece that could play early downs at EDGE and kick inside to defensive tackle when needed. He would make for an interesting piece of the equation on the Kansas City front that would complement the play style of George Karlaftis. Additionally, he would be a great fit for what Steve Spagnuolo prefers in his defensive front.
Wooden has a really strong lower half that makes him difficult to move in the rushing game. Further, he has flashed some capability in his pass-rushing ability. He lacks true consistency in his technique and could look really good with a few years of NFL experience and coaching. While he is not as athletic as Frank Clark, he could take over his role in short order. It would not be surprising if the Chiefs were very intrigued by what Wooden could bring to their defense.