Scouting edge rushers for the Chiefs in the 2023 NFL Draft

Round 5: Robert Beal Jr., Georgia

The Chiefs are always looking to dial up interesting coverages and blitzes. In round 5, Robert Beal Jr. is an intriguing Swiss army knife addition. While he would be best suited for a base 3-4 defense, he has a very solid tackling ability with surprising playing speed. If the Chiefs wanted to drop Beal back into the linebacking corps, it could make some sense.

While his play was overshadowed by some of the tremendous stars that played at Georgia, Beal plays downhill and is not afraid to showcase his physicality. While the Chiefs could only use him in sub packages at EDGE, he could be an interesting piece for a developmental SAM linebacker.

Round 6: Yaya Diaby, Louisville

Yaya Diaby turned some heads this offseason with his performance in his athletic testing. While you can see flashes of it on tape, what sticks out most is Diaby’s powerful hands. He consistently showcases a playing strength that is surprising considering his smaller frame.

It would not be surprising if Diaby went before the 6th round due to the potential he has. With tremendous athletic testing and power, he is the type of player that will make general managers think that they need to take a second look. For the Chiefs, that upside would certainly be worth a 6th round pick if he falls there.

Round 7: Lonnie Phelps, Kansas

While the Kansas defense as a whole was not very good, there were a few parts of it that flashed talent. Perhaps the best player on that defense was Lonnie Phelps. Phelps led the charge and seemed to be the leader with a natural pass-rushing ability. With that in mind, there were games where Phelps would look completely overpowered. With a smaller frame, it seems unlikely that Phelps will ever be an NFL starter. That, however, does not make him an undraftable player in the 7th.