Grading the KC Chiefs position groups before the 2023 NFL Draft
By jjohnson10
With the 2023 NFL draft only hours away here in Kansas City, the Chiefs are set to welcome the newest faces of the franchise. Home-field advantage on draft night is a real thing, right?
As we inch closer to April 27th, mock draft season is in full effect as both analysts and fans have been churning out ideas for who the Chiefs should select with their ten picks. The Chiefs have gained and lost some key pieces this offseason, and some holes remain on the roster that needs filling before the Chiefs set out on yet another race to the Lombardi.
Let’s take a look at every position group as it currently stands before Brett Veach and company infuse it with a new batch of young talent.
Quarterbacks: A+
You knew this was coming. Any quarterback room with Patrick Mahomes at the helm is automatically the best in the league. Mahomes’ trophy case keeps getting more crowded with each passing season and at only 27 he finds himself in the middle of his prime. After winning his second Super Bowl with only one ankle, Mahomes continues to do the impossible regardless of the obstacles he faces.
Though Mahomes’ resiliency and competitiveness decrease the likelihood of a backup quarterback seeing much action, there have still been several circumstances over the years in which Mahomes couldn’t remain on the field due to injury, and last year was no different. The retirement of Chad Henne this offseason left a vacancy at the backup position, though the Chiefs found a viable veteran in Blaine Gabbert to attend to this need. Gabbert is entering his twelfth NFL season, making him a perfect fit for the backup role due to his plethora of experience.
This leaves only two additional quarterbacks on the KC roster: Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun. These current options present some fine developmental pieces as well as some practice squad depth. The signing of an experienced veteran to shore up the backup role behind Mahomes was the only move the Chiefs needed to make for this position group, and the front office already took care of business before the draft. Well done, Veach.