NFL Draft Grades: Re-grading the KC Chiefs 2022 draft class
George Karlaftis, Defensive End, Round 1, Pick 30
Out of every edge rusher in the 2022 draft class, only #2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson recorded more pressures, and only Hutchinson and his teammate James Houston had more sacks.
Although the surface-level statistics are excellent, I’m in the camp that believes Karlaftis’ season wasn’t as strong as most believe. First, he had a lot of problems defending the run and had the highest missed tackle % among rookie edge defenders (with at least 200 defensive snaps), per Pro Football Focus ($). In addition, he was very streaky throughout the season and didn’t flash as much as I hoped he would.
With all of that being said, I’m still a huge fan of George Karlaftis and I fully expect him to take the next step forward in year two. His run defense will improve significantly and he will take the next step as a pass rusher.
The Grade in 2022: A-
The 2023 Grade: B
Skyy Moore, Wide Receiver, Round 2, Pick 54
Perhaps the most controversial player on the entire roster last year was rookie receiver Skyy Moore. He muffed three punts, including two that gave the Chiefs’ opponent the ball in the red zone.
In the regular season, he recorded just 22 receptions for 250 yards and no touchdowns. But Moore made up for his quiet regular season with the dividends he paid in the Super Bowl run. Against the Bengals in the AFC Title Game, with under a minute left in the game, Moore returned a Drue Chrisman punt 29 yards to about midfield. That return put Patrick Mahomes and the offense within striking distance of field goal range. Harrison Butker, of course, ended up making the field goal to give them a 23-20 victory. In Super Bowl LVII, Skyy caught a Mahomes pass for a 4-yard touchdown to give the Chiefs a 35-27 lead in the 4th quarter.
Overall, it was a disappointing debut season, but Skyy Moore did have his moments when the lights were shining brightest. When we all look back at this run in a couple of decades, we all need to remember what Moore did for this team in the most crucial moments of the season.
The Grade in 2022: A-
The 2023 Grade: C
Bryan Cook, Safety, Round 2, Pick 62
One of the more “under-the-radar” from the 2022 class is Bryan Cook. When he was originally selected, many fans were intrigued as the Chiefs had just signed Justin Reid and already had Juan Thornhill on the roster. After the team let Juan Thornhill hit free agency, where he ended up signing with Cleveland, it appears that Brett Veach knew from the start that Cook was brought in to be his replacement.
On defense, Bryan Cook was average in 2022. Not great, but also not bad. Special teams is where Cook paid his dividends. He logged the fourth most special teams snaps out of anyone on the team last year. He clearly earned the trust of Dave Toub and there is value in that. Although second-round picks should aim higher than special teams aces, I wouldn’t say that he failed to meet expectations on defense. For the 62nd overall pick in the draft, he had a perfectly fine rookie season.
The Grade in 2022: B
The 2023 Grade: B