Chiefs’ 2023 draft mistakes are now costing them more than ever

Hope springs eternal on the practice fields of St. Joseph, Missouri. Every year, Chiefs fans get excited about the chances of their newly drafted rookie class making an instant impact on the team. A few months ago, it felt like Brashard Smith was the future of the Chiefs' running back position, Jeff Bassa could bring a whole new element to the dime defense, and Jalen Royals was going to replace Rashee Rice during his suspension. The reality is, right now, those guys can barely get on the field.

Of course, no draft class can be judged three games into their career, but after two years, it gets much easier. The Chiefs are on the verge of falling to 1-3 with a very talented Ravens team looking to prevent the same outcome. More notably, the Chiefs will be taking the field without all but one member of the 2023 draft class playing a single snap on offense or defense for the entire season.

Great teams draft ahead of their needs, and the 2025 Chiefs could’ve certainly used another pass rusher, a game-changing wide receiver, a right tackle, and a run-stuffing nose tackle.

Let's review where things went wrong (and rarely right) in a draft haul that is stifling the Chiefs in '25.

Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DL

The most high-profile of all the picks in 2023 has been one of the bigger misses in recent memory for Veach. Obviously, the team cannot predict injuries, but his development has never really reached its potential. Three sacks from a first-round edge player are certainly not what the Chiefs had in mind in 2023. Missing on Anudike-Uzomah has led the Chiefs back to players like Mike Danna, Charles Omenihu, and Ashton Gillotte. There’s always going to be a need for defensive line help in the league, but don’t be surprised if the Chiefs are drafting an edge rusher high again in the 2026 draft to continue to overcome the lack of production from FAU.

Rashee Rice, WR

Certainly one of the best draft picks recently from Brett Veach has been Rice—not only identifying his talent in the middle of the second round but also his development as a player. Rice came in as an outside contested-catch threat who compared himself to DeAndre Hopkins, and instead, the Chiefs recognized his ability after the catch and turned him into a Puka Nacua or Amon-Ra St. Brown type of player.

However, you can’t ignore the fact that Rice has only played 20 games in three years for the team and is set to miss three more. Again, the team cannot predict injuries, but the off-the-field concerns were real. Numerous reports had Rashee Rice off several teams’ draft boards due to character concerns, and those concerns have been validated. The Chiefs’ offense has looked lethargic without Rice, and now, staring down the barrel of a 1-3 start, the Chiefs are still without their best skill player because they took a character risk.

Wanya Morris, OT

Using a third-round pick on a swing tackle isn’t really a poor use of a late third-round pick. However, the fact that he’s a part of the countless picks and cap space the Chiefs have used to try to solve tackle is. Morris has been plugged into the lineup twice, and both times he’s failed to keep the job. The Chiefs have drafted over him twice in Suamataia and Simmons, and they signed Jaylon Moore, too. It’s very clear that Morris is not plan A, plan B, or even plan C at tackle now. Drafting a starting tackle in the third round is pretty rare, but you’d like to think he could be the first man off the bench, and that’s no longer the case.

Chamarri Conner, DB

Despite some of his struggles in coverage, Conner has been the other bright spot for this draft class. A three-year contributor on defense and in special teams, he’s been a big part of a youthful secondary that continues to be a success in Kansas City. He’s shown that he struggles as a slot corner, but he’s been much more valuable as a safety or as a versatile chess piece that can move around in coverage. While he is frustrating in the slot, it’s not his fault he’s being asked to do something he can’t do well. Hopefully, the health of Kristian Fulton and the growth of Nohl Williams will help the Conner pick look even better.

BJ Thompson, DE

Thompson has only played in one game in Kansas City before being recently released due to a medical issue. Thompson was always a project with traits in the draft, and the track record for day-three edge rushers certainly isn’t strong. However, his profile never really matched that of a Steve Spagnuolo edge rusher. Getting nothing out of him as a pick again shows why edge rusher is a continued need for the team. His medical scare certainly altered his career path in Kansas City, but there was nothing in his time when healthy that said he was pushing to play.

Keondre Coburn, DT

The Chiefs have struggled to find a pure nose tackle who can stop the run. They continue to go back to the well of aging veterans such as Mike Pennel and Derrick Nnadi, and eventually drafted Omarr Norman-Lott. Coburn didn’t even make the Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster, and the Chiefs traded a pick for Neil Farrell Jr. the same year. Not only was drafting Coburn a mistake for this roster, but it appears he’s just not much of an NFL talent, as he has bounced from roster to roster and is currently a free agent.

Nic Jones, CB

Jones lasted on the roster for two years before being waived and is now on the Giants roster. His specialty is as a slot cornerback, something the Chiefs could’ve desperately used last year with Chamarri Conner’s struggles. It’s hard to get upset about a seventh-round pick not amounting to much, but that combined with the rest of the class’s struggles makes it harder to swallow.

Overall, general managers are going to have drafts such as this, especially when you’re selecting at 32 regularly. While it is certainly understandable how the 2023 class ended up the way it currently looks, it doesn’t make it easier to construct the roster today. Fortunately, the Chiefs’ last two drafts look much more promising.