Nailing picks in the draft is pivotal for teams wanting to be successful in the NFL. Kansas City Chiefs fans know this story all too well, as Brett Veach's draft haul in 2022 helped this team get another Super Bowl victory that season and also played a role in them repeating in 2023.
Unfortunately, the past few years haven't been as promising for the Chiefs draft-wise. For those who might have forgotten, 2025 saw the Chiefs select Josh Simmons, Omarr Norman-Lott, Ashton Gillotte, Nohl Williams, Jalen Royals, Jeffrey Bassa, and Brashard Smith. Some of those names were more exciting than others at the time but, now with a full year under their belts, we know a little more about these guys at the professional level, or at least what K.C. thinks of them.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports recently ranked every team's rookie draft class and gave them an overall grade. The Chiefs' draft class for 2025 ended up 20th on Edwards' list and they received a C+ grade from him.
Edwards also had a segment dedicated to 'Year 1 Hits', which is a way to shout out any drafted rookie that was impressive for their team. The Chiefs did not have anyone fall into this category but Edwards noted that they came close to having one.
"Simmons would have been a 'hit' if he had been healthy and available all season. He missed four games dealing with a private family situation. Running back Brashard Smith flashed in his limited opportunities.
Kansas City is set to lose multiple cornerbacks in free agency, which creates a larger opportunity for Nohl Williams, who was a really promising rookie."
CBS Sports gives Chiefs draft class C+
The good news is that there does appear to be potential with this draft class. As Edwards noted, Simmons was playing well and looked to be a true franchise left tackle for this team but he missed time both with a family matter and an injury. Smith looked like he could be a threat but never seemed to get enough playing time. And, lastly, Williams should hopefully get more of a chance to shine this year.
Sometimes it takes a little longer for a draft class to show its worth and hopefully that's the case here with this bunch. The Chiefs need their draft classes to hit if they want to get back into Super Bowl-contending status again so let's hope this group can figure it out and that Veach can get back into his 2022 form for this year's draft.