A player's junior season in the National Football League is usually a considerable turning point for a player taking his game to the next level. Felix Anudike-Uzomah is hoping that holds true for him in 2025 with the Kansas City Chiefs.
An NFL player's freshman season is all about adjusting to the professional level after leaving the college ranks. The sophomore year is about letting those instincts come through after realizing the speed of the game and the level of competition. A player like Anudike-Uzomah will often break out in a third professional season with so much experience under his belt.
For the Chiefs, the potential progression of Anudike-Uzomah would be a considerable and important boost to the team's pass rush. Given the struggles against the Philadelphia Eagles in the team's crushing Super Bowl LIX loss, the Chiefs know they have to get more effective results from their defensive front. Seeing FAU take the next step would go a long way toward remedying that concern.
Anudike-Uzomah recently appeared on Up & Adams with host Kay Adams this week and talked abotu the team's failed three-peat attempt among other subjects. When asked about the Chiefs' expectations of him and whether they expect a big leap forward, Anudike-Uzomah acknowledged that he's hoping for the same thing.
FAU sounds ready to go for his junior year in the NFL.
"I feel that way a lot, too, especially like this is like year three," said Anudike-Uzomah. "So even just playing faster and learning the playbook and having what Spagnuolo has to offer just is going to help me just have my step even higher. So I'm ready for that. I'm prepared and I'm excited for what the season has to hold."
Anudike-Uzomah was the Chiefs' first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and played in only 20 percent of snaps in all 17 games during his rookie campaign. For the 2024 season, he earned a bit more playing time with 31 percent and even earned three starts for the Chiefs. He had 2.5 sacks and 10 pressures last year.
Going forward, the Chiefs did bring back Charles Omenihu on a one-year deal. Given the presence of George Karlaftis and Mike Danna as well, Anudike-Uzomah isn't going to be leaned upon to play a starting role. However, the Chiefs would be thrilled if his contributions forced the team to rethink the playing time of other players.
Can Anudike-Uzomah make the leap? The expectations over a first-round pick have already caused some fans to view the choice through a questionable lens. But a big year ahead for FAU would dispel that notion and provide K.C. with a big push up front. It sounds like Anudike-Uzomah is ready for it.
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