5 draft picks the Kansas City Chiefs gave up on too soon

Rakeem Nunez-Roches

Back in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Chiefs took a chance on a defensive lineman with plus size and strength out of Southern Miss named Rakeem Nunez-Roches. Even during his short stint with the Chiefs, he was a positive asset as a longshot of a player who not only made the active roster in his first season but became a rotational player along the defensive line through his first three years in the league.

After Brett Veach took over, the Chiefs decided to release Nunez-Roches following the 2018 NFL Draft (and the selection of Derrick Nnadi among others). The Indianapolis Colts picked him up only to release him before active rosters were due that fall. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers grabbed him after a month sitting at home and he's never lacked for work ever since.

In this instance, the Chiefs weren't the only team that gave up a bit early here, but Nunez-Roches has turned into a very good run-stuffer who is now entering his 10th season in the league. After winning a Super Bowl with the Bucs, he scored a sizeable multi-year deal in free agency with the New York Giants before the 2023 NFL season.

Given that the Chiefs are playing a game of carousel at the position every spring with Keondre Coburn, Neil Farrell, Mike Pennell, Matt Dickerson, Danny Shelton, Brandon Williams, Braxton Hoyett and more, the long-term presence of Nunez-Roches would have been nice to have.