8 late-season storylines that will shape the Chiefs' future

B.J. Thompson to at least play a few snaps

Speaking of the pass rush, while Felix Anudike-Uzomah is inexperienced at this stage, at least he's got some idea of what it's like to play at the NFL level. However, another interesting piece that the Chiefs will sort out at some point remains a complete mystery to anyone outside of Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs selected B.J. Thompson out of Stephen F. Austin in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft as a known project who would need considerable time at the pro level to find his footing. While he was quite productive at a small school, the truth is that Thompson required time to hone his technique and bulk up in a team's strength and conditioning program before becoming effective at the next level.

Thompson was a freak athlete who showed what he could do at the East-West Shrine Game a year ago with 1.5 sacks after hearing doubts about the level of competition at the FCS level. Can he maintain the same elite athletic qualities if he puts on more weight? Can he develop the mental side of his game enough to impact a team like the Chiefs?

It's possible the Chiefs drafted the next Joshua Kaindoh here, but it's also possible he turns a corner into a real threat as a situational pass rusher (a la Omenihu). It's also possible he becomes a middling sort like Tanoh Kpassagnon, but such players can prove useful on deeper rosters all the same. But it takes experience to find that out and, right now, we have no idea what Thompson even looks like on the field.