The 2023 NFL season is just weeks away and training camps start next week for many teams. With the season so close, let’s look at the Chiefs Rookies who could make an impact this upcoming season. The first three listed are expected to make the most impact and see the field this season. The other four Chiefs Rookies will have to fight for playing time and the best time for them to get their names out there will be training camp and preseason.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE
Kansas State | Round 1, Pick 31
6-4 255 lbs
The Chiefs need a second Frank Clark to finish out their defensive line. During the draft, they picked up Uzomah who was very productive as a Big 12 lineman. He was ranked among the top 15 in the Big 12 and is great at stopping the run. Uzomah needs to step up his game at getting to the quarterback which Clark can help him with this season. He will play on the other side than Clark and learn from some of the greatest defensive linemen in the league today.
Uzomah should have at least 40 tackles, seven sacks, and one fumble this season. His production won’t improve much from college until he steps his game up and learns how to play defensive linemen in the NFL.
Rashee Rice, WR
Former SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice (11) – Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer
SMU | Round 2, Pick 55
6-2 203 lbs
Rashee Rice will have to fill the shoes of Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman. He has some big shoes to fill which will be hard for Rice and the way he plays. Rice lacks some fundamentals that an NFL wide receiver needs. This Chiefs Rookie won’t be great for a couple of years, but he can grow this first year and learn from other wide receivers and Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes will be a great role model for what he sees in an NFL wide receiver and help him build his skills that way.
Rice had a great college career, and his stats should transfer over pretty well. He will have roughly 600 yards, six touchdowns, and 7o yards a game.
Wanya Morris, OT
Former Oklahoma OT Wanya Morris (64) – Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman
Oklahoma | Round 3, Pick 92
6-5 313 lbs
The third-round pick for the Chiefs was an offensive tackle. He was inconsistent in college, but the Chiefs line coach has a great reputation for building linemen just like Morris. Morris has great size and some decent speed. All of this just has to be developed and used right by Morris so that he can see more production on the field. Blocking is big at his position, so he will have to learn to do it against bigger, stronger, defensive linemen. He may have played for a Big 12 program but that won’t be enough for him to just jump into the league and start making stops on every down.
Chamarri Conner, CB
Virginia Tech | Round 4, Pick 119
6-0 206 lbs
BJ Thompson, EDGE
SFA | Round 5, Pick 166
6-6 240 lbs
Keondre Coburn, DT
Texas | Round 6, Pick 194
6-2 332 lbs
Nic Jones, CB
Ball State | Round 7, Pick 250
6-0 189 lbs
