The Chiefs receive good and bad grades for 2023 draft class from national NFL writers

We won’t know for years how the Chiefs made out in the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, but there are plenty of writers across the country who shared their initial thoughts on the picks.

For starters, The Star’s Jesse Newell took a deep dive on the draft class and it’s worth a read.

National writers didn’t come anywhere close to a unanimous decision on the Chiefs’ 2023 draft picks. The grades ranged from an A to a D. Here is what was being said.

The Chiefs received a B-plus grade from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter. He gave the Chiefs an A for their first-day pick, an A-minus for the choices on the second day and a B grade for the final four rounds.

This is a snippet from Reuter’s story: “(Edge rusher Felix) Anudike-Uzomah has the potential to be a good pass rusher, but the Chiefs might have found better value in other prospects. (Receiver Rashee) Rice could be a real steal as an immediate contributor in the short and intermediate passing games, joining Kadarius Toney, for whom they traded a third-rounder last fall. (Offensive tackle Wanya) Morris will at least be a valuable swing tackle for the next few years.”

The Chiefs got a C from Fox Sports’ Ben Arthur.

Here is part of what he wrote: “Rashee Rice seems like a reach in the second round, but it’s important for Kansas City to address the receiver position as long as Patrick Mahomes is around.”

A B-minus was the grade from Pro Football Focus.

This is an excerpt from that story: “Anudike-Uzomah produced PFF grades of 74.0 or better in each of the past two seasons and is one of the best edge benders in this draft class. He was one of the most successful players in college football at converting pressures into sacks, with 21 of his 89 pressures over the past two seasons resulting in a sack.”

The Chiefs got a C from The Ringer’s Danny Kelly.

Here is a snippet from Kelly’s story: “Anudike-Uzomah should see snaps early in his career and contribute against both the run and pass. But the Chiefs’ decision to pick receiver Rashee Rice in the second round was a head-scratcher for me with so many of my higher-rated receivers still on the board. He’ll have to improve his consistency and develop as a more nuanced route runner if he hopes to stand out among a crowded Kansas City receivers group that already features Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Justin Watson, Richie James, and Justyn Ross. Oklahoma tackle Wanya Morris is a solid pick and he should compete right away for snaps at right tackle. Overall, I wasn’t particularly moved by this class for the defending champs.”

A C-minus grade was given by CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco, who called Anudike-Uzomah the Chiefs’ worst pick.

This is an excerpt from Prisco’s story: “It’s hard to doubt this organization, but I didn’t love this draft. I think they left meat on the bone. I think there were better options when they picked the positions they did. After what they did in last year’s draft, pinging them is tough. This wasn’t a wow draft, yet with Patrick Mahomes they don’t really need those anymore.”

The Chiefs were given an A by the Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer.

Here is part of what he wrote: “The Chiefs, like they always do with Brett Veach, had a good understanding of needs and where to replenish their roster with their kinds of offensive and defensive players for Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo. ... Doubling up on pass rushers, adding tackle depth and also considering secondary versatility also was all welcome to Spags after the team cut Frank Clark. It’s another strong rookie class for the Chiefs, much like the one that helped them win Super Bowl 57.”

The Chiefs got a B-plus from the USA Today’s Nate Davis, who ranked their draft class as the ninth best in the NFL.

Here is a passage from Davis’ story: “We’re at a point where it’s hard to doubt much GM Brett Veach and HC Andy Reid do. First-round DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, second-round WR Rashee Rice and third-round RT Wanya Morris all seemed to arrive at the intersection of need and value.”

A B was the grade from Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame.

This is an excerpt from his story: “The Chiefs had three clear needs entering their hometown draft and addressed each over the first two days. Anudike-Uzomah was productive at Kansas State, notching 19.5 sacks over the past two years. He’ll form a nice edge-rushing trio with George Karlaftis and Charles Omenihu. Rice might have been drafted a bit early, but his size and physicality are pluses, along with a diverse skillset. Kansas City also appeared to have an excellent third day ...”

The Chiefs got a D from the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy.

Here is what Dunleavy wrote: “The same strategy as last year: Pass-rusher at the bottom of the first round (George Karlaftis). Rice’s 41-inch vertical leap will make Patrick Mahomes’ jump balls fun. Morris is just the latest example that the Chiefs care very little about character red flags.”

A C-plus was the grade from the Associated Press’ Rob Maaddi.

He wrote: “Reached for DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah at No. 31. WR Rashee Rice and OT Wanya Morris in Day 2 fill holes.”

The Chiefs received a B from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.

This is a snippet from Kiper’s story: “If Rice comes in as a rookie and climbs the depth chart, this class could be tremendous. For now, because it’s so thin and because there were a couple of reaches, I’ll put it in the middle tier of teams.”

The Chiefs got a B for drafting Anudike-Uzomah in the first round from Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald.

Here is part of what McDonald wrote: “The Chiefs are going to need to be patient with Anudike-Uzomah, but he has the upside to turn into the impact edge rusher they want. Anudike-Uzomah is a better fit for an NFL defense than the part-time interior role he played at Kansas State.”

The Anudike-Uzomah selection also got the Chiefs a B grade from the Athletic’s Scott Dochterman.

This is an excerpt from Dochterman’s story: “PFF records Anudike-Uzomah (6-3 1/8, 255) lining up outside the tackle for 859 snaps the last two years, he also played over the tackle and in the B gap last fall. In those two seasons, Anudike-Uzomah recorded (19.5) sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss and 54 hurries. It’s not even necessary for Anudike-Uzomah to start, but he’ll fit in well as a situational pass rusher.”

The Chiefs’ draft was ranked 27th in the NFL by the Athletic’s Dane Brugler.

Here is a snippet from Brugler’s story: “The Chiefs have an impressive recent track record of hitting on Day 3 cornerbacks, like L’Jarius Sneed, Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson. And (Ball State cornerback Nic) Jones could be next in line. Still a young player, the Detroit native isn’t an elite size/speed athlete, but he uses his long arms to be disruptive at the catch point and stays controlled in his coverage movements. He has yet to play his best football.”