Season Outlook for the Chiefs 2022 Rookies

By Graham Hoffman

Kansas City has found tremendous amounts of success in the draft over the last few years. 2020’s class was headlined by Willie Gay and Lajerius Sneed and the Cheifs secured the best draft class in the NFL in 2021 despite not having a first-round pick. After trading away Tyreek Hill this offseason the Chiefs went into the 2022 draft with 10 draft picks including four picks in the first two rounds. Here is a quick rundown on all of their selections.

Round 1, No. 21: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

After losing Charvarius Ward and Tyran Mathew in free agency the Chiefs' already weak secondary regressed. Picking a cornerback at this spot seemed like a given and the Chiefs selected the right one. Although McDuffie doesn’t fit the mold with past Chiefs’ corners being only average in size, his skill and intelligence should translate to NFL football immediately. He plays with the same confidence and aggression that oozes from Kansas City’s defense so he should fit in well despite being primarily a zone corner in a man-heavy defensive scheme. McDuffie’s best attribute is probably his natural awareness whether blowing up the run or taking the perfect angle to break up a pass he seems to always be in the right place at the right time. Some still question how he will hold up against size being only 5’11” himself. McDuffie is almost a lock to start week one and he has the skill set to make a significant impact for the Chiefs defense this coming season and become a franchise player in the years following.

Round 1, No. 30: George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue

Spending both their first-round picks on defensive assets seemed like the right course of action adding support to the weaker side of the ball last season. The Chiefs pass rush was in need of overhaul last season and Karlaftis seems like he’s put in the perfect position to help immediately. A pure athlete who played goalie for the Greek under-16 national water polo team as only a 13-year-old, he didn’t know what football was until later that year when he moved to the United States. Despite his late start in the game his elite combination of speed, size, and work ethic made him a first-round pick. Karlaftis’s size and speed could end up drawing double teams on the edge, opening the door for Chris Jones and Frank Clark to wreak havoc elsewhere. Due to the lack of depth at this position, Karlaftis will likely get a large amount of playing time this season but if his skills are refined enough to make a significant impact in the NFL is still up in the air.

Round 2, No. 54: Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan

Skyy Moore has the potential to be the best pick of the draft. When the Chiefs moved up to the 21st pick in the draft people thought it was a possibility it was for Moore. Instead, he dropped another 33 picks going to Kansas City in the second round. His elite route running, hands, and quick 4.41 pace overshadows him being only 5’9”. Chiefs fans will obviously be hunting for a Tyreek Hill replacement and while he will have plenty of opportunities on the field this season let's keep our expectations reasonable. He joins a loaded Chiefs offense and will probably be the third option behind Travis Kelce and Juju Smith-Schuster. Having these other threats around him and of course having Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback means he should put together a very productive season, possibly a sleeper for OROY. Given a few years, Moore has real superstar potential if he meshes right with the rest of the offense.

Round 2, No. 62: Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati

It is a very real possibility that the Chiefs will have three rookies starting on defense come week one. Again depth at the DB for the Chiefs was a problem and after the top two players at the position (Juan Thornhill and Justin Reid) it doesn’t seem like anybody else will give Cook a run for his money securing the last starting job in the secondary. Cook has good versatility, a safety with strength and size, he is willing and happy to stick his nose in the run game. He is good in over-the-top coverage, has good route anticipation, and generally sees the field well. He also can match up against tight ends and has a background as a corner allowing him to play in one-on-one coverage if he had to. There are still questions about his speed and sometimes he can be too aggressive giving up big plays. If Cook is healthy he will most likely be on the field for a considerable amount of time. It is hard to foresee him being much more than a plus starter in his rookie campaign but could definitely be a force in at least the run game for this Chiefs defense.

Round 3, No. 103: Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin

Leo Chenal is stuck behind two very promising young linebackers taken in the past two drafts (Nick Bolton and Willie Gay) along with a veteran free agent the Chiefs secured in the offseason (Jermaine Carter). Leo is stuck deep in a strong depth chart and probably won’t break into a starting job without someone in front of him getting injured. Chanal is a very good build with pound-for-pound muscle almost unmatched. However, his finer skill set, specifically his pass coverage and lack of his elite speed will likely keep him on special team duties for a season. Chenal has the potential to develop into a starting linebacker but we probably won’t see that in his first season.

Day 3 Picks:

Round 4, No. 135: Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State

He has great size and solid speed which makes him an intriguing prospect. However, coming from a Division II school he will need time to develop but should be a solid backup with the possibility of growing into a starter in the future.

Round 5, No. 145: Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky

Interestingly enough this could be the Chiefs starting right tackle. There are no obvious candidates for the position ahead of him. Last season the Chiefs started rookie 6th round pick, Trey Smith, at OG who had great success throughout the season.

Round 7, No. 243: Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State

Kansas City really thought depth at Corner was a problem. His physicality could make him a valuable asset on special teams but the chances of him seeing the field as a corner are very low.

Round 7, No. 251: Isiah Pacheco, RB, Rutgers

Dependable and consistent for four years in college but sometimes lacks patience in the backfield. Pacheco will have to fight to make it through roster cuts but could play special teams.

Round 7, No. 259: Nazeeh Johnson, S, Marshal

Yet another secondary player drafted by the Chiefs. He will probably be in a similar situation as Jaylen Watson most likely working in the special teams.