Chiefs Bolster Interior Defensive Line Depth With Pick No. 194

Kansas City adds a run-stuffing defensive tackle in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a busy 2023 NFL Draft, moving up and down the board throughout the weekend and selecting plenty of prospects at premium positions. 

After trading up on Day 3 for Chamarri Conner, general manager Brett Veach later went with BJ Thompson at pick No. 166. Once the 178th overall selection rolled around, Kansas City traded down and recouped a 2024 pick. That left just two options left: picks 194 and 250 in respective rounds six and seven.

With the first pick, No. 194, the Chiefs drafted Texas defensive tackle Keondre Coburn.

Keep that Texas talent coming 🤠

With the 194th pick in the #NFLDraft, we have selected DL @KeondreCoburn99! pic.twitter.com/vyBPutiNHZ

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 29, 2023

Coburn, whose nickname is "Snacks," is a nose tackle by trade and amassed 29 tackles (four for loss) with 2.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in his senior campaign with the Longhorns. He built a reputation throughout his college career as a good run-stuffing lineman and was also a participant in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Chiefs area scout Jason Lamb describes Coburn as a high-energy player who is "definitely going to be a valuable piece" in the Chiefs' defensive line room.

Weighing 336 pounds, Coburn is a big-bodied defensive lineman who had a mixed bag of a pre-draft process. He did well at the aforementioned Shrine Bowl, but he didn't test particularly well as far as athleticism is concerned. That came as a minor surprise, as his tape displays a player who should be able to explode off the line of scrimmage and make life difficult for opposing offensive linemen once he improves his hand placement.

The NFL Draft Bible on Sports Illustrated has a brief one-line scouting report on Coburn's profile, although they didn't favor what he brings to the table:

Coburn is a big body up front with bad athleticism and a questionable translation to the next level due to sub-par functional strength and inability to affect the passing game.

Keondre Coburn is a DT prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 5.25 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 772 out of 1623 DT from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/NAtLEuilix pic.twitter.com/9aZfQnZD8F

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 23, 2023

Coburn joins an interior defensive line room that features Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi leading the way on the depth chart. Khalen Saunders signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency, although Tershawn Wharton is recovering from a knee injury and could be a factor in 2023. 

As a late-round pick, Coburn's ability to stop the run and provide a solid anchor while taking up space will help Jones if they ever share the field at the same time. Right now, Coburn is lumped in with players such as Daniel Wise, Phil Hoskins and Byron Cowart as x-factors in the nose tackle and defensive tackle pictures on the 90-man roster.

#Chiefs Keondre Coburn says he's ecstatic to be in Kansas City: "For me to just be in the NFL is a blessing. It's something I've dreamed about since I was a kid....I just want to help the team win..."

Adds it'll be surreal to line up beside Chris Jones pic.twitter.com/HUJVbQb0XA

— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) April 29, 2023

Read More: Chiefs 2023 NFL Draft Tracker