Roundtable: Felix Anudike-Uzomah Gives Chiefs Instant Impact

The Arrowhead Report crew reacts to the Chiefs drafting Felix Anudike-Uzomah in the first round.

The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Kansas City Chiefs' patience ultimately led to them closing the night out in a way that couldn't have been drawn up much better from an intrigue standpoint. Kansas State edge-rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah is the newest member of the organization, as the Kansas City native joins the team he's rooted for since he was a child. 

With the opening round of the draft now in the rearview mirror, what are the Chiefs getting in Anudike-Uzomah? How successful of a Day 1 was this for Kansas City? How is the defensive end rotation going to be impacted now? Some of the Arrowhead Report crew gathered to give their thoughts on the pick the morning after.

Joshua Brisco: My inclination on Thursday morning was that the Chiefs would ultimately covet an EDGE in the first round, with slightly deeper groups already on the roster at wide receiver and offensive tackle and more suitable Day 2 investment options at WR and OT. 

Despite a run of defensive line targets going shortly before their pick at No. 31 (and even as Andy Reid said the Chiefs had offers to trade out of the final pick of the first round), Anudike-Uzomah fills an immediate need and bolsters a defensive end group that now looks just about full, as Anudike-Uzomah joins George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu and Mike Danna for a young but fascinating top-four rotation in 2023 and beyond.

Mark Van Sickle: Felix Anudike-Uzomah is a high-motor pass rusher who may be able to step in and start at defensive end from day one for the Kansas City Chiefs. He’ll need to develop better fundamentals in his run defense but the upside is there for him to make an immediate impact. He was the best pass rusher left on the board and the Chiefs are taking a chance on a local kid who grew up loving this organization. Now he hopes to give back to his hometown team and help them get reach another Super Bowl. Look for the Chiefs to take a wide receiver on Day 2.  

Jordan Foote: There were still quite a few defensive end options left on the board when the Chiefs' pick rolled around, with most of them — Anudike-Uzomah included — projecting more as early Day 2 picks. With that said, the 31st overall selection doesn't always equate to true first-round value. Despite some of Twitter's gripes in the aftermath of the pick, the value is mostly appropriate.

Anudike-Uzomah is a quality athlete and someone who serves a bit of an off-speed pitch in regard to style, especially compared to the type of ship Steve Spagnuolo runs in Kansas City. The team wouldn't take him if it didn't think he could hold his own in run defense, making those concerns perhaps a bit overblown. The former Wildcat has an interesting profile as a pass rusher, too, and should see the field plenty as a rookie and complete a solid trio with George Karlaftis and Charles Omenihu.

Read More: Chiefs 2023 NFL Draft Tracker