The Chiefs made a move to fortify their defense in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday evening.
They selected Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah with the No. 31 overall pick, the final one of the first round. Anudike-Uzomah was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, when he had 8.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in both 2021 and 2022.
Anudike-Uzomah’s main strength is his pass rushing and motor, according to scouting reports, while he’s less effective against the run.
The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs ranked second in the NFL with 55 sacks in the 2022 regular season, and their 24.9% pressure rate on opposing quarterbacks ranked fifth in the league.
The NFL Draft continues in Kansas City on Friday evening, when the second and third rounds will be conducted. The Chiefs hold the No. 63 pick in the second round and the No. 95 pick in the third round.