Kansas City Chiefs 2022 NFL Draft Grades: Excellent Infusion Of Youth
By Hunter Haas
Draft Picks:
1:21 – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington (A)
1:30 – George Karlaftis, DL, Purdue (A)
2:54 – Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan (A+)
2:62 – Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati (B)
3:103 – Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin (A+)
4:135 – Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville St. (A)
5:145 – Darian Kinnard, OL, Kentucky (B+)
7:243 – Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington St. (A)
7:251 – Isaih Pachecho, RB, Rutgers (B)
7:259 – Nazeeh Johnson, S, Marshall (B)
Favorite Pick: Skyy Moore/Leo Chenal
I am cheating here because I refuse to pick just one. Skyy Moore was a top-20 player on my Big Board, and Leo Chenal also clocked in at No. 28 overall. I will never understand how 31 other teams allowed the Kansas City Chiefs to land both guys outside of the top-50 picks of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Moore is a deceptively quick wide receiver, one who thrives with the ball in his hands. He creates space consistently and comes out of his routes as crisp as anyone in this class. Moore also possesses some of the best hands of any prospect. I would not have batted an eye if the Chiefs chose him with either of their first-round picks. To get him at pick 54 is theft.
Speaking of theft, how about the highway robbery that occurred at pick 103? Leo Chenal had the best tape of any linebacker that I evaluated this year. He is a thumper in the run game and, like Moore, is a sneaky athlete.
Chenal tested out of this world at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, proving that his success in college was not merely a product of the competition he faced. Kansas City stole Nick Bolton last year, and now they do the same with the former Wisconsin Badger. Chenal is a starter in this league. And has potential to be a high-end one, at that.
Least Favorite Pick: Bryan Cook
It is hard for me to poke holes in seventh-round picks, so that leaves Bryan Cook as my lowest graded individual for this draft haul. I like Cook as a player, and he certainly fills a need, but there were a number of secondary players still available that I would have taken before him.
Nonetheless, Cook should be able to serve as a rotational member of the secondary, and provide insurance in the event of an injury to either of their starters. Chris Simms had Cook firmly in his top five for the position, so there’s a real chance I’m being too harsh. With a draft class as stacked as this one though, Cook stood out as my least favorite.
Late Round Sleeper: Jaylen Watson
I was as high on Jaylen Watson entering the 2022 NFL Draft as anyone out there. He earned a fringe day-two grade from me, coming in at No. 113 overall on my Big Board. Brett Veach added Watson with the 243rd selection.
The Kansas City Chiefs have an incredible track record of churning out starting caliber players in the secondary with later round picks, and I expect the former Washington State Cougar to be the next in line. He is uber-athletic and shows high-end starting traits at cornerback. He needs to be developed to reach full potential, but as stated before, there are few franchises better suited to make that come to fruition. Joshua Williams is a guy I considered here, but due to sheer value, Watson gets the edge. I’d keep a close eye on both guys heading into offseason workouts.