By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted four defensive players on the final day of the 2023 NFL Draft Saturday.
The Chiefs started the day off by trading up with the Minnesota Vikings to draft defensive back Chamarri Conner from Virginia Tech.
Conner amassed 314 tackles over the course of his career with the Hokies. The defensive back also logged 21 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, four interceptions and 19 passes broken up. He forced four fumbles in the process, serving as a legitimate factor in the Virginia Tech secondary.
"It’s a great team, great program, great NFL club," Conner said. "You know, the Chiefs, man, (have been) part of the last couple Super Bowl champions. They’re a great team. I’m ready to get started and join those guys."
In the fifth round, the Chiefs drafted defensive end and edge rusher B.J. Thompson from Stephen F. Austin.
Thompson, at 6-6 and 240 pounds, recorded 25 tackles, 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in the 2022 season.
His profile on NFL.com reads, "He doesn’t have enough strength to set firm edges and is unable to generate speed to power as a rusher. His long strides can be an effective weapon as a rusher and when in pursuit, but he needs to crank up his intensity and get bigger to play in the league."
The Chiefs added more help on the defensive front in the sixth round, selecting defensive tackle Keondre Coburn from Texas at No. 194 overall.
Coburn, a run stuffer at 6-2 and 332 pounds, was named second-team All-Big 12 last season for the Longhorns and projects as a nice nose tackle at the pro level.
"A stout but athletic nose tackle with nimble feet, Coburn can sit down and muddy run lanes or create difficulties for pin-and-pull blocking schemes with his interior agility," said NFL.com. "While he’s not a three-down lineman, he does have the bull rush and activity level to cause issues as a rusher."
The Chiefs added more help to their defensive backfield with their final pick in the draft at No. 250 overall, selecting cornerback Nic Jones out of Ball State.
Jones made the most of his senior season, receiving second-team All-MAC accolades after tying for the team lead with 12 pass breakups, intercepting two passes and posting 23 tackles in 11 games with nine starts.
An overview on NFL.com says, "Jones is a long cornerback with average speed but a natural feel for making plays on the football. He’s more confident and consistent at maintaining his feel for the route from press than from off-man."
The Chiefs drafted seven total players this year, addressing key needs at edge rusher, receiver and offensive line.
Read more on the Chiefs' first round pick here, the second round pick here and the third round pick here.
Chiefs undrafted free agent, minicamp news
- Missouri State wide receiver Ty Scott is signing with the Chiefs, according to NFL Draft Diamonds. Another Missouri State Bear, cornerback Montrae Braswell, is signing with Kansas City as well.
- Purdue cornerback Reese Taylor will sign with the Chiefs as a UDFA, per Tom Dienhart.
- Jerome Carvin, a former Tennessee Volunteers offensive lineman and someone who has experience working with Trey Smith, is signing with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.
- Fresno State wideout Nikko Remigio is signing with the Chiefs.
- Louisiana Tech offensive tackle Josh Mote is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp
- Grand Valley State offensive tackle Quinton Barrow has signed with the Chiefs.
- Guelph Gryphons defensive back Siriman Bagayogo is invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp.
- NC State linebacker Isaiah Moore is signing with the Chiefs.
- Washburn wideout and return man James Letcher, Jr. has earned an invite to Chiefs minicamp.
- Indiana linebacker Cam Jones has signed with the Chiefs.
- Cincinnati offensive lineman Jeremy Cooper has been invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp.
- Tulsa running back Deneric Prince is signing with the Chiefs.
- The Chiefs are signing Texas safety Anthony Cook.
- Marshall safety Isaiah Norman is signing with the Chiefs.
- Appalachian State offensive lineman Anderson Hardy is signing with the Chiefs.
- Toledo tight end Jamal Turner is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp.
- New Hampshire wide receiver Sean Coyne is invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp.
- Southern Utah punter Jake Gerardi has received an invite to Chiefs rookie minicamp.
- Merrimack defensive back Anthony Witherstone is signing with Kansas City.
- Another Merrimack player, tight end Tyler Roberts, is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp.
- Fresno State wideout Zane Pope is invited to the Chiefs' rookie minicamp.
- Harvard defensive lineman Truman Jones is signing with the Chiefs.
- Tyrick James is signing with the Chiefs.
- Kansas State cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe has been invited to Chiefs rookie minicamp.