The Kansas City Chiefs have caused excitement with their picks at the NFL Draft – at least within their own ranks.
Superstar tight end Travis Kelce was enthusiastic about the new additions, especially the early defensive picks, on the “New Heights” podcast. With cornerback Mansoor Delane, defensive tackle Peter Woods and edge rusher R Mason Thomas, the Chiefs have scored three times in the top 40 and thus specifically strengthened their defense.
“We’re a championship team and we just had a bit of a down year, but now we’re getting back on the attack,” Kelce said. Unlike classic top 10 teams, which are often in transition, Kansas City already has a strong structure.
Kelce was particularly impressed by pass rusher Thomas: “A freak when it comes to athleticism and explosiveness.” This is exactly where the tight end recently saw potential for improvement.
Despite stars like Chris Jones and George Karlaftis, the Chiefs have at times lacked consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback in recent years. According to Kelce, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo should “have fun” integrating the newcomer into the system, whom Kelce describes as a “game changer for our defense.”
The Chiefs even traded up to position six in the draft for Delane. Given the departures in the secondary, including Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Los Angeles Rams, that was also necessary.
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Despite having a deep tight end class, Kansas City chose not to draft a potential successor to Kelce. The receiver position was also added late (fifth round).
After a disappointing season for quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ team, the Chiefs are now relying primarily on a more stable defense and an improved running game in order to attack at the top again.
