Talent, opportunity contributes to success for all members of Chiefs’ 2022 draft class
Backup Chiefs quarterback Chad Henne has seen a lot during his time in the NFL.
Now in his 15th professional season, including stints with the Miami Dolphins (2008-11) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2012-17) before coming to Kansas City in 2018, Henne has seen players come and go.
But this season, with the Chiefs, the veteran signal-caller has observed something not commonly found with NFL organizations.
Every member of the Chiefs’ 2022 NFL Draft class is on the active 53-man roster, and all 10 of those first-year players have contributed to the team’s run to a 14-3 record and the AFC’s No. 1 overall seed in the postseason.
“This is unbelievable and it’s due to our coaches and our system, and how kind of our leadership has evolved here and really brings those young guys along,” Henne said. “Giving them the opportunities, and at the same point, they’re stepping up as well.
“It’s unique, for sure, especially the defensive side of the ball. I mean, we’ve got offensive guys, obviously. Last year, we had Trey (Smith) and Creed (Humphrey) step in and (do a) great job. But this, I think overall as a team, is much bigger.”
Veteran long-snapper James Winchester, who is in his eighth season and is one of the longest-tenured players on the Chiefs’ roster, agreed.
“I would say this is probably the first year that I’ve seen that,” Winchester said. “I think we have a very talented group, and we also have a lot of great kids. I mean, all these guys, they’re coming in and they’re very talented, they’re good guys, great teammates and they’re contributing.
“To have a rookie class do that speaks volumes to those who got them here: (Chiefs general manager) Brett Veach, our coaches and scouts.”
‘BEAUTIFUL TO SEE’
Veach and his personnel staff set about reloading with talent during the 2022 NFL Draft. And they nailed it.
“They did a great job of drafting everybody,” said rookie cornerback Joshua Williams, the Chiefs’ fourth-round pick. “There are some really talented guys.”
The Chiefs used two first-round picks on cornerback Trent McDuffie and defensive end George Karlaftis.
McDuffie opened the season as a starter before missing six games with a hamstring injury. But he returned and finished with 11 starts, totaling 44 tackles and seven passes defensed on 682 defensive snaps.
Karlaftis also opened the season as a starter and finished his rookie campaign with 33 tackles, six sacks, 11 quarterback hits, two fumble recoveries and seven passes defensed in 730 snaps. Karlaftis, who also contributed 70 snaps on special teams, ended the regular season on a hot streak, with 5.5 sacks in five of the Chiefs’ final six games.
In the second round, the Chiefs secured wide receiver Skyy Moore and safety Bryan Cook. They selected linebacker Leo Chenal in the third round, Williams in the fourth round and offensive lineman Darian Kinnard in the fifth.
Moore appeared in 16 games with three starts, totaling 22 catches for 250 yards and three carries for 24 yards and a touchdown. He opened the season as the Chiefs’ primary punt returner before giving way to Kadarius Toney after losing three muffed punts.
Cook appeared in 16 games (one start) and finished with 33 tackles, a sack, two quarterback hits and two passed defensed on 342 defensive snaps. Cook also played special teams: 272 snaps.
Chenal opened the season as a starter in the Chiefs’ 4-3 base defense, appearing in all 17 games with eight starts. He totaled 35 tackles, including three for losses, a sack and three quarterback hits in 261 snaps. He, too, played a lot on special teams, seeing action on 281 snaps.
Williams, meanwhile, became a key member of the Chiefs’ cornerback rotation, appearing in 17 games with four starts. He produced 40 tackles, an interception and seven passes defensed on 437 defensive snaps, while contributing 215 snaps on special teams.
Of all the Chiefs’ 2022 draft picks, Kinnard had perhaps the toughest route to making an impact because of the veteran makeup of the Chiefs’ offensive line. He was a healthy inactive for 14 of the Chiefs’ 17 regular-season games. Kinnard dressed for three games — Weeks 5, 12 and 13 in a backup role — but he didn’t play in the latter two contests. He contributed six snaps on special teams in Week 5.
Veach closed out the Chiefs’ 2022 draft by selecting cornerback Jaylen Watson, running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive back Nazeeh Johnson in the seventh round.
Watson appeared in 16 games with six starts, totaling 49 tackles and an interception, which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown in Kansas City’s Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. His effort earned him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award.
Pacheco took over as the Chiefs’ starting running back in Week 7. He went on to start 11 games, producing a team-high 830 yards and five touchdowns on 170 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt (351 offensive snaps). The rookie rusher added 130 yards receiving on 13 carries. The Chiefs also used Pacheco as their primary kickoff returner, and he excelled there, too, with 597 yards in 27 opportunities.
Johnson opened the season on the Chiefs’ practice squad before being elevated to the 53-player roster in late September. He went on to appear in 11 games, contributing solely on special teams — eight tackles in 96 snaps.
Each member of the draft class enjoyed special moments in supporting one another and seeing it all come together.
“Through the season, watching the guys develop, seeing them develop with the leadership we have in the rooms, it’s just beautiful to see,” Cook said. “Everybody is producing, so it’s a great thing to watch.”
Chenal agreed.
“It’s a really cool thing to see,” he said. “Even comparing to other teams, we have a lot of guys out there, whether it’s defense, offense, special teams. We’ve got a ton of rookies, so that’s definitely going to help us in the long run. But even as you see us now, guys are getting better.”
LEADERSHIP MATTERS
So how exactly does a rookie class jell like this one has in Kansas City?
There’s no magic formula, but some of the Chiefs’ first-year players believe it has a lot to do with the team’s environment, and the fact that veteran players are willing to help.
“It’s special, but I think it just goes to the culture of this organization and the standard that’s set by the coaches, by the ownership all the way down,” Karlaftis said. “The vets lead by example. … For me, at least, I know without Chris (Jones), Carlos (Dunlap) and Frank (Clark), I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now.”
“I think coming in and following the older guys, following the leadership we have in the room, things like that, helped bring us to a different level,” Cook said. “So, as rookies, we came in and tried to never had any drop-offs.”
Mission accomplished, because this group has collectively impressed observers throughout the season with a combined 61 starts to help prime the Chiefs for another championship run.
“First and foremost, I’m just going to go ahead and say it — we don’t have rookies anymore,” veteran safety Justin Reid said in late December. “They’ve had enough experience. They’ve had enough games under their belt.
“They’re first-year players still, but that title ‘rookie,’ we really want to throw that out the window because of the experience and the snaps they have under their belt, the pelts they have on the wall. And also just to encourage them to take just a little more ownership and leadership in continuing to grow and mature and be dominant.”
A BRIGHT FUTURE
From free agency to trades to surprise roster cuts, a team’s makeup can change at a moment’s notice.
But the Chiefs do seem to be well-positioned for continued success, especially with the contributions they’re already getting from their 2022 draft class.
“We’re not going to do anything but get better, get more experience and the game is going to slow down for us,” Watson said.
Karlaftis believes the team’s overall success will be sustained and defined by what the Chiefs accomplish as an organization.
“The Chiefs are in good hands, regardless of the rookie class or whatever rookie class or whatever individual player,” he said. “It starts with the culture set by the organization. That goes first and foremost.”
Williams agreed.
“I’m just happy to be a part of this great organization and to have a role in it,” he said. “We’re just going to keep working and try to help this team get a ring.”
This story was originally published January 20, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
