How KC Chiefs’ defensive staff played role in NFL Draft pick of Felix Anudike-Uzomah
The Chiefs got their guy in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft with their selection of former Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah with the 31st overall pick Thursday night.
Or to be specific, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and defensive line coach Joe Cullen landed their top choice in the Lee’s Summit native.
“Spags and our defensive staff did a great job of sorting all these guys out,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said late Thursday night. “Joe Cullen is relentless; he evaluates everybody. You just give him somebody that says defensive line on them, he’s going to evaluate them.
“He loved him, Spags loved him, and it was a pretty easy decision right there.”
Turns out, the respect and admiration went both ways as Anudike-Uzomah appreciated his pre-draft interactions with Cullen — and a message from Spagnuolo.
“His philosophy is very simple, and I love simple,” Anudike-Uzomah said of Spagnuolo in a post-draft Zoom call. “He said literally if you can just attack the ball and use your ability, and there’s obviously certain stunts like that, and if you can attack the ball like he wants you.
“He liked that I have a great motor because he likes high-motor guys, and he likes everything about my playing style.”
There’s not much to not like about the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Anudike-Uzomah, who enjoyed an accomplished career at K-State.
In three college seasons, he totaled 100 tackles and 20.5 sacks in 27 starts. Anudike-Uzomah, who turned 21 in January, recorded 46 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 2022 en route to being named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
And that production helped the former K-State star land high on the Chiefs’ draft board as the first round ended.
“When you’re picking right there at (No.) 31, you try to take the best player that’s available to you on the board, and he was that guy,” Reid said. “So, we feel really comfortable bringing him into our program.”
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach agreed.
“We’re excited for Steve (Spagnuolo) and for Joe Cullen to get their hands on him now and continue that growth and trajectory uphill,” Veach said. “But again, any time you can add a premium position with one of the youngest players in the draft, and to have that to work with for a long time, it’s something we’re excited about.”
Anudike-Uzomah, who grew up rooting for the Chiefs and playing at nearby Lee’s Summit High, is thrilled for the opportunity to contribute on his hometown team.
“It’s just a dream come true,” he said with a smile. “This is unbelievable.”
