The Kansas City Chiefs received a ton of production from their 2021 NFL draft class last season. Two players solidified themselves as starters on the offensive line (Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith) before training camp even arrived. Another player filled in a started double-digit games in relief at the linebacker position (Nick Bolton).
That trio of players is sure to follow up their rookie campaign with some measure of success, but who will make the biggest second-year leap in 2022? Will it be one of those three players? Will it be another player from that draft class or perhaps even an undrafted free agent signing?
You can make a case for a number of players taking a big step forward in 2022. It feels like the most eyes will be on fourth-round draft pick Joshua Kaindoh, who played just 46 snaps on defense last season before he was placed on injured reserve. He recorded no stats in those snaps, so he’s a virtual unknown at this point. Frankly, any production at all might be considered a big leap for him.
Then, there’s Cornell Powell, who was released from his rookie contract and signed to the practice squad last season. The receiver group is as competitive as can be right now, so he’s really going to need to impress just to make the 53-man roster in Kansas City.
One darkhorse candidate to make the biggest leap in Year 2 is an undrafted free agent signing who didn’t play a snap last year. Malik Herring was sidelined by an ACL injury, but he’s back, healthy and turning heads during the team’s offseason workouts in 2022. There’s certainly room for a player to step up and claim a role in the edge rusher rotation. Could Herring be someone to go from a redshirt year to becoming a key contributor on the defense?
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