The Kansas City Chiefs are retooling their defense after a rough 2025 campaign, but that may have not been necessary if Felix Anudike-Uzomah lived up to his potential. A first-round pick in the 2023 draft, Anudike-Uzomah had a pair of nondescript seasons before missing all of last year with a severe hamstring injury.
Entering his fourth season, it’s officially now or never for the Kansas State product. While the Chiefs haven’t made a significant move to their pass rush during free agency, the buzz signals there is one on the way and it could mean that Anudike-Uzomah’s chances of leaving Kansas City are likelier than ever as the first wave of free agency concludes.
Cam Jordan, Draft Rumors Could Be Beginning of the End for Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s time with Chiefs
As the Chiefs enter the month of April, there are plenty of ways they can boost their pass rush. Former New Orleans Saints edge rusher Cameron Jordan has been soliciting himself to Kansas City since free agency began and has a big advocate in Chiefs star Chris Jones. While the Chiefs may not add Jordan immediately to protect their compensatory picks for the 2027 draft, Jordan’s presence is just one of several threats to Anudike-Uzomah’s roster spot.
If the Chiefs keep Jordan waiting, the draft is another area where Anudike-Uzomah will have to watch his back. While Kansas City will be looking for corners after the departures of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason, they could also be on the lookout for edge rushers, specifically Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey of Texas Tech.
The 29th overall pick could be another spot the Chiefs could look for pass rushing help and could be a theme with each of Kansas City’s nine total picks, including three in the top 40.
With the added possibility the Chiefs could go all-in by signing Jordan and adding a pass rusher in the draft, it’s not a great time to be Anudike-Uzomah. But that could have changed if he lived up to his draft status.
Anudike-Uzomah looked like a future cornerstone of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense after recording 101 total tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks in three seasons with the Wildcats. The 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year cashed into stay with his hometown Chiefs, but it hasn’t panned out with just 41 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks through his first three seasons.
Those numbers aren’t good enough for a Kansas City defense that ranked 13th in pressure rate (23.6%) but 23rd in sacks (35) last season. It’s also not good enough for the Chiefs to pick up Anudike-Uzomah’s fifth-year option, as it is expected to be declined and potentially set the stage for his last season in Kansas City.
Perhaps Anudike-Uzomah will recover from his injury and take the leap that many have been waiting for. But after watching last year go down the drain, the Chiefs can’t put all of their faith into Anudike-Uzomah in 2026 and April could be the prelude to the end of his time in Kansas City.