After a disappointing 2025 season, the Kansas City Chiefs will look to replace several players this offseason. Veteran defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah could be one player up to be replaced as he continues to look like a draft bust, and it seems like the Chiefs are eyeing a potential replacement at the annual NFL scouting combine.
As Miami Hurricanes defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. told reporters at the combine on Wednesday, on his interview with the Chiefs, “I felt like I had a real strong interview.” (h/t The Kansas City Star's Sam McDowell)
As Bain revealed, teams, including Kansas City, weren't worried about his supposed lack of length attacking the edge. Per Bain, "People keep bringing that up out of nowhere, but no teams brought it up to me, so I don't bring it up either. As long as I just talk the talk and walk the walk, play with technique, nobody actually cares about it."
Bain isn't going to be taken as a backup if the Chiefs are eyeing him with April's ninth overall selection. Something would have to give, and that likely begins with Anudike-Uzomah.
Chiefs' Rueben Bain Jr. Interest Puts Pressure on Felix Anudike-Uzomah to Step Up
With George Karlaftis on a massive extension that was signed last year, the Chiefs' second starting EDGE spot would undoubtedly go to Bain. Ashton Gillotte is already a top backup, and even if he is moved inside with Chris Jones, it's possible Anudike-Uzomah isn't long for the Kingdom.
Anudike-Uzomah just missed the entire 2025 season with a strained right hamstring, which he suffered during a preseason game with the Seattle Seahawks. While reporting on his injury, ESPN's Nate Taylor claimed that "Continuing his disappointing tenure with the Chiefs, Anudike-Uzomah's third season — one the team hoped would lead to him making sizable improvements — now has ended before the preseason finale."
Anudike-Uzomah isn't about to be on the chopping block this offseason, though replacing him immediately would save the Chiefs a pretty penny. His 2027 season, in which he owns a $14.6 million team option, is not guaranteed, though. If the end isn't imminent, it's certainly on the horizon.
That's a brutal narrative from the World Wide Leader. Anudike-Uzomah was too much of a non-factor, with 15 quarterback pressures and 2.5 sacks during the 2024 season as the lasting image of him, to have any different an assessment, though.
Time is running out. If there's a post-injury case to be made to stay on this team, Anudike-Uzomah may have to hope an EDGE isn't taken in either of the first two rounds of the draft so that his road to nearly $15 million offers significantly less resistance.