When the Kansas City Chiefs closed the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by selecting defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, it felt like it was destined to be a feel-good story.
The pass rusher had grown up as a Chiefs fan while playing at Lee’s Summit High School in the metro’s southeast corner — and then spent three years playing a short drive west on I-70 at Kansas State.
Unfortunately, the story that might have written itself didn’t generate compelling copy. As a rookie, Anudike-Uzomah failed to stand out in the team’s crowded defensive line room.