Grading Chiefs’ selection of Oklahoma OT Wanya Morris at pick No. 92
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Oklahoma OT Wanya Morris at pick No. 92 in the 2023 NFL draft after a slight trade-up in the third round.
Below you will find the Chiefs Wire staff’s reactions, grades and initial thoughts for this pick:
Charles Goldman's grade: A+
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Morris probably would have gone higher in the draft had he not suffered a hamstring strain running the 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indy. He wasn’t able to workout for teams until April 11 and didn’t take any pre-draft visits as a result.
I like this move for Kansas City better than I would a player like Dawand Jones. Morris has true positional versatility and can play a number of different spots for the Chiefs. Left tackle, right tackle, guard, you name it. He’s a really strong pass protector and plays the game with a nasty streak, boasting some great tape in the SEC and Big 12. I also really liked what I saw from him down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl.
Overall, this is exactly the type of player that I want protecting Patrick Mahomes on game day. Also, there’s something to be said about making a trade with the Bengals to help keep No. 15 upright.
Wesley Roesch's grade: A-
Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Good, practical pick. The Chiefs needed a right tackle and Morris has a chance to step in and compete at that position right away. He’s long, athletic and has pretty good hands, though he could use more work in that area (though most incoming prospects do).
Even if Lucas Niang wins the right tackle job, Morris would make a good swing tackle and depth option for Kansas City. He seems to have a pretty high floor which makes this the right choice for the team.
Nicolas Roesch's grade: A-
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Morris was the best tackle on the board at the time of the Chiefs’ pick and it was their biggest need. He will compete for the starting RT job and has a great shot at winning it.
Morris moves very well for having such a large frame and is already a very developed run blocker. Jawaan Taylor and Morris have the potential to be bookend tackles for K.C. for the next four years.
John Dillon's grade: B-
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Wanya Morris was not the player I had in mind for Kansas City at the tackle position, but what do I know? With a guy like Dawand Jones on the board, Morris feels like a reach, but Brett Veach certainly knows best.
At least the Chiefs managed to fill a need with this pick in the third round, and with the team’s recent history of drafting offensive linemen, this pick is hard to argue with. Morris may prove to be a great pick here, but as it stands now, the aforementioned Jones was the better player on most big boards, so I won’t grade this particularly high or low.
