The Kansas City Chiefs had great success in the 1990’s: three division titles, eight total playoff appearances, and nine seasons with a winning record. The last thirteen years, though, have been far from kind to them, yielding only three total playoff appearances (all division titles) and four total winning seasons.
Ever since they traded Trent Green to the Dolphins in 2006, they’ve struggled to find consistent solid play from the quarterback position. This year may be no different. They’ve hired proven quarterback guru Andy Reid as head coach, hoping he can bring in a quarterback worthy of the franchise label and bring some glory back to Arrowhead Stadium.
They’re sitting atop the NFL Draft order, so they have their pick of the lot; unfortunately for them, this is a poor year to find a franchise signal-caller in the draft. They have a roster full of talent, so they’re really just a quarterback and a coach away from at least contending in their division. However, they have some other holes they’ll need to address before they can consider themselves legitimate contenders. They have around $15 million in cap space and their seven native picks. Let’s take a look at their biggest needs in the draft.
Defensive Tackle
It might be odd that the first position isn’t quarterback, but they would be better off acquiring a veteran stopgap to facilitate their offense for a year or two. If the Chiefs draft a quarterback high in the first round, their new front office will effectively chain their jobs to his success. Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, and Tyler Wilson may be attractive prospects on some level, but they aren’t worth a top pick.
The Chiefs took Dontari Poe in the first round last year, a huge defensive tackle out of Memphis. It was a bit of a reach, as Poe had size and athleticism, but little polish or technique. He improved throughout the year, and will return as the starting nose tackle. However, former first-round pick Glenn Dorsey is a free agent and likely won’t be back. Tyson Jackson is owed almost $15 million in 2013, the last year on his contract, so he’s likely to be cut for the sake of the cap.
It is likely in their best interest to use their number one pick (assuming they can’t trade it) on a defensive tackle. Sharrif Floyd, Star Lotulelei, and Sheldon Richardson are all great possibilities with extremely high ceilings. Offensive lines would be hard-pressed to contain Poe, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Allen Bailey, and an explosive young defensive tackle.
Cornerback
The Chiefs have one fantastic cornerback in Brandon Flowers, but they’ve been hurting on the other side of the field since they let Brandon Carr walk as a free agent last offseason. Javier Arenas is a good kick returner and decent nickel cornerback, but he’s over his head on the outside. Expect the Chiefs to spend at least two picks on the position, with at least one in the second or third round. Desmond Trufant from the University of Washington, Johnthan Banks out of Mississippi State, and Logan Ryan from Rutgers may all be considerations.
One underrated possibility is David Amerson, the big cornerback out of North Carolina State. He’s not very good in man coverage, and may be converted to safety due to his ball-hawking abilities. Abram Elam is a free agent and not likely to be re-signed, and Kendrick Lewis has struggled, so Amerson could be an upgrade to both positions.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
They’re attempting to work out a contract with Dwayne Bowe, but even if they manage to get one done, they need to provide their 2013 quarterback with some targets. Jonathan Baldwin probably has one more year to prove he isn’t yet another Chiefs first-round bust, and Steve Breaston was just cut. Devon Wylie has some great potential as a pure slot receiver, but they need to find a receiver who can be a home-run threat opposite Bowe.
They may also consider a tight end to push and ultimately replace Tony Moeaki. The young tight end has the talent to be among the best in the league, but he just can’t keep himself healthy. He has one more year on his rookie contract, so if he can prove himself this year, he’d definitely be worth keeping around. They just cut Kevin Boss, so they have room to bring in another young TE.
Fortunately for them, this is a great year to need a wide receiver or a tight end. Both classes are stacked and overflowing, so some great value will drop to the third to fifth round range, which is where I’d expect to see them make a move. Some wide receiver names to keep an eye on are Aaron Dobson out of Marshall and Marcus Davis and Corey Fuller out of Virginia Tech. Ryan Otten of San Jose State, Mychal Rivera out of Tennessee, and Chris Gragg are three tight ends they may consider in the same range.
Conclusion
If the Chiefs can nail this draft and free agency, they have the talent already on their roster to be a good team. They can field a great young group of playmaking receivers—they just need a quarterback. Consistent quarterback play will enhance the value of
Jamaal Charles, who could be the best running back in the NFL when used properly. And better interior pressure will improve their pass rush, and by extension, their pass coverage.
They may have just finished 2-14, but the future is bright for the Chiefs. They’re in good hands with John Dorsey and Andy Reid, and they’re only a few pieces from contention. It will be fascinating to watch their roster improve between now and September.