Grading Chiefs GM John Dorsey on his First Off Season Part 2

Dec 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chase Daniel (10) throws a touchdown in the 1st quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Liu-USA TODAY Sports

Chase Daniel, QB

Previous Team : New Orleans Saints

Contract Details: Three-year, $10 Million

2014 Cap Hit: $3.4 Million

Grade: D

Every quarterback that wore a Chiefs uniform in 2012 was someplace else in 2013. Matt Cassel went north to Minnesota, Brady Quinn bounces around with the Seattle Seahawks and the New York Jets and Ricky “The Real American” Stanzi ended up with the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the trade for Alex Smith, it only made sense that Dorsey would have to bring in a reliable backup to carry Smith’s clipboard.

Going out and getting Daniel, who played second-chair to Drew Brees in New Orleans was a good idea. The problem I have is the compensation. Paying a backup $3 million a year is a little steep, especially when you consider he’s not a proven vet but a career back up. In fact, in the limited action he saw during the season, he looked lost and confused. Still, in his first — and only — start against the San Diego Chargers, Daniel showed he could play and put up decent numbers with a team of second-stringers against an NFL defense.

My biggest hope for Daniel is Reid can somehow put his “QB trade bait” magic on him and perhaps get a mid-round pick out of a QB hungry team who couldn’t get the guy they wanted in the draft.