Summer is officially upon us and NFL teams are entering the final leg of their offseason programs. Organized team activities are in full swing and training camps are only about six weeks away. The next two months should present a few opportunities for general manager John Dorsey to round out the Chiefs’ roster at certain positions. Players have already been designated as June 1 cuts and more will soon come as the NFL’s cutdown deadlines approach. There’s been talk all offseason about who the team might pursue at wide receiver when the ax begins to fall.
Beyond Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery, the Chiefs’ receiving corps is mostly comprised of unproven commodities. Coaches seem to be confident in A.J. Jenkins, but there’s little evidence that he’ll make good on his former first-round promise. Similar questions apply to Canadian-standout Weston Dressler and former R7 pick Junior Hemingway. One of those three players could have a breakout season for Kansas City in 2014, but I think it’s safe to reserve judgment. The trio makes for little more than untapped potential right now so we should table those talks until the preseason. For now, let’s do some early-summer speculation about which receivers (currently unrestricted or possible camp casualties) might be a good fit for Andy Reid’s offense in Kansas City. The list is short, but here are a couple of players who could make sense for the Chiefs.
Santonio Holmes
The eight-year veteran is already on the open market after being handed his walking papers by the New York Jets in early-March. The move creates $8.25 million of cap space in 2014. Four years ago, Pittsburgh traded Holmes to New York for a fifth-round pick. Despite a mediocre season in 2010, Holmes received a $45 million contract from the Jets the following year. That proved to be a busted transaction for the team. He never lived up to expectations and played a full 16 games only once.
Despite nagging injuries and recent underachievement, Holmes just turned 30 and still has quantifiable NFL talent. There wasn’t much interest in Holmes during the first two waves of free agency. At this point in the offseason, he’ll be lucky to snare anything more than a one-year deal. I’d venture to guess that he’ll come cheap. The sticking point for Reid could be Holmes’ well-publicized attitude. That might be off-putting to a young team like the Chiefs.
Denarius Moore
Moore, like Holmes, has been plagued by inconsistencies over the past three years. The former Tennessee Volunteer was originally drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2011. The fleet-footed receiver was expected to be a playmaker for the Raiders, but the results have been mixed. Drops have been an issue for Moore and there’s some thought that he occasionally takes plays off. Rumors have been swirling since the NFL Draft that Moore might be on the block. It’s possible that he may have fallen from the good graces of the Raiders’ coaching staff.
For every part of his game that could use improvement, there are a couple other areas where he could be beneficial to the Chiefs. Moore has the kind of speed that can help an offense stretch the field. He runs the 40-yard dash in the low-4.4 range and has boasted an average of just about 16 yards per catch during his time in Oakland. Moore also has a nose for the end zone. Since joining the team in 2011, he’s scored 17 touchdowns. Unfortunately, it’s possible that he’ll wind up staying in Oakland. He’s just 25 years old and has outplayed draft expectations for a former R5 pick.
I don’t have any inside any information that the Chiefs are interested in either Holmes or Moore. I do think they could help upgrade the receiver group in Kansas City, if only slightly. There’s a chance that none of the Chiefs hopefuls will pan at the position. With a tougher schedule ahead, this offense isn’t in a position to take a step backwards. Kansas City’s tight end group was ravaged by injuries in 2013. Some of the same uncertainties apply to young players in that bunch. One more known pass-catcher quantity could help Alex Smith and company take another step forward. Time will tell if the Chiefs are as concerned about wide receiver as the Chiefs blogosphere has been this offseason.
What say you, Addicts? Would either of these two players upgrade the Chiefs’ receiving group? Are there other bubble players you have your eye on? Are the Chiefs set with the young players they have on tap? Use the comment section below to chime in. As always, we appreciate your readership and support.
Until next time, Addicts!