Kansas City Chiefs: How the West was won in 2015
By Laddie Morse
Sep 7, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Chris Ivory (33) runs the ball past Oakland Raiders safety Tyvon Branch (33) during the second quarter of a game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City made 34 player transactions prior to the draft.
01/20/2015 Armon Binns (WR), Ricky Henry (G), Da’Rick Rogers (WR), Derek Sherrod (T), Jerel Worthy (DT), the top five with a chance to make the team in 2015 (plus 10 others signed that day).
02/19/2015 Donnie Avery (WR) released; A.J. Jenkins (WR) waived
02/26/2015 Anthony Fasano (TE) released
03/05/2015 Joe Mays (LB) released
03/06/2015 Vance Walker (DT) released
03/10/2015 Tyvon Branch (S) signed
03/11/2015 Jeremy Maclin (WR) signed
03/12/2015 Dwayne Bowe (WR) released
03/12/2015 Paul Fanaika (OL) signed
03/13/2015 Ben Grubbs (OL) signed
03/13/2015 Jason Avant (WR) signed; Richard Gordon (TE) signed; Kelcie McCray (S) signed
03/16/2015 Ron Parker (DB) signed
The Chiefs’ lone major loss was C Rodney Hudson, who signed with the Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs should reap a third-round compensatory pick in 2016 for the loss of Hudson.
Prior to the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos had 47 player transactions including:
04/28/2015 Waived OLB Quanterus Smith
04/23/2015 Waived WR Kerry Taylor
04/13/2015 Re-signed LB Brandon Marshall (ERFA)
04/13/2015 Signed FB/TE James Casey
04/10/2015 Re-signed G Ben Garland (ERFA)
04/06/2015 Signed DE Antonio Smith
04/01/2015 Acquired C Gino Gradkowski, trade (w/ draft considerations)
03/27/2015 Signed LB Reggie Walker
03/18/2015 Signed S Darian Stewart (UDFA)
03/14/2015 Signed G Shelley Smith
03/13/2015 Re-signed LB Steven Johnson (RFA)
03/13/2015 Signed DE Vance Walker
03/12/2015 Signed P Karl Schmitz
03/11/2015 Signed TE Owen Daniels (UDFA)
03/11/2015 Re-signed TE Virgil Green (UDFA)
03/10/2015 Signed TE/FB Joe Don Duncan
03/05/2015 Re-signed LS Aaron Brewer
02/11/2015 CB Tevrin Brandon, S Ross Madison and WR Kerry Taylor signed to futures contracts
01/21/2015 Signed QB Zac Dysert to future contract
01/13/2015 Signed G Jon Halapio to future contract
01/12/2015 Signed DE Gerald Rivers to future contract
01/12/2015 Signed C Matt Paradis to future contract
01/12/2015 Signed WR Bennie Fowler to future contract
01/12/2015 Signed RB Kapri Bibbs to future contract
01/12/2015 Signed WR Isaiah Burse to future contract
01/12/2015 Signed WR Nathan Palmer to future contract
01/10/2015 LB Shaquil Barrett signed from practice squad to active roster
01/10/2015 DE Quanterus Smith placed on injured reserve
01/05/2015 LB Danny Mason signed to future contract
The most significant moves the Broncos made this offseason are the ones they didn’t make. Meaning they decided to not re-sign some excellent starters like:
T Orlando Franklin: Who is now going to protect Philip Rivers in San Diego. Shhh… it’s probably the Chargers that the Chiefs should be worried about in 2015, not the Broncos.
NT Terrance Knighton: Who is now in Washington and would have been the perfect nose tackle for Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense.
TE Julius Thomas: His 24 touchdowns in the past two seasons are going to be missed no matter what any Broncos fan says. They’ll be missed even more now that Jeff Heuerman, their new tight end and third-round draft pick is out for the year with a torn ACL suffered in rookie camp (knock on wood).
WR Wes Welker: To hear some people talk, you’d think Welker retired two years ago but the reality is he started 21 games for Denver in that span. Welker had 122 receptions, 12 touchdowns and always presented problems for the Chiefs in coverage. Welker will long be considered one of the best, if not the best slot receiver in the game ever. Point? The Broncos have no one to replace him … and don’t say Cody Latimer.
Next: Chiefs corners vs. Broncos receivers