Sep 29, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike DeVito (70) and center Eric Kush (64) after the game against the New York Giants at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 31-7. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
With the 134th-overall pick, the Chiefs welcomed in another corner in Sanders Commings. Unfortunately, Commings has been eternally injured. Commings has excellent size and has the versatility to play at safety or corner, but potential can only get you so far. The end of road may be in sight for Commings. He will have to show some signs of consistent fitness, and then look to compete for a roster spot with Jamell Fleming and Marcus Cooper among others, but I’m not expecting much production from the Georgia product.
In the sixth round, Dorsey picked up Eric Kush at center, and then later added full back Braden Wilson. Wilson was drafted in the same offseason that Dorsey traded for Anthony Sherman, who has since become the best fullback in the league. With only room for one fullback on the roster, Wilson never really had a chance, and was cut before his rookie season.
“I have full confidence in [Eric] Kush. I think he’ll do a nice job.”- John Dorsey
Kush, on the other hand, has waited patiently for his opportunity at Arrowhead. Rodney Hudson is one of the better centers in the league, and Kush has had two years of learning under him. Hudson has moved via free agency to the dreaded Oakland Raiders, giving Kush an opportunity to start. Mitch Morse, a second-round rookie this year, will be his biggest competition for the starting spot.
I expect Kush to start come week 1; John Dorsey says the Chiefs have every confidence in Eric Kush, and I predict he will have a promising campaign. Long term, Kush will have to impress this year to hold on to his center spot, but for 2015, expect Kush to be solid, if not spectacular.
The final pick of the 2013 draft was Mike Catapano, a defensive lineman out of Princeton. Catapano had a rookie year that created intrigue among the ranks of Chiefs’ fans. In 2014, Catapano was sadly sidelined for the whole year due to a “mysterious illness”, which was later revealed as a gastrointestinal based virus.
Looking forward to 2015, Catapano will be back, and will hopefully be able to build upon the potential he showed in his rookie season. Kansas City’s defensive line is one of the better lines in the NFL, with Dontari Poe anchoring the defense at nose tackle. Look for Catapano to earn some snaps here and there, spelling people like Jaye Howard and Allen Bailey. Here’s hoping that he can impress Reid throughout the summer. He’s a diamond in the rough.
Overall, Dorsey’s first draft hinges on the success of the first-round selection. If Fisher can improve in this coming year, this draft could be considered a success. Kelce is a stud tight end, and Davis will provide some exciting moments in the coming season. Kush is a solid acquisition and Catapano has yet to deliver on his potential. If Fisher disappoints then the number of solid impact players is looking desperately thin.
So, do you agree with my predictions for the coming season? Do you also think that Kush will beat out Morse and go on to have a solid season? Will Kelce continue on his meteoric rise? Will Fisher finally get his act together at left tackle? Let me know if you agree or disagree in the comments.
As always… GO CHIEFS!