Chiefs things I might think: Week 1
By Ryan Tracy
Nov 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey during the game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
John Dorsey is a Steely-eyed Missile Man
You could call him a thief. Getting a fifth-round pick in exchange for the sixth safety in Kelcie McCray is nearly criminal. Taking advantage of Seattle’s situation with Kam Chancellor was a very deft maneuver. McCray was not going to make the roster sitting at sixth on the depth chart.
To say Dorsey turned nothing into something is a gross understatement. He acquired McCray in exchange for a UDFA guard one year ago. Twelve months latter, he turned that forfeit roster spot into a fifth-round pick. That is a significant team building value he didn’t spend anything on.
You might What’s so great about a 5th round pick? It’s great trade-bait value. It is, in fact, the same value Dorsey had to surrender in order to acquire a starting, Pro-Bowl caliber guard in Ben Grubbs. Other 5th round picks look like the probable 2016 backup QB (Aaron Murray) and backup TE (James O’Shaughnessy). Role players yes, but important roles that can be filled with a fifth-round pick. A pick Dorsey got for free.
Dorsey sees that as the goal, telling the press “If you can improve your roster to the point of people are calling you up and wanting to orchestrate a trade with you, that’s the objective of every personnel guy.”
Marcus Peters can setup his rookie year
Aug 15, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters (22) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL football game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Peters will face the Texans’ DeAndre Hopkins and Nate Washington to begin his NFL career. That is an opportunity for Peters in Week 1.
Peters play in the preseason and his style have him in a good position. Both Texans’ receivers can be re-routed in press coverage. They can be harassed by tight coverage. Peters can handle the matchups. He can give up a catch to two; he just can’t get beat deep. If Peters can put down good film in this first contest, it will help him on two fronts. It will deter a target being put on him and it build his confidence.
He’ll need that confidence, as well as film of a well-rounded game. In week 2, Peyton Manning will go after him. It’s what Manning does… see Marcus Cooper. A solid game in Texas against taller, faster receivers can make Manning look somewhere else to attack and spare him from an onslaught. Surviving Manning would then help Peters avoid a weekly barrage and let him develop that much faster in 2015.
Next: Contract Extension in NEAR future?