A look ahead at the Chiefs offseason – The Draft

Quarterback

Situation:  There are some questions here.  Alex Smith is definitely the starter, but for how much longer?  I’ve always maintained that he is more of a bridge to our future, but it can’t be ignored that he is winning.  He is about to enter the more expensive years of his contract, but the Chiefs salary cap is well situated to handle it.  On the backup side of things, Chase Daniel is set to be a free agent, and neither Tyler Bray or Aaron Murray have been able to supplant him for the backup job.  John Dorsey has some decisions to make.

Options:  There are really just two moves in play here for the Chiefs.  The backup situation isn’t dire enough to make any big changes there if it isn’t needed, so letting Bray and Murray duel it out isn’t a bad option.  So really it’s just about what the Chiefs want to do with the starting job.

The first path they can take is to stick with what they’ve got.  Continue on with Alex Smith as the starter and promote either Bray or Murray to the primary backup spot.  The team is winning with Alex Smith.  Sometimes the path to the answer ends up being the answer.

The second is to draft the Quarterback of the future and let him sit for a year or two behind Alex Smith.  Carson Wentz from North Dakota State and Connor Cook from Michigan State strike me as the best two options for this path.  This would likely mean the end of the tenure for either (or both) Aaron Murray or Tyler Bray.

My Move:  Connor Cook – MSU – 2nd Round

Connor Cook is a prototypical, stand in the pocket, Quarterback.  He possesses all the physical tools and has shown the mental acumen needed to run a complex offense.  Mark D’Antonio has worked with several NFL QBs (Kirk Cousins, Drew Stanton, Bryan Hoyer, and Nick Foles), but Cook appears to be the best that he’s ever had.

There are some concerns with how well Cook handles pressure.  When he’s forced to move, he will make some questionable throws, often over-relying on his arm strength or throwing at too-tight windows.

Cook’s value has slid recently due to some bad performances at the end of the year.  He’s been dealing with a shoulder injury, and while it is unknown how much that has affected him, his declining to attend the Senior Bowl would suggest a lot.  His Combine performance in the drills will be very important.  As of now, Cook appears to be anywhere from a late 1st to mid 2nd round pick.  At this point, I would not use the first round pick on him.  If he does fall out of the 1st round, that extra fifth the Chiefs have could come into play in moving up to take him.

Running Back

Situation:  Frankly, the Chiefs are loaded at Running Back.  As I showed earlier when talking about the potential of trading Jamaal Charles, the KC run game didn’t miss a beat without the man that had been the focal point of the offense.  Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware have both shown themselves to be talented backs.  There is also Darrin Reaves on the Practice Squad that the team seems to really like.  As it sits, it will already be difficult for Knile Davis to get another chance on this roster.

Options:  The Chiefs have tons of options here.  John Dorsey will be playing with house money when it comes to the Running Backs, so he can afford to entertain just about any scenario you can imagine…and he likely will.

The simplest option here is to do nothing.  Keep the group as it is, except maybe Davis, and continue to build on that success, giving Jamaal Charles more breathers now that it’s known what kind of talent is behind him.

The second option is to continue to add prospects at the bottom of the roster.  Bringing in Undrafted Free Agents (UDFAs) that are talented but raw or untested is a great way to continue reloading the backfield without having to ever worry about contracts.  This move puts Knile Davis squarely in the cross hairs.

My Move:  Devon Johnson – Marshall – UDFA

Johnson is a big bruiser of a running back with excellent power to tough out short yardage and decent speed to pick up yards in space.  A former Tight End who understands blocking and pass catching, he possesses all the ideal traits for a third down back.  He is also a former linebacker, which means he should also be a very viable Special Teams option as well.

While he does have decent speed, it certainly isn’t top end.  He’s not much of a game-breaker and big plays will be few and far between.  He also isn’t going to make anyone miss with his shiftiness.  There is also an injury history that teams will have to be conscious of, which is the main reason he is likely to be undrafted.

Johnson is an ideal third down back who can be utilized in a number of situations.  He is a one-cut-and-go back who understands the importance of getting short yards when they’re needed (something Knile Davis has struggled with).  In a lot of ways, Johnson is very similar to Spencer Ware, and I see a similar career path for him starting out on the Practice Squad.  The difference being that Johnson also appears to be an ideal Special Teams candidate, which could get him a spot on the roster sooner than later.

Next: The Offensive Weapons