A look ahead at the Chiefs offseason – The Draft
By Ben Almquist
Offensive Line
Situation: It’s amazing how much has changed over the course of the season with this group. What was once the glaring weakness of this team finally began to get things together and turn into a functional group. The Chiefs Offensive Line stepped up towards the end of the season. However, this has cast some doubts on what was a simple decision just a couple of months ago.
With the re-signing of Jah Reid, the Chiefs are slated to lose only two of their current linemen to Free Agency, Jeff Allen and Donald Stephenson. As I’ve stated before, I believe this team needs to bring back Allen on a long-term deal. Adding to this mix is the fact that both Ben Grubbs and Paul Fanaika will be returning from Injured Reserve.
On top of that, it is widely believed that the staff really likes Jarrod Pughsley and Daniel Munyer a lot. That means the Chiefs may be in a position where they feel the best thing to do moving forward is keep the current group and let them build cohesion and continuity.
Options: It’s suddenly difficult to predict how the Chiefs will address the Offensive Line. An argument can still be made for going after either a Right Guard or Right Tackle, depending on how the team intends to use Jah Reid. And if Jeff Allen is re-signed, Andy Reid has tried to use him at Right Tackle before in the past two years.
The Chiefs could certainly go after a high priority Guard or Tackle early in the draft. This is a likely scenario if the team is unable to retain Jeff Allen. However, the expectation will be that this guy is starting right away which usually doesn’t work out as well as fans believe it will. Also, it would be adding another young player to the side of the line in the biggest need of cohesion and understanding.
John Dorsey may decide to churn the bottom of the roster here. Adding a middle or late round player to the mix could put him in a position to let another depth guy go. This is especially interesting if Allen is retained. Larry Tardif and Paul Fanaika would certainly have to be on notice with this move.
The KC front office could decide to start an overhaul of the Offensive Line by adding multiple guys in the draft. If the team has the same perception of the group that the fans do, then really getting aggressive on the Offensive Line makes a lot of sense. The more options, the more chances of getting it right.
My Move: Sebastian Tretola – Arkansas – 4th
Sebastian Tretola is a powerful lineman who also possesses surprising speed and athleticism. He is able to get out and block in the open field, which makes him perfect for Kansas City’s offense. He has the power to anchor at the point of attack and drive his guy backwards, which will also help in the Chiefs’ run-heavy offense.
Tretola struggles with his hand work. He can be late with his hands, which allows the defender to initiate contact. And if the defender gets a good first punch, Tretola struggles to reset himself and will begin to backpeddle. Needs to show a bit more aggression and not think as much. Doesn’t possess the versatility that the Chiefs like.
Arkansas coach Brett Bielema churned out NFL linemen at Wisconsin, and it’s starting to take hold in Arkansas now. Adding a guy like Tretola could provide the Chiefs with some immediate competition at Right Guard and a future replacement for Ben Grubbs at Left Guard. At the very least, he will come in and compete, which should help the Chiefs Offensive Line develop as a whole.
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Defensive Line
Situation: The Chiefs are at a crossroads when it comes to the defensive line. There shouldn’t be much of an immediate need as Dontari Poe and Allen Bailey will both be returning in 2016. The team has shown that it likes Nick Williams and David King, which means they likely get the first crack at the other defensive end spot if John Dorsey decides to not bring back both Jaye Howard and Mike DeVito. There is also last year’s draft addition Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who will likely figure into the mix as well.
Options: Dorsey has some considerations here. Mike DeVito should not be difficult to re-sign, and may even be available after the draft has passed, so the Chiefs definitely should not be in a position where getting a starter is a dire need. Also, this year’s draft class is incredibly strong on the defensive front, which means the Chiefs could wait until a little later in the draft and still find some quality players. It’s really an ideal situation for the Chiefs GM.
Going DL early would mean Jaye Howard is gone for sure, and would put Mike DeVito at about a 50/50 shot for returning (assuming this isn’t addressed before the draft). This move would solidify the line moving forward, and should indicate that the Chiefs intend to re-sign Dontari Poe soon.
Attacking the line in the middle rounds seems like a pretty easy call. Re-signing DeVito to serve as a temporary starting solution while developing a mid-round talent is a pretty Wolfe-esque move, so it should be right in John Dorsey’s wheelhouse.
The late rounds and UDFA period have been areas that John Dorsey has shown he likes to attack when it comes to the line. A lot of Defensive Linemen can be found later in the draft process, especially when it comes to 3-4 Defensive Ends.
My Move: DJ Reader – Clemson – 5th
Reader is an extremely versatile and athletic big man who can shock people with his quickness and agility. A multi-sport star in high school, he was also used as a Fullback by the Tigers, and many teams desired him as a Guard. He’s lined up in multiple spots, filling multiple roles, for the Clemson Defensive Line, which translates well to him having to switch to a 3-4 position. Can get after the passer, but makes his name working against the run.
The negatives on Reader are all more question marks than anything. He had a mysterious “personal situation” that kept him away from the team for much of last year. He described it as not being mentally ready, which will draw some red flags. He has some technique issues, but nothing that should be uncoachable. Apart from that, the only real question is why he never had a banner year despite having all the physical traits and abilities.
DJ Reader’s potential should have him as a 2nd round guy, but the question marks in a year that is loaded with talent are what is really pushing his stock down. Still, he has all the tools you could ask for. If he can put it all together, he could be a real wrecking ball in the NFL.
Next: The Defensive Playmakers