Chiefs Draft Class of 2014 Must Produce
By Laddie Morse
QB Aaron Murray
With the departure of backup quarterback Chase Daniel to Philadelphia, the Chiefs need to answer the question: who will serve as backup quarterback this year? At the moment, the answer appears to be third year pro Aaron Murray.
Knowing Andy Reid, and his history with quarterbacks like we do, it seems unlikely that he would allow Daniel to walk if he didn’t have a plan in place to provide a dependable backup at the quarterback position in 2016.
Some have projected that Aaron Murray is not fit to take over that position. What does seem clear is that we, the public, don’t know or have any knowledge that, Aaron Murray can do that job. While we may not know if Murray is ready… Andy Reid does.
Who wants one of these quarterback free agents: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tarvaris Jackson, Jimmy Clausen, Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Whitehurst, T.J. Yates, Michael Vick, Matt Flynn, or Josh Freeman?
One, Fitzpatrick is holding out for more money from the Jets so we can assume he’s not getting that amount of money from the Chiefs just to come here and serve as a backup to Alex Smith. Two, although Andy Reid has experience with Michael Vick, he’s passed on Vick in previous offseasons so it seems likely he’ll do the same here as Vick holds on for one last hurrah in the NFL. Three, it’s hard to see any of the remaining free agent quarterbacks providing a better alternative than Aaron Murray who has spent a couple of years acclimating to Reid offensive system.
I’m convinced that if the Chiefs aren’t going to use Aaron Murray as the number one backup to Alex Smith, it will be Tyler Bray. In any case, it looks like some dice rolling is going to be involved this year.
OG Zach Fulton and OG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
What stands out about Fulton and Duvernay-Tardif is that the Chiefs presently are relying upon sixth round choices to provide the interior line help they need. It’s not that sixth rounders can’t play big… but so far neither one has been able to rise to that level.
While I believe Fulton will stick because he can serve as a backup Center or Guard, my hope is that Laurent Duvernay-Tardif can take the next steps up in his development this season. However, Seth Keysor of Arrowhead Pride recently provided an excellent piece on Duvernay-Tardif that indicates he hasn’t shown any progress this season, so you can judge for yourself. Keysor concludes,
"“He’s definitely got some tools to be a solid guard in the NFL. But he was not even average in 2015, or all that close to it. Nor did his film change over the course of the year in a way that makes me believe it’s likely he’ll make a big jump forward in 2016.”"
I believe the Chiefs will take an Offensive Tackle sometime in the first four rounds of this draft, one who has played Offensive Guard or one who can be converted easily. Or, they will take an Offensive Guard in the first four rounds, even though there are very few good Guards in this draft.
If the Chiefs don’t do that, it looks like they’ll be giving Jah Reid or Paul Fanaika a shot, God forbid.
What do you think Addict fans? Which 2014 draft choice do you think will come through for the Chiefs this year?