Chiefs: John Dorsey still has work to do
By Ben Almquist
Left Guard: I mentioned the perceived hole here earlier, so I would be remiss to say that Dorsey shouldn’t be looking for answers. Now, it is entirely possible that the Chiefs do have the answer to this hole already on the roster.
Certainly I believe that Parker Ehinger is a quality option for the future. However, I don’t buy that they have anyone who is ready to be plugged into the spot for this year. And with many thinking the Chiefs have a shot at a Super Bowl run, fixing that hole this year is important.
I have championed a trade for Cowboys left guard Ron Leary, who has already asked Dallas for a trade. But there is also Jahri Evans who is available. There will also be other options that present themselves as the offseason continues on. Money is still tight for the Chiefs, but they have assets they can put towards a trade, as well as contracts that can be cut.
Either way, this spot is going to have a lot of eyes fixed upon it during Training Camp…so an answer needs to be forthcoming and fast. The offensive line has been a bit of a sore spot for the Chiefs these past couple of years, and fans are rightfully getting frustrated with the apparent lack of progress being made there…especially at left guard.
Dontari Poe: The big man is playing on his 5th Year Option, which is something that no player really wants to do. The Chiefs are in an interesting place here because they have Allen Bailey and Jaye Howard under contract for a couple more years, and added Chris Jones in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
So they don’t “have” to do anything with Poe. That said, it might be foolish to let a player like him walk.
Dontari Poe demonstrates almost unheard of athleticism for a man of his size, and if he stays healthy, could be a generational player at defensive tackle.
That’s a big deal…but so will his eventual paycheck. With the recent megadeal given to Fletcher Cox by the Eagles, the market for top tier defensive linemen is set extremely high. Likely high enough that the Chiefs won’t be able to afford Poe without some kind of mitigating factor playing a role. And that is really the crux of the issue, and why this comes in last on the “to do” list for Dorsey.
The plate remains full for the Chiefs General Manager as we move towards Training Camp and the start of the 2016 season. And while this offseason has progressed well for the Kansas City GM, he will have to continue to make things work if the Chiefs are going to remain competitive for years to come.
The team is actually in a strong position to solidify their future as most of their big stars are already locked up under long-term deals. But there is always another contract on the horizon. There is always another deal to make. And there is always the unexpected to plan for.