Don’t count on the Chiefs finding a late-round quarterback

Chad Kelly, Ole Miss (6-2, 224 lbs.)
Miller’s Rank: 172
CBS Sports: 214

Talent, to a point, has never been the issue for Chad Kelly. On the field, his play/style is similar to that of current draft prospects Deshaun Watson from Clemson and Patrick Mahomes from Texas Tech. Kelly has a live arm and can move with the ball. Watson’s deep ball arm strength is better then Kelly, but Kelly has the ability to make plays down the field either from the pocket or outside.

The concern with Kelly is what’s between his ears and his decision-making. Kelly was kicked off the Clemson team after repeated run ins with the coaching staff. His departure from Clemson came after a verbal and heated altercation with the coaching staff during the 2014 spring game. He had multiple issues with the authorities, including being arrested and or detained multiple times since joining Ole Miss, including a bar fight in which Kelly reportedly told authorities he was going to his car and would spray the bar with his AK-47.

Kelly did help lead the Rebels to a victory in 2015 over Alabama in Tuscaloosa and led the Rebels to a Sugar Bowl win over Oklahoma State. On the field, Kelly plays in an offense with pre-designated reads and throws, limiting Kelly’s development reading defenses and working through progressions, and sometimes will get himself into mistakes by trusting his, or receiver’s abilities to get the ball, leading to incomplete passes and interceptions. It is also worth noting that Chad Kelly suffered a torn ACL (second injury to his right ACL) and may not be full speed at the time of training camp and/or the season.

While Kelly has won games and his style of play would appear to conincide with what the Chiefs do with Alex Smith, his background and issues with coaches are difficult to ignore. For a player that won’t be playing, the organization and coaching staff would be taking a major risk bringing Kelly into the locker room. While the organization has recently showen a willingness to take chances on players with red flags in their background, Kelly has the distinction of having issues with persons in the locker room and coaching staff.

Interesting note, Chad Kelly is the nephew of Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly.

Iowa has won a bunch of football games recently, aided by a strong running game and defense. While I watch Beathard, I come away impressed with tight end George Kittle, who Matt Miller currently ranks as a late round prospect but someone I believe will go in the top 4 rounds.