Kansas City Chiefs could draft another quarterback in 2018

Despite the presence of second year man Patrick Mahomes and two new veteran backups, quarterback remains a very possible draftable position—late.

“With the tenth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select Patrick Mahomes II, quarterback, Texas Tech University.”

With that very sentence, the Chiefs cemented their quarterback of the future and put an end to decades of fan misery by investing a first round pick at the position for the first time since ’83. What they did not do was completely take themselves out of the business of drafting more quarterbacks.

While the the team certainly has more pressing needs, late in the draft, the Chiefs could very easily target a quarterback to play backup. Why would they do that? Well, let’s take a look.

Saving Money

Drafting late round QBs to serve as No. 3 and then possibly No. 2 quarterbacks saves teams a lot of money. Instead of spending (big) money on backup quarterbacks, the new trend is to find young, cheap quarterbacks, especially at the third spot, where they will earn next to nothing compared to the cost of an established veteran backup. Case in point.

In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Chiefs used their 5th round pick (183) on LB Ukeme Eligwe. He signed a four year contract worth a total of $2,601,937.

This off season, Chad Henne was signed to a two year contract worth a total of $6,700,000. Henne’s cap number in 2018 is $2,600,000.

In essence, if Eligwe plays all four seasons in Kansas City, he will have counted in four seasons what Henne will count this season. In a league where every dollar counts, and if the Chiefs are right about the potential and future of Mahomes, there is no point spending a bunch of money on backup QBs. With a slew of contract extensions needing to get done in the next couple seasons, this is a spot money can be saved.

But, McGloin

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Yes, the Chiefs signed veteran Matt McGloin, formerly of the Texans and Raiders. Yes, he has played in regular season NFL games. And while the details have not been released, it’s reportedly a one year deal and likely carries very little, if any, guaranteed money. That means the Chiefs probably shouldn’t feel a great commitment to the Penn State alumnus.

McGloin is a solid insurance policy as a third guy in the locker room and the quarterback room while Mahomes gets accustomed to starting, but Henne provides much of that role already, and has more guaranteed money.

Is there interest?

The Chiefs have shown a good bit of interest in projected late-round signal callers, a sign they may draft a quarterback for the second straight year. Some are names those around the Chiefs kingdom have heard of (Tanner Lee, Nebraska; Riley Ferguson, Memphis) while some are names few likely know of (Alex McGough of Florida International). But yes, the Chiefs are indeed doing their homework.

When I spoke to Eric Galko of Optimum Scouting, he indicated very much of the same thing. The Chiefs are interested and looking at the possibility of drafting (or signing an undrafted quarterback) a third string QB to develop into a backup after Henne’s contract expires after the 2019 season.

Will the Chiefs draft a quarterback in the upcoming draft? Not sure. Will the Chiefs bring in a young rookie signal caller to training camp to compete for a roster spot? Almost guaranteed.

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