American Football Conference David Bell Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs: Inside Out and Back

David Bell April 3, 2019 No Comments

 

 

 

 

Chiefs: Inside Out and Back

 

by David Bell | April 3, 2019

 

After John Cooney reviewed the status of departures and acquisitions thus far in Saturday’s piece, and then provided an example draft, I decided to use his view of things to launch this Chiefs: Inside Out and Back piece.

 

It’s time to look at things afresh — and there is a very new move by GM Brett Veach contained herein and that will have a large effect on the changing times of the Chiefs and the upcoming draft. We have seen pundits like, David Carr and Reggie Wayne of NFL.com, who project that the Chiefs will have a difficult time in returning to the playoffs. I say BUNK! The Chiefs missed the Big Bowl by two hairs on a right knuckle on the hand of an OLB, pure and simple: a messed up finale.

 

 

The Chiefs have had six consecutive winning seasons, have won the division three years running and have one of the most stable rosters and staffs possible, even though the organization is swapping out the 34 in favor of the 43 adding some of the  players and coaches on Defense. I am good with this, the departure of Bob Sutton and arrival of Steve Spagnuolo and staff. I am very pleased with the moves made by Chiefs GM Brett Veach in Free Agency. He has had one top player added and a few beneath that, all targeted to improve the roster so that the draft can be more granular and concise in it’s building and implementation from the constructed Big Board.

 

I also wrote recently about the changing times of the Chiefs and it’s continuing to change as I write. Review John Cooney’s Eye in the Sky Report and then consider the comments herein.

 

 

 

$tatus Update, The Monies

The Chiefs have $22.8M in Cap Space. They will gain 9.5M on June 2nd (Berry’s release) so effectively, $33.3M. This amount of monies is surely enough to sign two meaningful Free Agents, extend two contracts, fund the rookies, have a prudent reserve and still be able to sign free agents to fill in blanks and add depth players by opening day. Veach is currently working on extending Chris Jones contract now as reported last week, by USA Today’s Chiefs Wire.

 

Draft Considerations, Now

One thing to consider is who it might be in the upcoming draft who will further provide resolution to close the holes in the roster. We can look no further than to use the work of our own Ransom Hawthorne whose detailed work with the Lazy Big Board Series of Articles provides illumination of how Veach and Co. could address the draft. For example, here is his piece on getting that solid, run-stopping plug of a 1-tech (NT). Take time to review: The Lazy Big Board: Chiefs Targets at NT

 

 

 

Now think: players, improving the roster top and bottom; think about the moves thus far and positions which were the target of Veach and staff in how they are approaching Free Agent acquisitions and how each move is targeted at exposures and has a multiplier effect upon the draft…. and… let’s go Inside Out, and Back!

 

Safeties: no missing pieces here

  • Tyrann Mathieu
  • Armani Watts
  • Jordan Lucas
  • Daniel Sorensen
  • Harold Jones-Quartey? or __________?

 

 

Cornerbacks: a coupe of missing pieces

  • Kendrick Fuller
  • Charvarius Ward
  • ______________ [blank photo]
  • Bashaud Breeland
  • Tremon Smith
  • ______________ [blank photo]

 

The CB position still needs to have an addition, and maybe two but still, Bashaud Breeland’s addition strengthens the room. However, I see that they have need for a player who adds speed and mirror capability on the outside and also need a CB with length for coverage of tall WR’s and TE’s. I would like to see the Chiefs draft a CB in the top 100 picks (first four picks).

 

Whomever is added it should create competition among the players to aim for the top and win a starters role and snaps which has been sorely missing in the Chiefs secondary. I like Isaiah Johnson out of the University of Houston as a late round selection for example. He has the length that would be a great addition to the CB group. I also think he is a stronger player than is given credit. The players who could give us the mirror type, speed/cover corner is fairly extensive and available round 2 onward. Brett Veach can pick and choose and get two corners of worth in this draft as it is pretty deep for secondary players.

 

Linebackers: a top end need

  • Anthony Hitchens
  • ______________ [blank photo]
  • Reggie Ragland
  • Damien Wilson
  • Dorian O’Daniel
  • Raymond Davison
  • Ben Niemann

 

 

It’s here that I really want to insure we get a top, can’t miss, ILB that is an immediate starter and where I really want to get in position to draft Devin Bush LB out of Ann Arbor. If I have to trade up to get a player of this caliber, then he is my choice. At the same time, the addition of Damien Wilson makes the group stronger and more flexible. I do think there are players that will go in round 2 that could fit as well, such as Mack WIlson.

 

Defense Ends: an unknown need

  • Breeland Speaks
  • Alex Okafor
  • Emmanuel Ogbah
  • ______________ [blank photo]
  • Tanoh Kpassagnon
  • Rob McCray

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here, I was really torn about even going to what I had really wished to do, which was to:

  • trade up for Clelin Ferrell, a DE from Clemson
  • standing pat and drafting Jaylon Ferguson of La. Tech, or
  • trading up and going after Devin Bush, as noted above.

 

 

 

This is where the actions of Brett Veach may be a “a blind” for many — the addition of Emmanuel Ogbah in a Veach-Dorsey player exchange with the Browns getting Eric Murray changes the trajectory of the draft and provides Brett Veach another solution before is most likely one of the more powerful moves made by Brett Veach to this point — powerful especially in regard to the upcoming draft and how Ogbah and Okafor changes the view of how new DC Steve Spagnuolo will use players to rush the QB and how. Again, this move is extremely important and was an extremely economical move at the same time, garnering the cap close to $1M in additional space. Beyond the potential draft picks: this was a trade that has been, according to sources, in the works for a couple of weeks. John Dorsey gets a player he drafted and rids the roster of another Sasha Brown player (Brown was the former Executive Vice President of football operations. John Dorsey’s was hired the same day Brown was fired). Here is what I garner from the trade:

 

The Chiefs acquire former OSU player Emmanuel Ogbah, age 25,  from the Cleveland Browns in a trade for Safety Eric Murray, a 4th round draft pick by John Dorsey in 2016. Ogbah’s 2019 salary was to be $2.1M.  Ogbah was the 32nd pick in the 2015 draft. Ogbah suffered injuries the past 2 seasons and missed 8 games over that 2 year span of his second 2 seasons. Ogbah’s rookie season looke good as he had 53 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 3 pass deflections in 16 games.  In 2018 Ogbah played 14 games, with 40 tackles, 3 sacks, 8 pass deflections and  fumble recovery returning toward his rookie form after suffering being out due to injury in 2017 for 6 games or more. Ogbah will fill the role of the #3 DE with the Chiefs and give them greater flexibility with an upside to the Defensive Line Room. Of course it is a gamble but Ogbah is a #2 round pick and the type of acquisition that Brett Veach has turned into production on the field in his previous such signings. – Trade info from 247Sports

 

 

I like this trade a lot. Murray was not going to remain a Chief. Veach found a 1st round type addition to obtain for the Defense, a player taken as the 32nd pick in the draft who showed high promise 3 years ago. Obtaining Emmanuel Ogbah fit’s the Veach profile — he really upped from a basic 1st round pick, giving up a 4th round pick. An astute trade that should greatly benefit the Chiefs with an added Defensive End who can play Tackle as well. But the powerfulness of this move is the advantage that Veach gets in the draft by gaining flexibility of whom to look for in the draft. Certainly Ogbah should have a higher ceiling than Nelson and the change in environments could greatly benefit both players.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interior Defensive Linemen: another need
  • Chris Jones
  • ______________ [One-Tech-NT?]
  • Derrick Nnadi
  • Xavier Williams
  • Justin Hamilton

 

 

This one, for me, has only one choice early in the draft: Dexter Lawrence of Clemson. I must say, although he will have a great NFL career, his playing partner, Christian Wilkins is the DT that changes outcomes of games and I like him better as an all round football player, with a chance to possibly have a HoF career. I can see the addition to the roster here and the acquisition of Ogbah makes such a move more likely.

 

Running Backs: no missing pieces

  • Damien Williams
  • Darrell Williams
  • Carlos Hyde
  • Anthony Sherman (FB)

 

 

Quarterbacks: nothing missing

  • Patrick Mahomes
  • Chad Henne
  • Chase Litton
  • EJ Manuel

 

 

Offensive Tackles: no missing pieces

  • Eric Fisher
  • Mitchell Schwartz
  • Andrew Wylie
  • Ryan  Hunter

 

 

Offensive Guards: no missing pieces

 

  • Cam Erving
  • LDT
  • Kahlil McKenzie and others internal?

 

Centers: no missing pieces

 

  • Austin Reiter
  • Jimmy Murray
  • Tejan Koroma

 

 

 

Tight Ends: a necessary backup 

 

  • Travis Kelce
  • _____________ [blank photo]
  • Deon Yelder
  • David Wells

 

 

 

Now, if I am going to go after a TE, I want a player who can block and be a threat and get on the field now. Lost are the services of Demetrius Harris and I am not going to be able to get one of the highest picks for a TE in late round 2 or round 3. I like Jace Sternberger, TE of Texas A&M. He is going to be a top TE in the NFL in my opinion and would fit well with the Chiefs playing with Kelce as the #2 but, also a quick study to get on the field now. There are other players who fit and could be selected even later.

 

Wide Receivers: no needs here

 

  • Tyreek Hill
  • Sammy Watkins
  • Demarcus Robinson
  • Byron Pringle
  • Gehrig Dieter

 

 

 

In this case, I think Byron Pringle is going to immediately fill big shoes as a WR, moving up to the #3 spot that had previously been assigned to Chris Conley. I have him starting out behind Robinson in S/T and camp but I see him ascending as a player and moving on up to be a dependable target for PM2 early on in 2019. I am not counting on Hill being a problem such as Hunt was needing to be replaced. We will know before the draft though if another action must be undertaken.

 

Special Teams: no needs

 

  • P-Dustin Colquitt
  • LS-James Winchester
  • PK- Harrison Butker

 

 

 

Best So Far!

More good stuff to come! What do I see? Brett Veach has given us a view of a roster which is… Best So Far (in the mainframe software support era of my life, this is a version of code that has the fixes and is considered to the best version available and is called the…  Best So Far!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Bell – ArrowheadOne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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