Chiefs Offseason Needs: A Few Good Men

Chiefs Offseason Needs:

A Few Good Men

by Laddie Morse | March 5, 2019

With the NFL Combine in the books, the Kansas City Chiefs have gathered more information to bring their draft day desires and offseason goals into focus. Now, they are entrenched in the process of honing their options: 1, 2, 3, and 4, etc. As far as who the Chiefs first pick in the draft will be, those options will be dependent upon whether or not they have come to a consensus on whether or not they needs a boat load of players, or a few good men. Because the Chiefs were one play away from the Super Bowl, it’s reasonable to assume the Chiefs might be thinking they only need a few good men. Going with that assumption here, no matter how unlikely it may end up being, is probably suicide for a team with the best QB in the land and a hideous defense. However, the Chiefs have said repeatedly that, “They like this team” which may mean that their offseason plan is closer to “a few good men” than a complete overhauling. Even if you’re talking about the defense.   

With a new Defensive Coordinator in town, the Chiefs are certainly going to hand the defensive side of the ball over to him, including him telling Andy Reid and Brett Veach what he needs in terms of personnel to succeed. They’re not going to tell Spags that, “Hey, we were only an offsides penalty away from the Super Bowl.” Spagnuolo has to have done his own evaluation to decide what he needs to make his scheme work. So, he’ll need scheme fits.

What We Know

• We already know that the team has opened itself up to trading both of their OLBs in Justin Houston and Dee Ford.
• We also know that Brett Veach and Andy Reid didn’t sound enthusiastic about the return of Eric Berry (but that’s not out of the question).
• We also know Travis Kelce has had ankle surgery to clean up his joint.
• We know there are holes at Cornerback, and Center and Running Back as well.

In other words, it doesn’t look like the Chiefs are just 3 or 4 good players away from having this team ready to go by training camp..   

On the flip side, every time I do a mock draft, specifically at First-Pick (because they allow Trade-backs), and I do a trade-back scenario, I end up with a lot of good players… but that’s the problem. I’m hit with the impression that the chiefs don’t need a lot of “good” players to get over the top… they only need a few “excellent” players to get them there.

I know it seems counter-intuitive, but that seems to be more real to me.

On the other hand, Brett Veach may be trying to draft the best of both worlds. Here’s what I mean. Take the 2018 draft for example. He loved Breeland Speaks… so he jumped up to get him. Not that this move has worked out great — yet — but the point is, he was willing to make a move to get his man. Then the rest of the draft, he drafted players who may all be heavy contributors this coming season.

• Speaks may end up starting at DE by year’s end.
• Nnadi is already making an impact.
• Dorian O’Daniel looks like a perfect fit for this defense.
• Armani Watts looks like a starter at some point.
• Tremon Smith, has hopes at CB but looks to continue his progression as a KR.
• Kahlil McKenzie could be the next LDT, or even better.

That was his first draft… without a first round selection. 

Now, it looks like he may be wanting to use a 2nd or 3rd round pick to move up in the first round and select a high level front seven stud, someone who can come right in and star next to either Chris Jones or Anthony Hitchens… depending on the position Veach takes in the draft.

Yes, I think there’s a high probability Veach takes a CB in the first two round, meaning: with his first three picks. However, based on all the trades he made last year, and his giddy face over having so many draft picks this year… plus… a first rounder… that Veach seems likely to be wanting to:

• A) Jump up to snag a stud defender (like he helped the Chiefs jump up and snag PMII two years ago) and,
• B) Still use the rest of the draft to select players who can come in and contribute right away, in year one or two (hopefully in year one).

It’s important to note that this year’s draft is loaded with:

• 1. Defensive Linemen
• 2. Linebackers
• 3. Defensive Backs
• 4. Wide Receivers
• 4. Tight Ends

What is amazing is, the football Gods have smiled upon the Chiefs as this a synchronistic synopsis… a happy happenstance… a pleasant planetary alignment… because those are also exactly the positions of need for the Chiefs this year (perhaps with the exception of WR… but then again, the Chiefs should always be looking to add a great WR to load the wagon for Patrick Mahomes). One would assume that this will make the process of going down the offseason checklist much, much easier. Consequently, I can also see Brett Veach getting more and more comfortable with the idea of jumping up to get his man in round one.

I mentioned those different options above (1, 2, 3, 4) and what I meant by that is: if Veach is able to sign a CB during the Free Agency period (like he did last year although, no one liked David Amerson and he was eventually cut before he season)… then Veach may be most interested in jumping up in the draft to get his front seven guy. If that is option 1, but it doesn’t work out… and he is able to sign a DL during the Free Agency period (like he did last year — Xavier Williams —  but it did work out )… then maybe his 2nd option is to jump up and take the CB of his dreams in the first round.

When Brett Veach and his Scouting team evaluates prospects they must also decide whether or not those prospects measure up to the talent offered in previous years. The NFL gets better each year. I believe it gets better in waves. For instance:

• 2004, Eli Manning, Phillip River and Ben Roethlisberger were all selected in the top 11 of that draft and consequently, the quarterback play across the league improved.. in a wave of sorts,
• 2005, Derrick Johnson, Thomas Davis, Shawne Merriman, DeMarcus Ware, and Lofa Tatupu… were all selected in the first two rounds and, the play at LB was improved across the league,
• 2007, Eric Weddle, Brandon Meriweather, Reggie Nelson, Michael Griffin, and LaRon Landry were all Safeties taken in the first two rounds… and the Safety play across the league was improved.

I’ve long thought that good teams ride the wave, especially when it comes to drafting a franchise QB. However, sometimes you have to jump up in the draft to get your man… like with Patrick Mahomes II in 2017. Now that the Chiefs have their franchise QB, it’s time to bring in a franchise DL or LB or CB, but more jumping up the draft board may need to take place for that to happen. Then, let the championships begin to pile up. Go Chiefs!

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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