Chiefs: What’s Next? What’s Happened?

Chiefs: What’s Next?

What’s Happened?

by David Bell | April 7, 2019

Sticking to the Inside View

To Get to Outside Actions

Sticking with the program that was established a few weeks ago, I am identifying positions of need and positions where I must make an immediate upgrade as the basis for approaching Free Agency and the NFL Draft. Thus far, Brett Veach has done a fine job during the free agency period. Right now, all thoughts are directed at resolving more of the top exposures. So, when I look at what I think needs to happen? It’s just my personal view, it may not match how Veach and Co. will approach adding a Free Agent and getting to the draft to finish out building the roster for 2019’s season.

What Questions do you have? Mine are:

1. Will another trade or free agent be signed to close the “loopholes” in the roster or add significant depth, or both?
2. What is the most serious exposure remaining? Rank 3 or 4 needs of the glaring weakness areas of player personnel and their fit for that exposed position and how will it get resolved. I want to know what they are Mr. Veach! Laddie posted on a Veach Presser where he had a “tell” in his comments. I watched that over plus his eyes which yielded a Truthful “Tell” in two ways — he has a plan and it is already in place. I personally believe part of this is another F/A signing or trade.
3. Will Brett Veach trade up in the draft for that sure bet Pro-Bowler type player, or drop back and obtain another top 100 pick? He already has 4 top 92 picks. Getting a 5th by trading back could be a huge advantage for this draft. (1st, two 2nds and a 3rd round pick). Plus he added another 2nd round pick for 2020.

Here is my list of exposures. You might be surprised knowing I am focused mostly on defense most of the time because that has been the serious weakness of the club for 3 years running.

1. DT/DE – I would like to Add a power rusher and run stopper to match up with Chris Jones. Is this a must have need? You decide but if the opportunity came to Veach to select a top DT or DE I think he would be hard pressed not to make this player his top selection. Item two should be considered as two players. Which ever way this falls, if it does, the player should be an immediate starter and impact player from game one onward. Unlike others, I like the additions of Okafor and Ogbah to our existing mix of players. Yes, I expect Breeland Speaks to have a breakout season. I think Nnadi inside showed a lot and we all knew that Chris Jones was going to bust out and he did so in 2018. Even Xavier Williams had a decent start in KC and he is making an effort to improve his pass rush in he off season. I still think a top player needs to be added. Or two. But if I had to make a choice, odds are I would look for a DE first because I think such players are more difficult to obtain and this is he kind of draft where a late round 1 or round 2 DE can really be an impact player. It’s true that I think the same thing about DT’s also. I look for a trade back and a signing of a DT or DE as the first pick in the draft. It won’t the powerful front with 2 top Edge Rushers. It will be a mix of personnel who give the pass rush multiple looks and it could get down to 7 people involved.

2. Cornerback – though I think this is an area of lesser need it remains one of high focus. The Secondary for the Chiefs has been shot full of holes long enough. Don’t get me wrong – I like Fuller, Ward and Breeland for starters but as I have written before, we don’t have a shut down corner, we may not be able to get one one and most teams don’t have such a player but the Chiefs need a corner who can cover all bets: Press man, mirror and zone and do this successfully against the opposition strengths week after week. I also fee that a corner with length should be added but this player can be later in the draft. But I do think 2 CB’s should be added. Breeland’s addition to CB doesn’t mean we don’t have an exposure. He was a good fit.

3. Tight End – Adding a quality TE is a must have. Of cousre we all have our top guys but the Chiefs should be able to pick and choose a player who fits their view of a TE of Need – he will block, catch and not drop the football and block down field – thus becoming an instant threat for Mahomes to exploit. He can work his learning curve with intense focus since Travis Kelce is coming off surgery and this will enable to the new TE to get snaps with the “Ones!”

Man, I’ve got to say it: I would like them to get Iowa’s Hockenson. e can get a top pick as we did with Kelce in this draft. We could trade up to get Fant or Hockenson or trade back and get Sternberger, Oliver or Warring. Like that. I am a believer though in making sure Reid has a top TE to work into the system quickly and become an opening day aerial threat.

4. OC/OG – I have stated many times that I believe that the Chiefs need to draft to the Offensive Line every season. With Morse having departed, even though I believe Austin Reiter will be the opening day starter at OC, it would behoove the Chiefs to draft an interior lineman who can compete for an opening day job.. I will also say that despite my view is that Eric Fisher is a decent OT – he is very expensive player who just got to the pro bowl since his draft in 2013. I think he Chiefs need to move on from Fisher as soon as possible due to his high salary cost. I personally believe Reiter will be the opening day OC. But I also see that we should draft and OC/OG.

5. FS Acquisition – Veach made a major addition by signing Tyrann Mathieu a safety to close part of the exposure at the back end of the defense. He added Johnson-Quartey and in house the Chiefs have Armani Watts, Jordan Lucas, Daniel Sorensen. Personally, I believe the weakness is not yet a strength but there remains a need to add a free safety. FS is now my 4th ranked area of concern.

Establishing an ordered priority of Draft candidates and the positions which have a need and more importantly, positions which have a “Must Have” Status. I can’t really do this effectively – until we sign one or two more players, or trade for them—I do believe that Brett Veach is working on obtaining another major piece to the puzzle of missing starters on defense.
So who is there that we already have or have acquired? Who are our own free agents that might fill a position of need(but not “must have.”

6. ILBs. It is a concern.  I have dropped it down the bottom of my list but have decided that much of the problem with the LB crew in 2018 was due to use of players by DC Bob Sutton. I would like to get Devin Bush. I would have to think long and hard about my 1st round pick in this regard because I think he has dropped in the lists of players and their order — not because of his ability but because of other team needs. I am concerned about the LB crew but we added Damien Wilson for the Sam ang like nd the only thing I think we can do is something like insure that we get Bush or perhaps Mack Wilson Take this item under advisement. I should note that I think Hockenson is ranked too high as well and may end up being within range of the Chiefs at TE.

Chiefs Transactions: to 4-5-19

• April 4 – Chiefs sign former AAF CB Keith Reiser (former Chiefs roster player also for 1 game)
• April 3 – Chiefs release CB Step Durham
• April 2 – Chiefs sign WR Marcus Kemp
• April 1 – Chiefs trade S Eric Murray to Cleveland for DE/DT Emmanuel Ogbah
• March 23 – Chiefs release OL Dillon Gordon
• March 22 – Chiefs sign FB Anthony Sherman
  March 21 – Colts sign former Chiefs OLB Justin Houston, Raiders sign Former OL Jordan Devey, Bears sign Former Chiefs QB Tyler Bray
• March 18 – Lions sign Former Chiefs CB Marcus Cooper, Cardinals sign former Chiefs DB Josh Shaw, Chiefs sign CB Bashaud Breeland
• March 16 – 49’ers Ink Dee Ford for 1yr, $19.75M, Jaguars sign WR Chris Conley
• March 14 – Chiefs sign NO Saints DE Alex Okafor – 3yr, $18M, Browns sign Former Chiefs OC Eric Kush
• March 13- Chiefs sign Jordan Lucas to 6th round draft pick money level, Chiefs release S Eric Berry with post-June 1 Designation, frees 9.5M in cap space, Chiefs tender PK Harrison Butker, Chiefs tender WR Marcus Kemp, Chiefs tender DT Justin Hamilton, Browns Sign TE Demetrius Harris
• March 12 – 49’ers sign OLB Dee Ford
• March 11 – Chiefs sign S Tyrann Mathieu, OC Mich Morse signs with the Bills; Austin Reiter is tagged as the future Starting OC.
• March 10 – Chiefs Release OLB Justin Houston (frees $14M in cap space)
• March 9 – Chiefs sign RB Carlos Hyde]
• March 5 – Chiefs begin negotiating new contract for Tyreek Hill
• March 4 – Chiefs place franchise Tag on OLB Dee Ford
• March 7: Chiefs sign CB Harold Jones-Quartey
• Feb 22: Chiefs sign QB EJ Manuel, WR Sammie Coates, WR Davon Grayson, DB Dontae Johnson
• Feb 19: Chiefs sign OT Justin Senior

Chiefs F/A’s Who Might Help?

• Justin Hamilton – ERFA Tendered an offer, unsigned
• DT Allen Bailey – Unsigned, URFA
• RB Spencer Ware – Unsigned URFA
• CB Orlando Scandrick – Unsigned, URFA
• WR DAT – Unsigned, URFA
• OL Jeff Allen – Unsigned, URFA
• LB Terrance Smith – Unsigned, URFA
• TE Alex Ellis – Unsigned, URFA

More this week as Brett Veach works to fill in blanks.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne

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