From an objective standpoint, the undrafted free agents the Kansas City Chiefs sign aren’t terribly important. Sure, the Chiefs land one every now and then who proves to be useful, but 2nd or 3rd string tends to be the ceiling for most UDFAs, with the exception of kickers and punters. The Chiefs best UDFA signing thus far, under Dorsey, is Daniel Sorenson. A highly productive player who they just extended, but he’s still just their 3rd best safety. Although, in Sutton’s defense, that guy is basically a starter. Perhaps the biggest thing to take away from post-draft signings is not the players themselves, but what the class of UDFAs reveals about the Chiefs view of their roster.
Kansas City has limited money to spend on signing bonuses and limited roster spots. If they spend a roster spot on an undrafted free agent, it’s going to be a guy they at least think might make the roster some day. The year before the Chiefs drafted 3 CBs, they brought in 2CBs as UDFAs and most other years they focused on safeties with their DB signings. They brought in two 3-4OLB types in 2013, a year before they drafted Ford.
The first thing that stands out about this year’s FA class is the WRs. The Chiefs signed 5 WRs this year, the most they’ve signed in any other year (as UDFAs), under Dorsey, is two. There are several possible explanations for this:
1. Chiefs Don’t Like Their Depth
Maclin had a down year last year, while Hill was awesome. No other WRs really stood out. Conely and Wilson had flashes, but neither consistently established themselves as a #2. None of the other wideouts were able to work their way on the field much at all.
2. Chiefs Playbook Is Changing
Andy Reid makes adjustments to the playbook every year. If the Chiefs want to run more empty sets with 5 WRs, they need to have enough depth to support them. If the Chiefs want to actually pass the ball into the end zone (please please please please), they may want to bring in some bigger possession WRs to do that.
3. Prepping For The Future
Patrick Mahomes is a very different QB than Alex Smith. Where Smith is cautious and needs WRs who can get open, Mahomes will try to gun it in there at times. The best protection against Mahomes aggression is bigger, physical WRs who can win 50/50 balls. Most high powered passing QBs have a speedster and a big possession guy. Chiefs have a speedster in Hill, but they don’t have a big guy who’s a deep threat. Remember, Riley Cooper, who’s a pretty pedestrian WR, was able to put up some huge numbers with Nick Foles forcing him the ball.
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4. Survival Of The Fittest
Nothing brings out talent like competition. The Chiefs have a bunch of WRs who could be great or could be on the bubble. Seeing a lot of guys rolling in has got to be a wake-up call. Chris Conely, Albert Wilson, and Demarcus Robinson had all better be ready to go… because HC Andy Reid won’t hesitate to replace them with a worthy UDFA.
5. The Best Player Available
Is it really possible that Dorsey just sees WR as one of the value positions post-draft? Absolutely. Chiefs brought in a couple of safeties, despite the fact that they already have four good ones, and one of those safeties received the highest signing bonus of any Chiefs’ UDFA this year (Devin Chapelle). Need is not the sole driver of Chiefs signings. This attitude is part of why their roster is so deep. They won’t pass up a good UDFA just because they’re not sure they can keep them later.
If I had to guess, I would say that, while a number of these reasons likely factor in, the main reason the Chiefs are bringing in so many WRs, is that they’re looking at a playbook change, either this year or next, and Mahomes probably has something to do with it. Every WR they brought in this year is at least 6’2”, only two of the previous 7 UDFA WRs they’ve brought in were that tall. Look for Chiefs to start incorporating more multiple WR sets, and developing more possession style receivers.
And that my take. What’s yours?
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