Improving the K.C. Chiefs: Getting Evaluation Right

Improving the K.C. Chiefs:

Getting Evaluation Right

Laddie Morse

Some will say that the NFL draft is a crapshoot. Some will say it’s a science. Others will say that it’s all a matter of luck… but if any of that was true, then why have a draft at all? The simple truth is… there is no simple truth. No general manager will tell you that he knows all the answers… or even half the answers for that matter. However, for Kansas City Chiefs fans, there appears to be a marked difference between current GM John Dorsey and the previous man to hold the spot, Scott Pioli, because improving the K.C. Chiefs is about all getting the evaluation right.

Now, no one is going to argue that John Dorsey has gotten all his evaluations “right.” One need only say the words, “KeiVarae Russell” to debunk that claim. However, his recent successes have expectations rising and championship hopes on the verge of growing into an evergreen tree.

First, lets take a look at the two most recent drafts and the evaluations his team has gotten right. Here, we’ll color code it so that, yellow means Dorsey and his team got it right and red means they got it wrong and green means, we don’t know yet but it looks good so far.

• Chris Jones… and the trade-down to get him… was an obvious win.
• Parker Ehinger started six game but then got injured so we’ll have to wait and see how that turns out.
• Eric Murray was at times very good on special teams (368 ST snaps) but along with Ehinger, I’m in wait and see mode.
• Demarcus Robinson had some very good moments early in the season and while those almost all came on Special Team (272 snaps) we still don’t even know if he’ll be around another season if the Chiefs decide to draft a WR early. I like his ability to get free on punts but is that enough to stick for another year?
• Kevin Hogan was a pick I don’t get on many fronts. He wasn’t a scheme fit. His delivery was too long. He was cut the week before the season began and hardly got any preseason snaps (he was 7-of-15 in three games). This 5th round pick qualifies as a clear failure.
• Tyreek Hill was a huge success. This pick will be a big win for Andy Reid and John Dorsey if Hill keeps his nose clean.
• D.J. White was a very good pick for the 178th pick in the draft.
• Dadi Nicolas, with his injury, is still a big “not sure.”