Out Of Nowhere: Chiefs Breakout Candidates For 2017

While we’ve yet to witness the Kansas City Chiefs draft, it’s still a pretty safe bet that most of those players won’t be starting in their first year. The Chiefs like to give rookies some time to get acclimated before they give them significant snaps. Perhaps the biggest impact to the team will come from the players who were depth guys last year and can push for starting time this year. Here are my predictions for the breakout players who can make an impact for Kansas City in 2017.

WR Demarcus Robinson

Demarcus Robinson’s natural athleticism is undeniable. Any time you see a player dominate on Special Teams the way he has, you know he’s special. The knock on Robinson coming out of college was that his routes lacked refinement. Head coach Andy Reid seldom lets his receivers make major contributions their first year, and Robinson had a bunch of veterans and an electric rookie ahead of him. This year, Demarcus should have more polish to his routes and get some snaps to showcase what he can do. His skillset is tailor made for the West Coast Offense.

DJ Alexander

Granted, the Pro Bowl doesn’t bring out full effort in everyone, but Alexander did a heck of a job in his snaps there. He’s listening to Derrick Johnson and he has the athleticism to succeed. He just needs more reps to build up his instincts, a fact he’s well aware of: “I did a lot of thinking and guessing (against Tennessee) and that hurts you, I’ve got to be able to see it and go.” –DJ Alexander

Tyler Bray

To Chiefs fans who want Chiefs to draft a guy like DeShone Kizer, or Davis Webb — basically guys with big arms who need a lot of developing — I say the Chiefs already have that guy. Tyler Bray has spent four years in the Chiefs system. If you watch his performance last pre-season, it wasn’t the most impressive, but he made good decisions with the ball and didn’t take unnecessary risks. Is Kansas City ready to start him over Alex? Only Training camp will tell, but I think he’s a very strong candidate for the #2 QB spot this year.

TJ Barnes

Barnes is a big guy who’s always struggled with his motivation. Coming into a contract year, he has a chance to earn himself, not a huge contract, but one bigger than the vet minimum he’s been making for a while. With the likely departure of Poe, the Chiefs will be on the hunt for a big run stuffer in the middles and Barnes has the size to fill that role.

CB Philip Gaines

A lot of fans have forgotten what Phillip Gaines can do when he’s healthy. He had a down year last year, but he’s still the Chiefs fastest and most versatile CB. He might struggle to get playing time, but when he does, he’ll remind fans why he was once considered the likely successor to Sean Smith.

Between old players stepping up, and new draft picks, the Chiefs should be a better team next year, but they’re going to have a brutal schedule. Dorsey will need to make the most of the little cap space they have, and their coaching staff will need to do a great job of getting all the players up to speed. At the end of next year, there will be no questions in our minds about who the Chiefs are. Good or bad, they’re going to show it early and often against quality opponents.

Bonus: Breakdown Players

For all the players who will step up, some will step back or step out. Here’s the likely list of candidates:

Justin March

Undeniable talent, but he’s been injured every year since the team got him. Needs to become a depth only guy, not a starter.

Rakeem Nunez-Rochez

Nunez-Rochez got way more playing time last year than the Chiefs probably ever wanted him to. With Howard and Bailey coming back, his workload should decrease significantly, even with Poe’s departure.

Charcandrick West

This one stings a little because I love West as a person and there are aspects of his game that are pretty solid. I’ve had a soft spot for him ever since I watched his college highlights. That said, this draft is deep at RB and I am starting to wonder if Chiefs might even be better off with Darrin Reaves. Chiefs might not cut West, but they’d be wise to make him a #3 or #4 back and give Ware a better backup.