Risky Business: How Chiefs Need To Approach Character Concerns

In the wake of the Marcus Peters debacle, it’s hard not to wonder what changes we‘ll see in Chiefs’ draft approach. Dorsey seemed very willing to take risks on guys with character concerns. Tyreek Hill, DeMarcus Robinson, and even, to a lesser extent, guys like Chris Jones had personalities and backgrounds that concerned evaluators. At times, this has paid off for the Chiefs, but it’s also yielded it’s fair share of problems. With a new GM in Kansas City — Brett Veach — the question comes to mind: just how risky should Chiefs be?

Cautionary Tale: As fans, we tend to worry more about the guys who are problems on the field than off of it. Just because a guy loves football and gets along with his peers, doesn’t mean he won’t be a problem eventually though. Take Aldon Smith. On the surface, he played at a very high level whenever he started… however, his starts were limited by persistent off-field issues. Since Smith arrived in the league, in 2011, he has had two years total without showing up on a police report. He never signed a second contract with the 49ers, and the Raiders have given up on rehabilitating him. In the end, Smith was a bad risk, and one teams should have avoided.

Orlando Brown: Effort Problem: Brown was once considered a high round pick, he torched that evaluation with an absolutely terrible combine performance. He’s been known, per Walter Football, to “play up or down to his competition”. Brown reminds me of DeMarcus Robinson (though I think Robinson tries a little harder). He’s got a ton of talent, but he may struggle to realize it on the field, if not properly motivated. Frankly, I don’t want a guy like that protecting Mahomes. Brown isn’t worth the risk.

Drug Problems: Holton Hill: Hill is a great CB. He’s fast^, fluid, and big. The kind of player Chiefs, without a 1^st round pick, shouldn’t have to evaluate, but he could still be available later. Why? Hill was suspended at Texas for failing a drug test. Lots of guys have done that. What’s more concerning with Hill, is that it was rumored to be his third such failure. Should Chiefs overlook his issues because of his talent? That’s a tough question, and one we can’t really answer. The Chiefs have to do their homework on Hill. If they’re confident he’s past it, they can draft him as early as the 2^nd. If they’re hopeful, but unsure, they could target him in the 3^rd. If they’ve got serious doubts, they need to pass. No amount of talent is worth bringing a DUI waiting to happen into your town.

Criminal Problems: Antonio Callaway: Nothing puts a damper on your draft stock like a few run-ins with the law. Callaway’s repeated incidents paint a picture of a guy who hasn’t got it yet. He’s also lacking in the work ethic to better himself as a player. Despite great natural talent, Callaway isn’t worth risking anything more than a 7^th round pick on, if that. If the Chiefs trust their locker room, on offense, they could try Callaway as an UDFA, but they’re probably better off passing on him altogether. Maybe keep an eye on him and see if he learns his lesson after another team cuts him.

Has K.C. been too risky in past drafts? I think it’s fair to say they have. Teams have to take risks to gain ground. I think we all agree that Travis Kelce has paid off, even though it has taken some time for him to mature. The Chiefs have been targeting too many of these players though. Though the end result of this, was a locker room that couldn’t handle Marcus Peters. Kansas City needs talent, but they’ve also got some character deficits to make up for. High effort, high maturity leaders should be found near the top of Chiefs draft board on April 27^th.

Bonus Thought: You won’t see many fans out there pining for the services of Colorado RB Phillip Lindsay. Heck, he’ll probably be available as an UDFA. Even so, I’m hoping the Chiefs will find a way to bring him in. Despite being on the smaller side, I haven’t seen a RB, in this draft, who pass blocks better than Lindsay. He will not be out-worked or out-effort-ed. He’s a high character guy whose relentless motor and enthusiasm are infectious.

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