Kansas City Chiefs: Reassessing Draft Needs After 1st Wave of Free Agency
If you said going into the offseason that Kansas City's top two needs were offensive line and wide receiver, then you have to be pleased with the job general manager John Dorsey has done thus far.
Dorsey has signed wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, the best wide receiver among all 2015 free agent wideouts. In addition, Dorsey acquired Pro Bowl guard Ben Grubbs from New Orleans in a trade, as first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, and signed free agent Paul Fanaika, formerly of the Cardinals, in a move announced by the team.
Alongside adding a wide receiver and a pair of guards, Dorsey also signed former Oakland Raiders safety Tyvon Branch.
With Dorsey finding a way to keep outside linebacker Tamba Hali and defensive end Mike DeVito, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was the only key player who became a cap casualty. The team released him on Thursday, according to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com.
But with some key positions addressed, it trims Kansas City's offseason needs, allowing the Chiefs to explore more options later this offseason through free agency and in the draft.
Here is an updated list of needs for the Chiefs for 2015.
1. Wide Receiver
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Although the Chiefs added Maclin, the offense still needs another wide receiver. Albert Wilson did show some flashes, but the Chiefs will want an impact player at the wideout spot opposite of Maclin.
Cecil Shorts would make a good No. 2 receiver and has the ability to reach his ceiling if he is given a good quarterback. The Chiefs could have two former Missouri Tigers starting if the team decides to draft Dorial Green-Beckham, who will likely be the best wide receiver available by the time the Chiefs are on the clock with the 18th pick.
Either way, Kansas City needs another wide receiver after letting Bowe go.
2. Inside Linebacker
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The Chiefs decided to re-sign and bring back inside linebacker Josh Mauga, as Derrick Johnson is set to return after suffering a torn Achilles injury in Week 1 of last season. But Dorsey must seek more help on defense and find talent that can do a better job against the run.
Stopping the run was Kansas City's only flaw on defense, as the team finished 28th.
Through multiple mock drafts, I have praised Ben Heeney, the former Kansas Jayhawk. Despite playing at Kansas, he was the only bright spot as he quickly closed in on running backs and limited them. Though he will be a late-round pick, Heeney could be an immediate starter. He shined at the combine, finishing first among all linebackers in several events.
3. Secondary
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The Chiefs have a solid group of defensive backs in cornerbacks Sean Smith and Phillip Gaines and safeties Husain Abdullah and Tyvon Branch. If Eric Berry is cleared to play, he adds to a good group of safeties.
But there is no such thing as having too many defensive backs, especially with how dominant some teams are in the passing game, especially in the AFC West.
If the Chiefs manage to find their No. 2 receiver through free agency or decide to add a wide receiver in the second round, then the Chiefs could focus on a defensive back in the draft.
Jalen Collins, the cornerback from LSU, becomes an enticing choice and will likely be available by the time the Chiefs are on the clock. Though the Chiefs finished second against the pass, they finished second to last in takeaways with 14 after finishing second in 2013 with 36, per SportingCharts.com.
Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson is another player worth considering for the job if Collins is unavailable.
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4. Backup Offensive Linemen
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Last year, the Chiefs dealt with injuries and suspensions at offensive line before the regular season got underway. This forced the Chiefs to use an inexperienced offensive line, which resulted in 45 sacks for Alex Smith in 15 games.
With Grubbs and Fanaika, who each allowed one sack last year, according to Pro Football Focus, on the roster, the Chiefs will have better protection against the pass and in the rushing department.
On the off chance that the injury bug occurs again, it is worth considering a veteran lineman and drafting one in the first three rounds.
Overall
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As I said earlier, making multiple key additions for positions in desperate need of a change helps immensely. It gives teams flexibility moving forward in free agency and in the draft, which can translate to better success on the gridiron.
So far, Dorsey has done exactly that, and the Chiefs offense looks better on paper than it did last season.
Assuming Dorsey continues to make cap adjustments in order to do more in free agency, the Chiefs still have a couple of holes to address. For now, Dorsey has already put the Chiefs in a better position to succeed after falling short of returning to the postseason with nine wins.
Justin Houston was a huge part of Kansas City's success, and if he signs a long-term deal with the Chiefs, Dorsey can cap off the offseason with a successful label by just making a couple of more adjustments.
By then, the Chiefs will have a complete football team in the third year of the current regime and will surprise plenty of NFL fans.
Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com unless noted otherwise.
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