What Offseason Moves Are Next for Kansas City Chiefs with the Draft Complete?

Now with two drafts under his belt as Kansas City Chiefs general manager, many are beginning to gain a clearer understanding of who exactly general manager John Dorsey is as a drafter.

In the 2012 NFL draft, he scooped up offensive lineman Eric Fisher with the first overall pick. Even when healthy, Fisher was less than impressive in his rookie season, but he was selected with the idea that he'd replace Branden Albert at left tackle in 2014.

He's still poised to do just that.

This year, he threw everybody for a loop with Kansas City's first-round pick by adding a pass-rusher, Dee Ford, to its already stout collection of linebackers. Similar to Fisher, he may provide minimal impact in his first year but will ease the possible loss of Tamba Hali in 2015.

It's clear that the Chiefs' GM places a profound emphasis on planning for the future, but the strategy isn't without its downfalls.

Burning offseason questions such as "What will KC do at receiver?" and "Who can jump in and help at free safety?" went glaringly unanswered. With the bulk of free agents already signed, and the draft now in the rear-view mirror, Kansas City doesn't have much wiggle room to address the remainder of its roster concerns.

Some answers may still lie in free agency; others lay hidden among its current group of players. However they choose to approach their issues, the Chiefs still have much to accomplish prior to the regular season kicking off in September. 

Here are some post-draft moves that Kansas City must make to ensure it gets the most from its squad in 2014.

Undrafted Free-Agent Signings

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Kansas City generally likes adding some depth following the draft. Considering the several blatant needs that have been ignored thus far into the offseason, you can bank on that again being the case this year.

Arrowhead Pride confirms that the Chiefs have already inked six undrafted free agents, with additional signings likely to come as well. It appears that, with his first wave of signings, Dorsey made a halfhearted attempt at addressing two of his organization's most pressing concerns—safety and receiver.

Safety Daniel Sorensen and wide receivers Darryl Surgent and Albert Wilson will certainly be three names to keep an eye on this preseason.

Surgent, a wide receiver out of Louisiana-Lafayette, is an interesting signing. He failed to eclipse 600 yards receiving in any of his four seasons in Lafayette, and his 40-yard dash hovers just under 4.6. His best chance in the NFL appears to be on special teams, though Kansas City's roster already boasts Joe McKnight, De'Anthony Thomas and Knile Davis.

If either of the two wideouts have a shot at making the 53-man roster, it's likely Wilson.

He's coming off of a tremendous senior year at Georgia State—1,177 yards receiving and eight touchdowns—on his way to being named a first-team All-Sun Belt selection. Like Surgent, he's also competent on special teams, as his career 6,235 all-purpose yards might suggest.

Ultimately, it's his services as a receiver that may sneak him past final cuts.

Though, it's Sorensen, a safety out of BYU, who perhaps has the best odds to make the active roster. It's fair to anticipate that Kansas City will carry no less than four safeties this season, and only three of those slots are currently known. The former Cougar has a relatively low ceiling but could provide quality depth at the team's most questionable position.

He doesn't boast awe-inducing measurables, but he seems to own the intangibles that could eventually transform him into a competent role player.

Lastly, if for no other reason than because it'd be an interesting pickup, keep an eye out for kicker Cairo Santos as well. The 2012 Groza Award winner has been linked to the Chiefs since the conclusion of the draft and will find a home somewhere in the NFL, if not in KC.

Sure, Ryan Succop has been reliable over the past five years, but Santos could wind up being something special.

Solving the Slot Receiver Dilemma

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Of the thousands of mock drafts created prior to the 2014 NFL draft, you'd be hard-pressed to dig up a single one that pegged Kansas City not to select any true receivers.

But, Dorsey—never one to be predictable—did just that, choosing to pass on several prospects that were identified as clear fits for the Chiefs at wideout. Fourth-round selection De'Anthony Thomas—a running back/wide receiver hybrid—may fit the mold as designated "offensive weapon," but just how much consistency he'll bring to the position is a complete unknown.

There are a plethora of ways this situation could shake out, but here are a few of the more likely scenarios:

1. Keep Donnie Avery at WR2, move A.J. Jenkins to slot: Jenkins was predicted to serve at slot in San Francisco and was again initially projected to fill the role for Kansas City. He offers blazing speed, and it's a move that may temporarily mask his deficiencies as a route-runner. He's routinely lauded as having the tools to become a successful NFL wideout—he just hasn't been able to put it together yet. At the University of Illinois, he primarily presented a downfield threat but also displayed a tendency to make things happen after the catch—which is what Andy Reid desires out of the slot. If Avery can manage to improve his consistency on the outside, it'd be a duct tape-like fix, but a fix nonetheless. 
2. Move Donnie Avery to slot, A.J. Jenkins to WR2: The common train of thought is that either Jenkins or Avery will start in 2014, but not both. That's not necessarily a given. Sure, Avery disappointed often last year, but he still owns the wheels that got NFL.com to remark that he's "blessed with incredible speed" prior to the 2008 draft. Also, like Jenkins, he was thought of by some as a slot receiver following his arrival in KC, before he found a home on the outside, opposite Dwayne Bowe. He wasn't great there last season, but a transition to the slot could spark a small late-career revival. It's not the most desirable solution, but at this juncture of the offseason, options are fairly limited.
3. Split duties between Weston Dressler and De'Anthony Thomas: The apparent lack of concern at the position may reflect a growing confidence in Dressler. He's an experienced, sure-handed wideout who has a chance to contribute immediately if he adjusts smoothly to the NFL. He could see the bulk of snaps early while Thomas is slowly worked into the mix as his offensive role becomes clearer. The Chiefs coaching staff may be waiting to see how these two develop through the preseason before making any decisions.

While these are a few of the more probable outcomes, there are certainly still other ways the predicament can resolve itself.

Kyle Williams could play the role of dark horse here—he was one of only two Kansas City free agents that Dorsey chose to bring back this offseason. He's been mainly used on special teams throughout his five-year NFL career, but he may get a crack at WR due to the Chiefs' shaky depth.

Also, aforementioned UDFA Albert Wilson could plausibly make a push behind a decidedly impressive preseason. Not likely, but considering Kansas City's current circumstances, it's foolish to count anything out.

I know—none of these options seem to be particularly appealing, and that's because none of them really are. On paper, it's quite the motley crew vying for snaps here.

That's a product of not recruiting any outside help through either free agency or the draft following the loss of Dexter McCluster. But, it is what it is, and for now the Chiefs must attempt to make the best of what they currently have.

Releasing/Trading/Demoting a QB

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Alex Smith is in. He'll be the Kansas City Chiefs' starting quarterback for Week 1. You know that. I know that. This really drunk guy knows that.

But outside of Smith as starter, the Chiefs' QB situation is foggier than a Wednesday morning stroll through downtown Beijing. Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray and 2014 fifth-round draft pick Aaron Murray appear poised to duke it out for Kansas City's backup and third-string spots.

There are several perspectives from which to examine this:

1. Financial: Daniel's contract is among the best for an NFL backup, and the Chiefs would save $1.4 million this year—not to mention close to $4 mil in 2015—by parting ways with him. Bray, an undrafted free agent last season, will cost around a meager $500,000 this year and is thought to have NFL-caliber tools—he's 6'6" and has a rocket for an arm. Prior to the Murray selection, it appeared likely that Daniel would remain in Kansas City for 2014, before possibly being released or traded in 2015. But now, depending on how much faith the Chiefs' front office has in Bray, Daniel's time may be up much sooner. Odd man out: Chase Daniel
2. Stability: Should Smith run into any injury issues, whom would Chiefs Nation be most comfortable seeing take the reins? Likely Daniel. He's been fairly impressive over his four NFL preseasons, looked good in his single regular-season start and offers the most experience of the bunch. His generous contract suggests that several teams were interested in his services before he ended up in Kansas City—there's a reason for that. Cerebrally, Bray may not be prepared to lead an NFL offense, and throwing him into the fire prematurely could be a confidence-killer for the 22-year-old. Odd man out: Tyler Bray
3. Long term: Bray and Murray could both potentially become NFL starters, while Daniel seems destined to be a career backup—albeit, a very good one. Should the Chiefs choose to keep Daniel and Bray on the active roster, they could still plausibly assign a practice squad designation to Murray. Though, this would give other organizations the opportunity to sign him to its active roster at any time, which is a risk that Kansas City isn't likely to take. If it sees it best to retain Daniel and Murray, then Bray, who's ineligible for the practice squad, would probably be released. Exactly how much the organization values Bray will be the deciding factor here. Odd man out: Chase Daniel

Clearly, it's still early, but if the season were to begin tomorrow, you'd have to think that Smith, Bray and Murray would be the three quarterbacks Reid would roll with.

Adding Depth at Safety

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The biggest concern on the defensive side of the ball is undoubtedly at safety. In addition to not having a clear-cut starter at free safety, the position's depth in general is worrisome.

Currently, Sanders Commings and Husain Abdullah appear destined to fill the void at free safety created by the offseason departure of Kendrick Lewis. That's mildly unsettling, considering that Commings is little more than an unproven fifth-round draft pick and Abdullah again appears primed for a part-time role.

Eric Berry is locked in at strong safety, but there are no capable replacements should he find himself on the sideline for any reason. Kansas City did sign Jerron McMillian to a one-year deal this offseason, but it's hardly a sufficient attempt to revamp a depleted secondary.

As it stands now, either McMillian, 2013 practice squad staple Malcolm Bronson or UDFA Daniel Sorensen is set to see his name as the fourth safety on the Chiefs' final roster. It's a lose-lose situation, created by the front office's utter disregard for the position this offseason.

If Commings can't overcome his injury issues—or proves unprepared for starting duties—the Kansas City secondary could find itself in serious trouble. Options are becoming increasingly limited this far into May, but Dorsey must continue his search for, at the very least, a veteran reserve safety. It would offer some much-needed breathing room and experience at a position that lacks both.

No matter which way you spin this, it's going to be ugly, but adding another capable body at safety would allow Chiefs fans to sleep a little bit easier at night. Until then, they'll collectively hold their breath every time Berry or Commings is slow to get up.

Determining How De'Anthony Thomas Will Be Utilized

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Kansas City had a few questionable selections in the 2014 NFL draft, but the fourth-round pick of De'Anthony Thomas was more or less met with unanimous praise from analysts and Chiefs Nation alike. 

Smiles were shared. Fists were bumped. Conversation was ignited.

"Dude, I love the Thomas pick, classic Andy Reid, man. Classic. He'll go offff as our...uh, wait a second, where exactly is he going to play?"

Listed as an RB, anybody who's familiar with DAT's college career at the University of Oregon knows that he's much more than that. Calling him simply a running back is like describing Bruce Wayne as simply the CEO of Wayne Enterprises.

An all-purpose threat, he's gotten the inevitable comparisons to McCluster by ending up in Kansas City.

Examining the measurables, Thomas appears to be a carbon copy of DMC—both were approximately 5'9', 170 pounds when they entered the draft. Thomas is slightly faster and more of a concern in open field, but his strength—only eight reps on bench press at the combine—is a legitimate concern.

It's easy to foresee him falling susceptible to jams in the slot, and he may initially struggle to shake coverage. Moreover, his size (or lack thereof) presents obvious questions regarding his durability, which is why he'll likely be gradually eased into his role, whatever that may be.

Initially, it's safe to say he'll provide his biggest impact in the return game.

With vacancies to fill at kick and punt returner, it's difficult to imagine Thomas won't serve in both roles as a rookie. The Chiefs' special teams unit was quietly a major key to success in 2013, and the former Oregon Duck will be crucial to its continued efficiency.

Though, it's what he offers  Reid's offense that's the real wild card here. Will he contribute on offense in 2014? How many touches will he see? Where will he line up?

Historically, Reid has loved the type of skill set that Thomas owns and has probably already devised some creative ways to get the speedster involved. He'll serve as an offensive weapon, running an array of ins, outs and bubble screens from the slot, while seeing the occasional carry or swing route out of the backfield.

Early on, it's difficult to envision Thomas receiving many more than four to five touches per contest. As of now, he lacks a true NFL position, and Kansas City already boasts the dual-threat Jamaal Charles at running back, with Knile Davis locked in as his reserve. 

But, if his knack for big plays translates well to the NFL, those four to five touches could be enough for him to become a legitimate X-factor within Reid's offense. Don't expect too much work out of the backfield in 2014, but it'll be interesting to watch how relevant he becomes in the discussion surrounding slot receiver as the preseason progresses.