Leonard Pope, Brad Cottam, Sean Ryan Not Getting It Done for Kansas City Chiefs

When a team comes off a loss like the Kansas City Chiefs suffered in week 13, it may appear odd to point out one position as a problem area. 

This is especially true because this is not a (soon to be popular) criticism of Matt Cassel and the quarterback situation.

Rather, this is a small area of concern for a team that has a large number of problems, but the absurdity of it all makes it worthy of note.

Kansas City needs a tight end. 

For the first time in over a decade, Kansas City is without a premier tight end. A void left after the trade of future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons has become increasingly apparent.

The position has undergone more changes than the color of a mood ring over the course of the season. 

Last season the hype was around heir apparent Brad Cottam. Cottam, a 6'7" rookie selected in the third round out of Tennessee, was to be taken under the wing of Gonzalez and groomed to fill his place. 

The knock on Cottam was that while showing talent, he was oft injured in college and thus was drafted based on potential more than proven ability.

With the departure of Gonzalez, many fans were surprised when Cottam lost the starting role to Sean Ryan. 

Ryan has bounced around the NFL since 2004. Kansas City is the sixth team he has played for. In his career, Ryan has never (prior to this season) had more than six receptions and had only one complete 16-game season. His history includes appearing for both the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints for only one game before being waived.

Yet this was the Chiefs' opening day starter.

There was hope as he scored his first NFL touchdown in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. However, the suspect hands of the converted college defensive end came into focus in the ensuing weeks. 

Ryan’s poor performance led to the acquisition of former Arizona Cardinal Leonard Pope. 

Pope had his best season in 2007 when he notched five touchdowns but had only 23 catches. Pope was never the Cardinals' full-time starter and was released in 2008, as he had only nine catches. 

For Kansas City, Pope has hauled in 11 passes, but his yards-per-catch average is a meager 6.4 yards. Furthermore, the monstrous 6'8" body isn’t proving the effective big target in the red zone that teams covet. 

Cottam sat for Ryan, who sat for Pope, and of recent, Cottam has finally earned his way back onto the field—not with positive results though.

Cottam had only one catch prior to pulling in three against Denver in week 13. 

There is still hope that Cottam might prove functional in the tight end spot. There is hope that Cottam might put up numbers that will make fans question the delay in his receiving more looks. 

However, it is clear the team lacks a marquee tight end. With Dwayne Bowe still serving his suspension, the Chiefs lack a relevant red zone threat. In fact, it is the lack of a red zone threat that has largely contributed to Jamaal Charles earning Kansas City’s first rushing touchdowns of the season. 

While the presence of Tony G was certain to be missed by all in Kansas City (both on and off the field), it has become most glaring in the past couple weeks. With the team’s No. 1 receiver out, the offense has struggled without the security blanket of a tight end in the middle of the field. 

Where, oh where has our tight end gone? Where, oh where can he be?  

Tony G isn’t coming home. It’s time to start asking, “How much is that tight end in the window?”