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Kansas City Chiefs March Scouting Report
John Cooney
3/27/2018
The NFL Combine has come and gone and the Chiefs are once again in full draft day prep mode. This year will be the first Kansas City draft conducted by GM Brett Veach. Veach has a long history with Coach Reid, going back to the Eagles in Philly, 2004. Mr. Veach is a former star high school running back and set kick return records while at the University of Delaware. A pro playing career was never really in the future for Mr. Veach, but he was sharp as a tack regarding all-things football, and had a passion for player personnel dealings, which he still does today. Mr. Veach has the trust of Coach Reid and will weigh in heavily with opinions of the players the Chiefs should select at the 2018 NFL draft. Don’t worry, KC fans, Brett Veach knows his football stuff.
But make no mistake, Coach Andy Reid has the first and last say when it comes down to the players being selected. Coach and GM are most def on the same pages now, but Big Red carries the biggest stick in the Chiefs war room come draft day.
And while we’re on the subject of Coach Reid’s draft day powers, here’s a glance over the positions he’s filled through the draft (or at least hoped to fill) since taking over in 2013:
OFFENSE:
QB- 3
RB- 3
FB- 1
WR- 5
TE- 2
OT- 1
G- 3
C- 2
DEFENSE:
DE- 4
D/NT- 1
OLB- 3
ILB- 2
CB- 6
S- 2
Might be darn surprising for many to see that Coach has taken a CB 6 times in his 5 KC drafts, most of any position. Add in 2 safeties and Big Red has spent 8 picks on the secondary since 2013. He burned (mostly) 5 picks at WR. The D-line has also seen 5 selections made, 4 of the DE variety. Oddly, Coach has hit up an OT just once in his 5 drafts for the Chiefs yet took 5 interior blockers.
In 5 KC drafts, Coach has had 4-first round picks. Those selections turned out to be Eric Fisher at OT, OLB Dee Ford, CB Marcus Peters and QB Pat Mahomes.
If you’re curious about this year’s #1 choice for the Chiefs, you’ll have to wait until the 2nd round. The Chiefs traded this year’s top slot to the Bills as part of the picks package for what turned out to be Pat Mahomes.
OK, so who might the Chiefs be looking at this year, starting with the 2nd round? Well, glad you asked. Below if what I see as a possible course of action for the KC personnel gang over draft weekend. I tend to get 1-2 of these right each year. Things change, trades happen come draft day, but all things staying put, here goes.
Before I kick this off, I fondly harken back to the great draft talks and talent debates I had with Rich Stewart. Mr. Stewart passed on back in 2014, in May. He loved his Chiefs, and penned articles for the KC Star as well as his own blog, Richs Football Report. Rich was not only a Chiefs fan, he was a college football fanatic that studied game film and had an astute eye for talent. Rich was especially keen evaluating offensive and defensive linemen. We would volley back and forth on the merits and flaws of prospects entering the draft, what positions the Chiefs would prioritize and who would they ultimately select, round-by-round. So, with Rich Stewart always in mind and heart, let’s take an early glance at what the 2018 draft might hold for Kansas City.
The Chiefs will make their 2018 draft selections in this order:
Round 1, traded to Buffalo in the Pat Mahomes move-up of 2017
Round 2, Pick 22 (54)
Round 3, Pick 14 (78)
Round 3, Pick 22 (86)
Round 4, Pick 22 (122)
Round 4, Pick 24 (124)
Round 5, traded to Minnesota to move up in 2017 draft, 4th round WR Jehu Chesson
Round 6, Pick 22 (196)
Round 7, Pick 15 (233)
Round 7, Pick 25 (243)
The Chiefs have plenty of holes to fill but they did make a few smart moves before this draft, via trades and free agency, to patch the divots in the roster. CB Kendall Fuller came in as part of the Alex Smith swap with Washington. Fuller’s arrival set the stage for Mr. Veach to send star (trouble) CB Marcus Peters packing. Talented but erratic Raiders’ CB David Amerson was inked; an underrated transaction that should pay off. ILB Derrick Johnson gave his all for the Chiefs, but he wasn’t part of the plan for the new KC GM, and DJ was let go. Veach got that ball rolling last year when he dealt a 2019 fourth rounder to the Bills for ILB Reggie Ragland. Not the same type of interior ‘backer as DJ, but a rugged thumper for sure. That was last season; this year Mr. Veach closed the other inside hole at ILB. Ex-Cowboys’ MLB Anthony Hitchens was signed, and I’m betting KC folks will love his relentless efforts tracking RBs as they motor to the line. Hitchens was a tackling machine in college, and he is a real nice fit for Coach Sutton’s scheme here. On offense, WR Tyreek Hill needs help, and help was gotten in a big way with the surprising signing of Sammy Watkins. Yes, there is that huge "IF" cloud hanging over Sudden Sam; he’s great IF he can stay healthy. Here’s a couple of "IFs" to counter the health IF... IF Watkins was coming out of college among this current crop of wideouts, he’d be the first off the board. And... IF Watkins does play a full season healthy, Chiefs’ fans would be wondering how things might have been IF Mr. Veach had signed Watkins. Go back and watch Watkins’ college game tapes at Clemson; OUTSTANDING!!! The Chiefs GM also captured a savvy pro of a back-up QB in Chad Henne; excellent signing! To fill out the backfield depth with versatility, Mr. Veach signed RB Damien Williams away from Miami. Williams is a Spencer Ware type but may be a better pass-catcher. He’ll be vying for a spot with Ware and Charcandrick West.
The moves made by Mr. Veach and Coach Reid so far have opened up the Chiefs’ draft possibilities for 2018. ILB and WR are no longer gaping holes that need filling in this draft. However, O-line, CB, and OLB are spots that need attention. The D-front needs some TLC as well.
Let’s assume Coach and GM stay out of the first round this year, do nothing to jump back into the latter part of the opening stanza, and concentrate on the 2nd round work ahead. Looking at Coach Reid’s history, one concludes that Coach feels you can never have too many good CBs, and that’s the focus of the first pick for KC, in the 2nd round. Plans are for Fuller and Amerson to start, but another corner that can slide into the slot assignments as well as line up outside is needed. LSU’s Donte Jackson is super swift but is lacking in balls skills and tackling chops. ‘Bama sports 2 CBs with 2nd round grades; Tony Brown and Anthony Averett. Both are lightning fast, but both have flaws that won’t sit well with Coach Sutton. Auburn’s Carlton Davis has the length Coach Sutton values in a CB. However, the long-striding Davis isn’t a good matchup in the slot versus darting pass-routers, is not overly anxious attacking the run and, there are a few character caution flags. Ah, then there’s Florida’s Duke Dawson. Dawson has good enough size at 5’11-197. He runs a quick 4.46-forty. Good feet, sticks receivers, better in man than zone, a tough and talented slot-corner that can play on the flanks as well. 2nd round is a bit of a reach for Dawson, but he fits a top need here and "you can never have too many corners", right Coach?
Kansas City owns 2 picks in the 3rd round; the 14th and 22nd. Here is where I feel Coach will politely force his will on his buddy Veach and "reach" for a player that just might have Big Red’s eye, a versatile O-lineman. Linebacker will also be addressed with one of these picks. Again, the key words for this round are versatility and potential to mold. Coach Reid wants to bolster his front-line blocking. Zach Fulton split the tribe for the Texans, Parker Ehinger is coming back from injury, as is center Mitch Morse. Eric Fisher is the only LT on the roster right now. Cameron Erving? You get the idea... the o-line needs depth, versatility and a bump in quality won’t hurt. It is likely the Veach/Reid tandem will use the earlier 3rd-rounder on a linebacker first. Longtime defensive star Derrick Johnson is gone, as is OLB-pass rusher Tamba Hali. Dee Ford hasn’t exactly set the world on fire, though he showed some encouraging heat last season. When the Chiefs are on the clock, LBs of interest that are probably on the board are Ohio State’s Jerome Baker (6’1-229, 4.53x40), Kemoko Turey of Rutgers (6’5-253, 4.63x40), Fred Warner, BYU (6’3-236, 4.49x40) and the very inspiring and intriguing Shaquem Griffin (6’-227, 4.38x40). Griffin is the Central Florida ‘backer who has gotten the job done in college playing with one good hand. He is a great story, one that Coach Reid is always going to be tempted to get involved with. But not this time. Now, IF, a big IF, USC OLB Uchenna Nwosu is still on the board somehow at this juncture of the draft, the KC contingency best race up to the podium without a second thought. Buuuut, not likely he is there. Baker has all the tools to shine, but he doesn’t match the play with the tools. Big on potential but there are lots of reasons for skepticism. Turey is a beast at times but misses tackles and doesn’t play with instinct. The guy that brings some flair, consistency, versatility and maturity is Fred Warner. His BYU connection with Coach Reid can’t hurt, but Warner’s on-field action merits this selection. Warner is fast to the ball, makes sure tackles, can cover and was a team captain for BYU last season. He’s in the mold of Derrick Johnson and could move inside in a couple of seasons. The 2nd choice in round 3 comes down to a couple of mild reaches; TCU’s Joseph Noteboom and Alex Cappa of Humboldt State. Both linemen played LT at their respective schools, but with Coach Reid, they’ll project as guards. Coach often transitions OTs to the interior, preferring their size and usually snappy footwork over plodding maulers. Noteboom goes 6’5-309, pops a rock solid 27 reps on the bench and is nifty on his feet, running a sub-5.0 forty. Cappa tapes out at 6’6-305, hoisted the bench press 24 times and ambles the forty in 5.35. Cappa crushed his competition at Humboldt State, and is quietly on the rapid rise among smart scouts who "know" the o-line. Either of these fine blockers would fit in with Coach Reid’s OT-to-G plans, but the feeling is the bigger underdog wins here; Chiefs reach for, but not really, Alex Cappa.
IN the 4th round, KC will once again get to choose 2 new players. Mr. Veach stays on the line-of-scrimmage theme with the 22nd pick of the 4th round, but this time he goes for defense, specifically inside. Miami DT RJ McIntosh will draw some fanfare here form the media types. North Carolina State’s Kentavius Street also gets some air time hype here. Both players are talents, but are too "light" for Coach Sutton’s liking (weighing in the 280s). UConn’s "Foley" Fatukasi is a bulky nose tackle at 6’4-318, but he has good length to go with his natural power. Fatukasi banged out 33 reps on the bench, so the strength is there. What appears to be lacking is a nasty edge. Fatukasi is a tad passive and fails to use his size and strength to his fullest advantage. The Chiefs, as most NFL coaching staffs, feel they can get Fatukasi "coached up" and playing with pro intensity, and the big guy from UConn is Mr. Veach’s man in the team’s 1st pick of the 4th round. Staying on defense, Veach turns around and looks at the safety position... the spot where Eric Berry, Eric Murray and Daniel Sorensen are the only ones under contract. 3 safeties of different molds are on the board here. Jessie Bates, a free safety out of Wake Forest measures 6’1-200. He’s good, and will make a solid, consistent defender, but doesn’t do any one thing outstanding to make a difference inside. Pittsburgh’s Jordan Whitehead is a hitter and very athletic. He even played a good number of snaps on offense. Whitehead is more of a strong safety type, though he has the physical tools to cover well. He goes 5’11-198 and has 4.5-ish forty wheels. Whitehead, though, is a headache behind the scenes, having been suspended a couple of times at Pitt. Those flags of caution force the Chiefs to target a riser from Northwestern, Godwin Igwebuike. Igwebuike is a rock at 5’11-213 and owns 4.41-forty feet. He’s a sure tackler, He’s smart, plays the ball all the time, a heat-seeker of the ball-carrier and a leader on the field. Sounds a lot like Eric Berry. Igwebuike can play free or strong, but is suited for strong as a pro. There’s your 2nd pick in the 4th round.
Round 5, traded away for Jehu Chesson... ooookaaaay! Moving on...
IN the 6th it is back to the o-line. Washington State RT Cole Madison becomes a Chief. Madison gained 75 pounds from his freshman year to his last season at State. He is a converted TE and has a basketball background as well. It shows in his footwork, something that always catches the eye of Coach Reid. Here is another of those tackles-turned-guards projects for Coach Reid, but this one focuses on the right side of the line. Madison may even impress enough to hang in at RT and mentor behind Mitchell Schwartz or slide inside to prep for when Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif hangs up his pads for the white coat. Madison checks in at 6’5-308, and benched 26 reps.
GM Veach and Coach Reid close out the 2018 draft with 2 more picks in the 7th and final round. Coaches and NFL personnel guys won’t admit it, but this is roll-the-dice time. They like to make us think they burn every last detail on every pick, and that is true to some extent. But the 7th round is where some organizations allow members of the coaching staff, or the scouting department, make a choice. So, being extended members of the scouting department, let’s make our choices here. With the 15th pick of the 7th round, the Kansas City Chiefs select, Peter Kalambayi, linebacker, Stanford. Kalambayi measures 6’3-252 and runs a quick 4.56-forty. He is fast to the ball, can rush the passer in spots, has terrific size and speed, and is a team captain at Stanford. While he played OLB in college, Kalmbayi has the make up to move inside. He played at Stanford, so he has the smarts and the leadership to be a starter in a couple of seasons. The last pick of the Chiefs’ draft, the 25th selection of the 7th round, is Byron Pringle, WR, Kansas State. Pringle will be a 25-year-old rookie in 2018. He hails from Kansas State, so there’s the home-town angle as well as the "feel good" story of an "older" player coming out of college and having a chance to make it. Pringle isn’t a charity case however; the guy can ball. 6’1-203, 4.46 skates and a penchant for the long ball. Nice matching receiving tools for the power-armed QB Pat Mahomes to work with.
OK, there you have it... until next month. Soooo much can and will change between now and draft day. I’ll make adjustments... maybe... in next months Eye in the Sky Report.
Check in next month. Good stuff on the way!
John Cooney is a Senior Staff Writer for Fantasy Football Mastermind
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