Kansas City Chiefs’ rookies report for three-day minicamp ready to help team win
Horns blaring across the practice field signaled the end of on-field segments Saturday afternoon, as did the Chiefs’ positions coaches hollering instructions and players cheering on their teammates.
Indeed, the sights and sounds of football were in the air on the first day of rookie minicamp.
A total of 73 rookies and first-year players, including 40 on a tryout basis, were on the field at the team’s training facility in Kansas City.
But much of Saturday’s attention fell on the Chiefs’ 10 draft picks, especially their two first-round selections: cornerback Trent McDuffie and defensive end George Karlaftis, the top two players picked by the franchise on April 28.
Getting back to football activities after enduring the draft process meant a welcome adjustment to life as a professional football player.
“I’m getting situated now, getting a routine going and all that kind of stuff,” said Karlaftis, the 30th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Purdue. “It’s been kind of crazy the past couple of weeks, but it’s what I dreamed about.”
McDuffie, the 21st overall pick of the draft, agreed.
“Personally, for me, I’m just coming in here to be the best teammate that I can be,” said McDuffie, from the University of Washington. “Learn the installs and kind of do what (defensive coordinator Steve) Spagnuolo, (defensive backs coach Dave) Merritt want me to do so I can go out there and produce they want me to.”
McDuffie, wearing a newly assigned No. 21 jersey, and Karlaftis, wearing the No. 56 once donned by Chiefs great Derrick Johnson but more recently by the now departed Ben Niemann, will have their opportunities to show what they can do during the three-day rookie minicamp, which concludes Monday.
All players have received their new jersey numbers, officially announced by the Chiefs Saturday morning, and now the work begins.
The three-day camp marks the first time since the draft that head coach Andy Reid and members of the Chiefs’ coaching staff can work directly with the new players.
Their time will be spent in classroom and on-field environments. Attendees will sport practice jerseys, shorts and helmets without full pads, and full contact is prohibited.
The coaching staff will teach the players team standards and expectations throughout the three days, and safety Bryan Cook, selected out of Cincinnati, is eager to absorb it all.
“Be the sponge I can be and that will be successful in my eyes,” said Cook, one of the Chiefs’ two second-round picks.
The playbook is arguably the biggest item Cook and his teammates must grasp. But so far, it’s safe to count McDuffie, who said he’s worked at cornerback and nickel cornerback on the first day, as a fan of what he’s seen in the X’s and O’s department.
“I love it,” he said. “We get to do a lot of unique things, and especially coming from U-Dub (Washington), it’s kind of some similar things here and there, so I’m able to pick up on it a little bit easier. As of right now, I really like the playbook.”
The rookie players can use the minicamp as a building block toward what comes next.
After this three-day camp concludes, the Chiefs will hold 10 days of voluntary organized team activities (OTAs), which are scheduled for May 25-26, May 31-June 2 and June 7-10. The Chiefs will then conclude the offseason workout program with a mandatory three-day minicamp on June 14-16. After that comes a month-long break before training camp starts in late July.
And for the Chiefs’ draft class and undrafted free-agent signings, which includes undrafted rookie free-agent wide receiver Justyn Ross from Clemson, the weekend will be spent adjusting to football’s professional level and showing they belong as contributors for the 2022 regular season.
“I think all the guys here are ready to work, ready to earn their stripes, get better, earn the respect of everyone in this organization, teammates, coaches, fans, everyone else,” Karlaftis said. “That’s really it: here to get better, here to help the team win at the end of the day in whatever role it is for us.”
INJURIES
The Chiefs announced wide receiver Skyy Moore (hamstring), wide receiver Cornell Powell (hamstring) and safety Cook (shoulder) could be limited during rookie camp.
Cook, who spoke to the media before Saturday afternoon’s practice, didn’t appear concerned about his injury.
“I’m on the field until they tell me not to be,” he said.
This story was originally published May 7, 2022 at 3:47 PM.
