New players, no problem for KC Chiefs: how the present and future appear in good hands
The Chiefs in past seasons have enjoyed the luxury of not needing to throw the majority of their rookie class into the fire.
But multiple members of this year’s draft class appear poised to make immediate contributions.
And for good reason.
“We’ve added 50 new players to the roster since the end of last season, active guys, whether that be through reserve/ future signing, unrestricted free agents, draft, trades, waiver claims,” Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi said. “So every year, every team, is different.”
While the team’s foundation of the 2021 roster remains relatively intact, the Chiefs lost a few starters from last year’s roster, including wide receiver Tyreek Hill, safety Tyrann Mathieu, linebacker Anthony Hitchens, cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Mike Hughes and defensive tackle Jarran Reed.
The Chiefs also let walk some key contributors and depth pieces, such as wide receiver Byron Pringle and linebackers Ben Niemann and Dorian O’Daniel.
Indeed, the Chiefs had work to do — through free agency and especially the draft — in order to fill some key roles.
Equipped with three additional picks from the trade of Hill to Miami, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach entered the late-April draft with 12 picks. A handful of draft-day trades left the Chiefs with 10, including four in the top 100. And Veach used them to bolster the roster, especially on defense.
The Chiefs turned their first-round picks into cornerback Trent McDuffie (21st overall) and defensive end George Karlaftis (30th). Those selections were followed by a pair of second-rounders: wide receiver Skyy Moore (54th overall) and safety Bryan Cook (62nd).
The rest of the Chiefs’ draft produced linebacker Leo Chenal in the third round; cornerback Joshua Williams and offensive lineman Darian Kinnard in the fourth; and cornerback Jaylen Watson, running back Isiah Pacheco and safety Nazeeh Johnson in the seventh.
Of those 10 picks, the Chiefs expect to get immediate contributions from McDuffie, Karlaftis, Moore, Cook, Chenal, Williams, Watson and Pacheco.
The Chiefs like what they’ve seen from each rookie so far, and not just in terms of the present.
“It’s exciting and it’s also beneficial to have so many picks like we had, and I think it’s goes back to it was tough to trade Tyreek,” Veach said. “But at the end of the day, when you’re talking about sustaining success, I mean, if you’re going to do something like that, you’re going to have to get resources in return — and a lot — and more cap flexibility.
“Then, when you get those resources, you’ve got to make the most of them and get guys that are good players, wired the right way, that can come in and help you right away. So far, it looks like these guys can do that.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid indicated that the members of this year’s rookie class have embraced learning and absorbing the intricate schemes of a perennial NFL powerhouse.
“This group, they’ve been great,” Reid said. “They’re all smart guys. I mean, it’s a sharp bunch.”
Still, there is some risk inherent in depending upon so many rookies, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
The Chiefs will rely heavily, for instance, on McDuffie to replace Ward, a multi-year starter who signed with the San Francisco 49ers during free agency. McDuffie will start alongside veterans L’Jarius Sneed and Rashad Fenton.
The Chiefs traded up to select McDuffie out of Washington, and he has looked the part of a promising pro in practices and limited preseason action. But it remains to be seen how he’ll handle the AFC West’s elite receivers.
Karlaftis figures to begin the season as a rotational piece for the Chiefs’ pass rush before becoming a starter, while Chenal will work his way into the mix alongside young veteran linebackers Willie Gay Jr. and Nick Bolton in the Chiefs’ 4-3 base defensive scheme.
As for the rest of this year’s draft crop, Williams and Watson should provide valuable depth. Both cornerbacks gained experience rotating with the first-team defense early in training camp while Fenton as on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a shoulder injury. At safety, Cook will see action in the Chiefs’ dime package with starters Juan Thornhill and Justin Reid.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo indicated that he avoids hanging expectations on his rookie players. He prefers to take a wait-and-see approach, especially with higher draft picks.
“You’re more hopeful when you get new guys, in my opinion,” Spagnuolo said. “In some regards, you never really know what you’re getting.
“Throughout the history of the NFL there’s been a bunch of first-round picks that everybody thought was going to (do well) and it doesn’t happen. So you can’t predict it. That’s why I kind of stay away from that. Basically, just try to build.”
That said, Spagnuolo and the rest of the Chiefs’ coaching staff will have to rely pretty heavily on a number of their first-year pros. The current makeup of the roster, especially compared to the veteran-laden lineups the Chiefs have fielded in recent seasons, all but dictates it.
“Here’s my thing with anybody and anything — take the ‘rookie’ off of it,” Spagnuolo said. “I believe you have to earn anything you get ... whether that’s rookies, whether that’s a new guy coming, whether it’s a new coach, you’ve got to earn (it).
“That’s what this league is all about. You earn what you get, but this year might be a little bit different. You’ve got to put somebody out there, right?”
