Grading Dorsey's Trades with the Chiefs

[Dante84]

To date, here are the trades made under Dorsey’s reign…

1. Chiefs trade 2013 and 2014 second-round picks to 49ers for quarterback Alex Smith: The picks would eventually become wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cody Latimer. While both had some hype coming out of college, neither has been particularly productive in the NFL. Smith, meanwhile, has led the Chiefs to their first, back-to-back winning seasons since ’05 and ’06. Winner: Chiefs

2. Chiefs trade cornerback Javier Arenas to Cardinals for fullback Anthony Sherman: Arenas became a depth and role player for the Cardinals for one year before being let go. He spent 2014 in Atlanta and is currently a free agent. Sherman has been one of the best fullbacks in the NFL over the last two years. Winner: Chiefs

3. Chiefs trade linebacker Edgar Jones and 2014 seventh-round pick to Cowboys for 2014 sixth-round pick: The Cowboys used the pick on another linebacker, Will Smith. Neither Jones or Smith is still on the Dallas roster. The Chiefs used their pick on Zach Fulton, who started at offensive guard for the entire 2014 NFL season, and may reprise that role this year. Winner: Chiefs

4. Chiefs trade offensive lineman Rishaw Johnson to Buccaneers for defensive back Kelcie McCray: Johnson has bounced around training camps since the trade (five teams in under a year). McCray was a valuable special teams player. He is in the mix again this year. Winner: Chiefs

5. Chiefs trade 2015 fifth-round pick to Saints for Ben Grubbs: The Saints would use this pick on defensive tackle Tyeler Davison. The Saints would also later sign Chiefs guard Mike McGlynn. Grubbs is the only guaranteed starter on the Kansas City offensive line at this point. Winner: TBD…but hard to imagine it won’t be the Chiefs.

6. Chiefs trade 2015 third- and sixth-round picks to Vikings for 2015 third-round pick: The picks the Chiefs gave up turned into cornerback Alex Carter and defensive end BJ Dubose. The Chiefs used their acquired pick on wide receiver Chris Conley. The results of this trade will play out over the next year or so. Winner: TBD

By no means is this a large number of trades. The Chiefs have actually been one of the least likely teams to try and move around in the draft. However, when talking about player-for-player trades, Dorsey has resurrected a practice that had largely been abandoned by the rest of the league. Dorsey also shows a penchant for moving picks for players. And in each case except the Edgar Jones trade, the move was made with the intent of acquiring a specific player. And so far, that list shows that Dorsey knows exactly what he’s doing every time he makes a trade. Dorsey understands how to use his assets to obtain better options for the team.

The truly interesting trend of Dorsey’s trading habits is that he has made a player-for-player trade in each of the first two seasons of his tenure. While that is hardly a long enough stretch to make any scientific prediction, it does lend some credence to the idea that Kansas City will look to do the same this year. And why not? If you have a player that might not make the team, or is just wasting cap space on your depth chart, why not try to move him for someone that may have more of an impact?

Dorsey has touched on this before. Prior to the draft, when asked about moving picks, the Chiefs general manager said: “We have called around to express interest just to let everybody know we can talk…Let’s have an open line of communication. Whatever you have to offer, let’s talk about it.”

While that was specifically a reference to trading picks, it has been pretty obvious that he has the same policy across the board. Shortly before that interview, Dorsey had just locked up a trade with the Saints that brought Grubbs to Kansas City.

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[In58men]

Kinda dumb to do this. If Chiefs had their 2nd picks they probably would have drafted completed opposit of 49ers. No telling who won. We both have shitty QBs and that's a key position you need to win Super Bowls.

[Dante84]

I think comparatively, we won the Smith trade. Whether or not we should have done it is another debate... But even still, he was the best possible option at the QB position at the time, and the stability he provided allowed us to win games.

What we do moving forward should be watched closely, but I have no issue with us making that trade, looking backwards.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DA_T_84

I think comparatively, we won the Smith trade. Whether or not we should have done it is another debate... But even still, he was the best possible option at the QB position at the time, and the stability he provided allowed us to win games.

What we do moving forward should be watched closely, but I have no issue with us making that trade, looking backwards.

Of course the Chiefs won the Smith trade and by a wide margin.

Despite what the small bunch of jackasses that don't know a ****ing thing about the game of football believe, there are at least a dozen teams in the NFL at this very moment that would be improved with Alex Smith as their QB, with some of them greatly improved.

[threebag]

Very true Dane.

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Of course the Chiefs won the Smith trade and by a wide margin.

Despite what the small bunch of jackasses that don't know a ****ing thing about the game of football believe, there are at least a dozen teams in the NFL at this very moment that would be improved with Alex Smith as their QB, with some of them greatly improved.

The blind Smith hate has rendered this place almost unbearable. Between that and the profusion of "look at me!" threads, Bob Dole has about half the people and topics on ignore.

[threebag]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

The blind Smith hate has rendered this place almost unbearable. Between that and the profusion of "look at me!" threads, Bob Dole has about half the people and topics on ignore.

It would be nice to just flush the shitter

[alpha_omega]

The Saints would also later sign Chiefs guard Mike McGlynn.

Ha, i forgot about that. Too bad for them.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Of course the Chiefs won the Smith trade and by a wide margin.

Despite what the small bunch of jackasses that don't know a ****ing thing about the game of football believe, there are at least a dozen teams in the NFL at this very moment that would be improved with Alex Smith as their QB, with some of them greatly improved.

That's not really saying much...but I think we are getting good value from that trade. I've grown to be a fan of Alex, but he needs to show that the talent at the skill positions is what has heals him back in his career. He is going into 2015 with the pieces set up for him to have a big year.

Also, if we are to judge the trade with the big picture in mind it's hard to say either way.

Maybe we hang on to Cassel for another year instead of trading for Alex and he plays like 2010 Cassel under Andy Reid and then we draft Bridgewater the next year to be the QBOTF. The 2 second rounders would be used to draft talent to bolster other positions or to trade for another vet.

Who knows.

Maybe we turn those picks into Kiko Alonso and Jarvis Landry while taking Bridgewater instead of Dee Ford.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Of course the Chiefs won the Smith trade and by a wide margin.

Despite what the small bunch of jackasses that don't know a ****ing thing about the game of football believe, there are at least a dozen teams in the NFL at this very moment that would be improved with Alex Smith as their QB, with some of them greatly improved.

Agreed, and I believe it speaks greatly to the mediocre level of QB talent in the NFL

[Ebolapox]

I guess we aren't talking about the baldwin trade, right? call that a neutral.

[Dunerdr]

Who's hating on Alice around here?

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Dunerdr

Who's hating on Alice around here?

Hey, that's not how you spell his name!

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Agreed, and I believe it speaks greatly to the mediocre level of QB talent in the NFL

Exactly.

If Alex Smith is the QB of the Bills or Jets, those teams are instant playoff contenders and in the case of the Bills, instant AFC Championship contenders. If he's in Cleveland or Houston, those teams become playoff contenders.

Meanwhile, if the Chiefs hadn't have made the trade, they wouldn't have been 11-5 or 9-7 last year while enduring catastrophic player personnel losses.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BossChief

That's not really saying much...but I think we are getting good value from that trade.

It's saying a lot because teams like the Bills, Jets, Rams, Browns and Texans would not only be playoff contenders but actually have a shot at the Super Bowl. All of those teams have good to great defenses but no QB (although Foles might do something in 2015. Or not).

The 2013 Jets offense was awful but there defense was incredible, which is why they were 8-8. Could you imagine that team with Smith at QB? With that defense and his "Protect the ball" style of quarterbacking, that team may have been a Super Bowl participant.