Kansas City Chiefs: 5 Priority Pre-Draft Decisions to Consider

[oaklandhater]

http://nflspinzone.com/2016/02/20/ka...ions-consider/

This past season, the Kansas City Chiefs won their first playoff game in 22 years dating back to the 1994 Divisional Round matchup with the Houston Oilers.

After some spectacular seasons, a handful of division titles and early postseason exits, head coach Andy Reid pulled out a playoff win in January. Sure, the lone win came against the Houston Texans, but the Chiefs ran through the competition in the latter part of the season.


What’s next?

The Chiefs front office must do its best to retain key cogs on defense and revamp the offensive line. Both areas will undergo changes, and tough decisions loom over the course of the offseason.

What’s best for the Chiefs going forward? Keep in mind, Kansas City holds $31.4 million in cap space.

1.Franchise tag Sean Smith

Cornerback Sean Smith ranks as the most important impending in-house free agent on the roster. Smith missed three games to begin the season due to a suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy after pleading guilty for a DUI.

In Smith’s absence, the Chiefs pass defense ranked No. 28 in the league and quickly improved once the seventh-year defensive back returned to the field. Despite cornerback Marcus Peters’ earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, Chiefs fans should feel uneasy about turning the reins over to Phillip Gaines or Steven Nelson as starting cornerbacks.

Nelson hasn’t played extensively. Gaines started in Smith’s place and torn his ACL in the third game. It would be a huge gamble to thrust either cornerback in the starting lineup and expect to maintain a top-10 pass defense in yards allowed in 2016.

Cornerbacks generally cost more than safeties on the market, which makes Smith’s contract tougher on the Chiefs salary cap than safety Eric Berry’s new contract. Via Kevin Patra of NFL.com, the Chiefs could franchise tag Smith, costing approximately $13.7 million and delay the big payout for another year.

2.Extend Eric Berry

As previously mentioned, safeties take a backseat to cornerbacks in contract value on the free-agent market. The Chiefs should find a middle ground with Berry’s agent for an extension.

According to Spotrac.com, it would take approximately $8.2 million to keep Berry in a Chiefs uniform. The organization views the safety, who returned to the field after treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as an inspiration. Furthermore, he immediately returned to Pro Bowl form.

There’s no question he’s worth $8 million annually, and the contract value doesn’t deal a major hit to the cap space. Berry, Smith and Peters constitute the big three within the Chiefs secondary, capable of shutting down opposing pass offenses. Kansas City must keep those defensive backs on the payroll to survive in a pass-happy league

3.Choosing between Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali

Here’s where the cap space will break some hearts in the locker room and within the rows of Arrowhead Stadium. One or both career-long Chiefs will at least hit the free-agent market to remain under the cap for the next NFL calendar year.

Conventional wisdom points to outside linebacker Tamba Hali as the odd man out. He’s still a productive pass-rusher with 6.5 sacks in the previous season. He’s also durable, playing in at least 15 games every season for 10 years. However, the Chiefs drafted defensive lineman Dee Ford in the first round of the 2014 draft as the heir to Hali’s position.

In 2015, Ford accumulated four sacks in a limited role as a rotational pass-rusher and fill-in for outside linebacker Justin Houston as he dealt with an injury. It’s time to unleash the second-year pass-rusher on a full-time basis after two seasons behind Hali.

Inside linebacker Derrick Johnson (33) is a year older than Hali (32), but the Chiefs don’t have a young first-rounder ready to take over behind the four-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker.

It’s worth mentioning, all four of Johnson’s Pro Bowl selections have come within the last five seasons. He’s the definition of the NFL’s fine wine. Aside from a serious injury two years ago, he’s continued to play at a very high level.

This year’s draft doesn’t feature many impressive inside linebackers. As a result, the Chiefs should re-sign Johnson to a two-year $10-11 million deal.

4.Not offering a contract to Jaye Howard

Let’s count the dollar amounts:

Keeping Track of Dollar Amounts (Annual Value)
Player Annual Value Current Cap Space
Sean Smith $13.7 million N/A
Eric Berry $8.2 million N/A
Derrick Johnson $5.5 million N/A
Total $27.4 million $31.4 million
Remember, the Chiefs have $31.4 million at their disposal. Every dollar counts and there’s nothing left for defensive tackle Jaye Howard.

In 2015, Howard played his best football, logging 5.5 sacks. Unfortunately, it’s the only time we’ve witnessed his best football. He was non-existent for the first three years of his career, dating back to his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks.

As a general manager, paying any player a lucrative long-term deal after only one impressive season seems a bit shaky. Can you really trust his exceptional play to continue?

Considering the Chiefs have players who’ve proved themselves year after year, it’s not a far-fetched idea to lower Howard on the payout totem pole.

Secondly, this year’s draft features 10 prospects projected to come off the board in the first two rounds, per CBSSports.com. Kansas City should keep their eyes on Sheldon Rankins (Louisville). He’s a dynamic defensive tackle with run-stopping and pass-rushing attributes.

5.Reconfiguring the offensive line

The Chiefs seemingly need a wide receiver every season. However, the offensive line needs major upgrades to keep quarterback Alex Smith upright. Fortunately, Smith can move the pocket with some mobility, but the ground attack needs a solid offensive line to maintain the effective ball-control play style late in games.


According to CBS Sports and NFLDraftScout.com, the upcoming draft will potentially supply nine first- to second-round picks at offensive tackle. The Chiefs will have their fair share of selections at tackle in the second round if they opt to draft Kelly at center. After drafting pieces to secure Smith, the front office can set their sights on a wide receiver.

[DaneMcCloud]

Dumb article is dumb

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Dumb article is dumb

not much to talk about till the free agency Starts

[Gravedigger]

Everything outside of resigning Jaye Howard I can get on board with. Given the state of our Oline, I would say we're prime to put our draft picks into it, so I can see where franchising Sean Smith makes sense, but he's not worth a tag when we could simply pick up another FA corner or draft one that will compensate for his play this last season. The sad part is we'll have to probably choose between DJ and Tamba, and I think we all know who'll win in that bout.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

not much to talk about till the free agency Starts

That wasn't an indictment of you but the writer.

Draft another center with the 1st or 2nd pick?



Plus, Morse is better suited to playing inside at guard not outside at tackle due to arm length.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

That wasn't an indictment of you but the writer.

Draft another center with the 1st or 2nd pick?



Plus, Morse is better suited to playing inside at guard not outside at tackle due to arm length.

No that wasn't me thinking you were insulting me I was agreeing with you

[Easy 6]

I've waffled a bit on it, but ultimately believe Sean Smith needs to be kept

He's a proven press man corner still two years away from 30, and has the kind of size that you just rarely ever find at corner... an endzone fade to some teams big hoss isnt the sure thing it is against others without his length

He's a mismatch killer, no wonder Seattle is always looking for guys like this in their secondary

[RealSNR]

It's called a project ****ing player.

Like Eric Fisher. Trash at the beginning of his career, pretty decent in his 3rd season.

Jaye Howard was drafted in 2012. He had one year in Seattle, waiting behind a blossoming defensive line. He had a "redshirt" season in KC after getting cut. In 2014 he played pretty well. And in 2015 he was pretty damn ****ing good.

That's not exactly an unreliable trajectory for a player's progress. It's quite common, actually. ****, it's far more data and consistency that we've seen out of Howard than we had with Bailey before we gave him his extension. I'm not decrying the Bailey extension at all, either, but for idiot moron assholes like this article writer who say, "Eeeesh, we just don't know anything about Howard" it's a completely fair point to bring up Bailey.

If the Chiefs re-sign Howard, he'll probably get more than Bailey. And he absolutely deserves more than Bailey based on what he did for the franchise prior to his new deal.

If Howard rejects our offers and gets ****ing PAID like I think he will by the Jaguars, then that's fine. We can't afford a huge contract like that; that's just the way the NFL goes. But it's completely ****ing stupid to say it's a risk to re-sign Howard.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

How many years over the last 22 have we had a DL man with 5.5 sacks. Pay the guy. And I think Dorsey will.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

How many years over the last 22 have we had a DL man with 5.5 sacks. Pay the guy. And I think Dorsey will.

In a 34 defense, you don't do that. You can't spend that level of money on a five tech/NT guy. You draft a top level guy and keep him for the five years on a rookie contract before you give Howard that level of money.

You just can't give Howard that type of money. Not in this defense, not with Poe coming up for FA. Not with Nunez-Roches and Nick Williams on the roster (who are basically both Jaye Howard at the same stage). Not with a DT deep draft coming up that will feature a number of guys who are projected to be high level starters.

Sorry, but no. You just don't.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

In a 34 defense, you don't do that. You can't spend that level of money on a five tech/NT guy. You draft a top level guy and keep him for the five years on a rookie contract before you give Howard that level of money.

You just can't give Howard that type of money. Not in this defense, not with Poe coming up for FA. Not with Nunez-Roches and Nick Williams on the roster (who are basically both Jaye Howard at the same stage). Not with a DT deep draft coming up that will feature a number of guys who are projected to be high level starters.

Sorry, but no. You just don't.

Yeah, I guess you're right. we need that guy that gets 1 or 2 sacks and just takes up a position. Maybe the next Glenn Dorsey is in this draft.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

In a 34 defense, you don't do that. You can't spend that level of money on a five tech/NT guy. You draft a top level guy and keep him for the five years on a rookie contract before you give Howard that level of money.

You just can't give Howard that type of money. Not in this defense, not with Poe coming up for FA. Not with Nunez-Roches and Nick Williams on the roster (who are basically both Jaye Howard at the same stage). Not with a DT deep draft coming up that will feature a number of guys who are projected to be high level starters.

Sorry, but no. You just don't.

I have yet to see any evidence that Hobgood-Roachmotel or Nick Williams will be even HALF as good as Jaye Howard.

The only thing we have in their favor is that they both made the roster in 2015 and that the Chiefs "like" them.

You wouldn't re-sign Howard if he took a deal about equal to Allen Bailey?

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

In a 34 defense, you don't do that. You can't spend that level of money on a five tech/NT guy. You draft a top level guy and keep him for the five years on a rookie contract before you give Howard that level of money.

You just can't give Howard that type of money. Not in this defense, not with Poe coming up for FA. Not with Nunez-Roches and Nick Williams on the roster (who are basically both Jaye Howard at the same stage). Not with a DT deep draft coming up that will feature a number of guys who are projected to be high level starters.

Sorry, but no. You just don't.

5 tech isn't the nose tackle, it's the DE.

The NT is the zero

Isn't J.J. Watt a 5-tech? He got paid.

Well you don't do a lot of things we have already done.

give a new big contact to an aging RB
pay safeties instead of corners
pay guards instead of tackles
pay an OLB 100 million dollars who is not a rushbacker


People screamed that sacks by an OLB are still sacks, but you say sacks by a 3-4 DL aren't the same as sacks by a 4-3 DL?

[O.city]

Houston isn't a rushbacker?

What safeties have paid instead of corners?

[TribalElder]

This seems like a multi wipe poop and not a clean breaker