GM Pioli fills some needs in his first draft with Chiefs
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
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Scott Pioli’s first draft in Kansas City allowed the Chiefs to cover some ground. They added a couple of versatile linemen as they transition to the 3-4 defense, a nickel-back candidate, a kick-return specialist, a kicker and some developmental players.
Pioli, the Chiefs’ new general manager, said more moves would follow.
“We’re going to keep at it here,” he said Sunday as the Chiefs were finishing their eight-player draft. “Just because the draft’s over … anytime you think your football team is set and your roster is set, that’s when things start to creep up on you.
“There’s (still) a lot of ground to cover. We’ve started — and there’s a lot more ground to cover. As it stands today, we’re not done improving this football team. There are going to be a lot of things that happen with other teams and other people. There are going to be a lot of other opportunities. There are some people out there who were maybe free agents and it gets to about two weeks before the draft and some of the veteran free agents want to stop and settle down and see what’s going on and see what teams are going to draft and see where they think their opportunities may be the best.”
The Chiefs’ top two picks Sunday were defensive players, just like first-round selection Tyson Jackson. They took Purdue defensive lineman Alex Magee in the third round and Ohio State cornerback Donald Washington in the fourth.
“Obviously, they’ve had a little trouble stopping people (last year), and I don’t think in this league you have much of a chance to win if you can’t slow the other offense down,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said about drafting defensive players with the top three choices. “Just the way it worked out I would say more than by design. But it’s something I’m happy about.”
Jackson and Magee can play a variety of defensive-line positions. Jackson will be starter at end but could move to tackle in passing situations. Magee’s role is less defined, but he probably will move around as well.
“Kansas City had been playing a different scheme, and obviously when you start to think about changing it over … you need certain types of players,” Haley said. “To get two big defensive linemen that we think have a chance to compete right away, that’s a big deal.”
The line remains very much a work in progress, though Haley did define some roles for returning players. He said Glenn Dorsey, last year’s top draft pick, and Alfonso Boone would probably play at end, joining Jackson and possibly Magee.
“This is all about competition, and the more competition you have at each position, the better,” Haley said. “Right now our defensive line just got a little more competitive.”
Ron Edwards and Tank Tyler are the nose tackles.
“There are a couple of guys already here in the building that I think have a chance to play over the center if we go that direction,” Haley said. “Ron Edwards has got some experience in there. He’s a big, strong guy. Tank Tyler is another guy that’s had some experience playing over the nose.”
Washington will be given a chance to be the third cornerback. In the sixth round, the Chiefs drafted McNeese State wide receiver Quinten Lawrence, who could be their return specialist this season.
With the final pick in the draft, the Chiefs drafted South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop, who will compete in training camp with Connor Barth.
During the draft’s two days, the Chiefs discussed a variety of swaps involving draft picks. The only one they successfully made was picking up an extra seventh-round choice in a trade with Miami that allowed the Chiefs to draft tight end Jake O’Connell of Miami, Ohio.
The Dolphins will receive Kansas City’s seventh-round pick in next year’s draft.
“We talked about a lot of different trades and a lot of different people, spent a lot of time on the phone,” Pioli said. “Sometimes making a trade we felt we would have to give up too much to get to certain spots. I love to look for trades and consider trades, but if they’re not right, we don’t consummate the trade.”