*** 2015 Prospect Tracker: Chiefs Interest / Visits / Work Outs ***

[Dante84]

Draft Season is upon us. With the college season ending tomorrow, and the NFL wrapping up soon as well, our focus shifts to the most glorious time of year.

With a ton of picks this year, it will be even more exciting to follow.

4 years ago, this thread had a few guys that we selected in the draft. 3 years ago, this thread had 4 of our 8 draft picks. 2 years ago, we got Kelce and Fisher, and last year we snagged Murray, DAT, LD-T, and Kona Schwenke.

Here was our list from 2014:

Spoiler!

Offense
QB
Tahj Boyd, Clemson
Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois
David Fales, San Jose State
Aaron Murray, Georgia
Connor Shaw, South Carolina
Tyler Russell, Mississippi State
Brett Smith, Wyoming
Derek Carr, Fresno State

RB
Charles Sims, West Virginia
Senorise Perry, Louisville
Dominique Williams, Wagner
Chad Abram, Florida State (Fullback)
Jerick McKinnon, Georgia Southern
De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon

WR
Mike Campanaro, Wake Forest
Josh Huff, Oregon
Jalen Saunders, Oklahoma
Ryan Grant, Tulane
Solomon Patton, Florida
Marqise Lee, University of Southern California
Mike Evans, Texas A&M
Brandin Cooks, Oregon State
Josh Ford, University of Kansas
Maurice Woodard, Lincoln

TE
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington
Erik Swoope, Miami - Basketball Player
Justin Jones, East Carolina

OT
Billy Turner, North Dakota State (OT/G) *Multiple meetings
Ja'Wuan James, Tennessee
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, McGill University (CAN)
Garrett Scott, Marshall

G
Wes Johnson, Vanderbilt

C

Defense
CB
Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Nebraska
Keith McGill, Utah
Pierre Desir, Lindenwood *Multiple meetings
E.J. Gaines, Missouri
Jason Verrett, TCU
Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State
Brandon Dixon, Northwest Missouri State
Shaquille Richardson, Arizona
Keith Lewis, Virginia University of Lynchburg *Multiple meetings
Sammy Seamster, Middle Tennessee State
Walt Aikens, Liberty
Ryan White, Auburn
Qua Cox, Jacksonville State
Brandon McCladdie, The Citadel

S
Terrence Brooks, Florida State
Craig Loston, LSU
Ahmad Dixon, Baylor
Marqueston Huff, Wyoming
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama
Calvin Pryor, Louisville
Kenny Ladler, Vanderbilt
Lonnie Ballentine, Memphis
Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois
Kimario McFadden, South Carolina State
Nickoe Whitley, Mississippi State

OLB
Christian Jones, Florida State (DE/OLB)
Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech
Kyle Van Noy, BYU
Carlos Fields, Winston-Salem State
James Davidson, UTEP (OLB/DE)
Justin Jackson, Wake Forest
Derrell Johnson, East Carolina

ILB
Telvin Smith, Florida State
Chris Borland, Wisconsin

DE
IK Enemkpali, Louisiana Tech
Chris Smith, Arkansas (DE/OLB)
Zach Moore, Concordia
James Gayle, Virginia Tech
Tevin Mims, University of South Florida
Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame
Kony Ealy, Missouri
Colton Underwood, Illinois State
Justin Anderson, UMass
Aaron Lynch, South Florida
B.J. McBryde, UConn

DT
Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota
Will Sutton, Arizona State *Multiple meetings
Louis Nix, Notre Dame
Jimmy Staten, Middle Tennessee State
Kona Schwenke, Notre Dame
Dominique Easley, Florida

For those who are new, the way this operates is that we collectively monitor various social media sources, blogs, articles and reports for news of the Chiefs' interest in a certain player. When posted in this thread, I will update the OP to include the player. *Please provide the link to the article, the players name, position and team.

I am going to try to link to player profiles when they exist, courtesy of draftbreakdown.com. For some of the lesser-known guys, it may just be a random video or profile from their team website.

2015 Draft - Chiefs Prospect Tracker

Offense
QB
Michael Strauss, Richmond
Jake Waters, K-State

RB
Joey Iosefa, Hawaii
Ross Scheuerman, Lafayette
Akeem Hunt, Purdue

WR
Phillip Dorsett, Miami
Devante Davis, UNLV
Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma
Devin Funchess, Michigan
Keith Mumphery, Michigan State
Devin Smith, Ohio State
Justin Hardy, East Carolina
Da'Ron Brown, NIU
Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
Chandler Worthy, Troy
Kenny Cook, Gardner Webb
Tyler Lockett, Kansas State
Devin Gardner, Michigan (former QB)
Adrian Coxson, Stony Brook
Austin Willis, Emporia State
Ed Williams, Fort Hays State
Breshad Perriman, University of Central Florida
Rasheed Bailey, Delaware Valley College


TE
Wes Saxton, South Alabama
Maxx Williams, Minnesota
Casey Pierce, Kent State
Clive Walford, Miami
Will Tye, Stony Brook
Colin Voss, North Texas (Basketball)
Brian Parker, Albany

OT
TJ Clemmings, Pittsburgh
Jamil Douglas, Arizona State
Cedric 'Jeremiah' Poutasi, Utah
Bobby Hart, Florida State
D.J. Humphries, Florida
Ali Marpet, Hobart
Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
Brandon Scherff, Iowa
Ereck Flowers, Miami
Kevin Whimpey, Utah State
Mitch Morse, Missouri
Andrus Peat, Stanford

G
Laken Tomlinson, Duke
A.J. Cann, South Carolina
Terrence Jones, Troy
Cody Wichmann, Fresno State
Kaleb Johnson, Rutgers

C
Dillion Day, Miss. State
Matthew Reese, Tuskegee

Defense
CB
Eric Rowe, Utah
Marcus Peters, Washington
Damian Swann, Georgia
Ronald Darby, Florida State
JaCorey Shepherd, Kansas
Tye Smith, Towson
Tray Walker, Texas Southern
Darryl Roberts, Marshall
De’Vante Bausby, Pitt State
Dexter McDonald, Kansas
Randall Evans, Kansas State
Tray Walker, Texas Southern

S
Chris Hackett, TCU
Dechane Durante, NIU
Damarious Randall, Arizona State
Cedric Thompson, Minnesota
Gerod Holliman, Louisville
Lyndell Johnson, Oklahoma State
Isaiah Johnson, Georgia Tech
Harold Jones-Quartey, Findlay
Gordon Hill, Sacred Heart
Keeston Terry, Pittsburg State

OLB
Nate Orchard, Utah
Alvin “Bud” Dupree, Kentucky
J.R. Tavai, USC
Ryan Delaire, Towson
Ryan Mueller, Kansas State
Victor Simmons, Kansas

ILB
Denzel Perryman, Miami
Ramik Wilson, Georgia
Paul Dawson, TCU
Damien Wilson, Minnesota
Junior Sylvestre, Toledo
Zack Vigil, Utah State
Ben Heeney, Kansas

DE
Zack Wagenmann, Montana
Shane Ray, Missouri
David Irving, Iowa State
Matt Longacre, Northwest Missouri
Billy Dobbs, Troy
Cedric Reed, Texas

DT
Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Southern Miss.
Rodney Gunter, Delaware State
Keon Stowers, Kansas
BJ McBryde, UConn
Lucas Vincent, Missouri

Special Teams
P
Christian Brinser, Missouri

[Dante84]

Chiefs met with Brandon Scherff (via @TerezPaylor). Would love it but can't see him dropping http://t.co/Zg8fRDVxbC

— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) February 20, 2015

[aturnis]

DAT. Scherff injured a hammy today. Not sure the extent. Could cause him to drop.

[kccrow]

Not really sure a list is relevant since they'll meet with a shitload of prospects in the offseason at the senior bowl, shrine game, combine, invited workouts, etc.

Either way... whatever... they met with WR Devin Smith, OSU, at the Senior Bowl by the way. I'm sure a twitter junkie can find the link to that news.

[Dante84]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Not really sure a list is relevant since they'll meet with a shitload of prospects in the offseason at the senior bowl, shrine game, combine, invited workouts, etc.

Either way... whatever... they met with WR Devin Smith, OSU, at the Senior Bowl by the way. I'm sure a twitter junkie can find the link to that news.

That's the goal, to get some insight on the shit-ton.

Gives us an idea as to the types of players we check out and gives us a short list to mock off of.

We usually end up getting a small handful of these guys.

[Dante84]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Not really sure a list is relevant since they'll meet with a shitload of prospects in the offseason at the senior bowl, shrine game, combine, invited workouts, etc.

Either way... whatever... they met with WR Devin Smith, OSU, at the Senior Bowl by the way. I'm sure a twitter junkie can find the link to that news.

And good looking out:

...it’s little wonder that, according to Smith, he was interviewed by the Chiefs during Senior Bowl week...

[Dante84]

Terez, reporting from the combine:

Greetings from Lucas Oil Stadium, where the weeklong madness known as the annual NFL Combine has begun. I’ll have plenty of dispatches from the proceedings today, so be sure to check this space regularly for updates.

3 p.m. — Utah outside linebacker Nate Orchard told me he has a formal interview scheduled with the Chiefs tonight. Orchard, who is listed at 6 feet 4 and 250 pounds, is one of my fastest risers in the draft. I really liked his speed off the edge at the Senior Bowl, which matched up with his impressive 18.5-sack senior season. I don’t think the Chiefs would take him in the first round (where I currently expect him to go), but I do like the talent and would sign off on the pick in the second round.

2:55 p.m. — Kentucky outside linebacker Alvin “Bud” Dupree just told me he recently had a formal interview with the Chiefs. I like Dupree enough as a prospect — he flashes the ability to play a little 4-3 end and 3-4 outside linebacker — but I’d currently put him behind Shane Ray, Dante Fowler, Randy Gregory and Nate Orchard. Again, I don’t think he’s an option with the 18th overall pick but you can never have enough pass rushers, so if he somehow fell to the second round I’d get the pick.

2:35 p.m. — Missouri offensive lineman Mitch Morse put up some impressive numbers after missing the Senior Bowl because of an injury.

11:22 a.m. — It’s been a fairly quiet afternoon in the media room here at the Combine, but things should start picking up here pretty soon. I do have one piece of news, however; I’m hearing the Chiefs have met with the representatives for safety Ron Parker, which isn’t a surprise. But I’m told Parker, a pending free agent, is still expected to ask for $6 million a season. The Chiefs won’t go to that number, but don’t freak out about the price; like any negotiation, there’s probably some middle ground to be found here.

11:57 a.m. — Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers said the Chiefs held a formal interview with him Thursday night. Flowers, who checks in at 6-6, 330 and pumped out 37 reps on the bench press, is a potential first-round pick who flashes some nastiness. If the Chiefs believe in his talent and want insurance for Eric Fisher and Donald Stephenson, he could be an option at No. 18.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...#storylink=cpy

[Dante84]

Georgia inside linebacker Ramik Wilson scheduled for a formal interview with the #Chiefs at the Combine: http://t.co/Li2y4XzyH0

— Herbie Teope (@HerbieTeope) February 21, 2015

[Dante84]

3:03 p.m. — I’m hearing the Chiefs had an interview with Southern California outside linebacker J.R. Tavai on Wednesday. Tavai, who is listed at 6-2 and 250 pounds, finished the 2014 season with 53 tackles (13 1/2 for loss) and seven sacks and projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end in the NFL. He sounds like a guy who plays his tail off too, according to his NFL.com draft profile. Sounds like a guy the Chiefs would like.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...#storylink=cpy

.

[Dante84]

Hawaii's RB Joey Iosefa

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2015/2...er-from-hawaii

[Dante84]

Utah CB Eric Rowe has a formal interview with the #Chiefs set up for tomorrow night. 6-0, 205 press corner.

— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) February 21, 2015

[Dante84]

Updates from Terez:

Greetings from Lucas Oil Stadium, where the weeklong madness known as the annual NFL Combine is still underway. I’ll have plenty of dispatches from the proceedings today, so be sure to check this space regularly for updates.

4:47 p.m. — The Chiefs held a formal interview with Texas Christian inside linebacker Paul Dawson, he told me. Dawson isn’t very big (6-0, 235), but he’s one of the most instinctive linebackers in the draft. I currently have him as my No. 2 guy behind Eric Kendricks, and yes, it’s close. Turn on Dawson’s bowl tape against Ole Miss and that will tell you all you need to know about him.

2:32 p.m. — Utah cornerback Eric Rowe told a group of media that he has a formal interview set up with the Chiefs set up for Sunday night. He played press man, predominantly, at Utah and has experience at safety, as well.

1:23 p.m. — TCU safety Chris Hackett told me he has a formal interview set up with the Chiefs. I need to do more film work on him, but he has very good ball skills —seven picks in 2014 — and was a very good interview. He also says he got most of his interceptions playing deep in coverage and has experience in a one-high role. CBSSports.com projects him to be a second- or third-round pick.

12:28 p.m. — The Chiefs have a formal interview scheduled with Washington cornerback Marcus Peters. Peters has character concerns — he was kicked off the team during the season for what he repeatedly dubbed “miscommunication” during his media interview here — but he’s a press-man corner with aggressiveness and ball skills. I can’t see the Chiefs taking a first-round pick on him, just because of the background, but if he makes it to the second, they could perhaps afford to take the gamble.

11 a.m. — Former Mizzou receiver Dorial Green-Beckham showed off his athleticism Saturday by posting unofficial times of 4.49 and 4.50 in the 40-yard dash. At 6 feet 5, 237 pounds, those are strong times. Let’s chill on the Calvin Johnson comparisons, though; Johnson was more polished as a player coming out and he also ran a ridiculous 4.35 40-yard dash. But Green-Beckham is a talented guy, nonetheless. He looked smooth in position drills and caught the ball well. A good day for Green-Beckham.

10:55 a.m. — Amari Cooper of Alabama pretty much locked up a spot in the top 12 of the draft by running unofficial 40-yard dash times of 4.42 and 4.43. He also looked very fluid in position drills and showed far more polish than most of his competitors. He’s as good as advertised and remains my No. 1 receiver in the draft.

9:26 a.m. — A stray note from my interview with Chiefs general manager John Dorsey on Thursday: I asked him when — or if — the Chiefs will pick up their fifth-year option on defensive tackle Dontari Poe’s contract.

“It will probably be more towards training camp,” Dorsey said.

Poe has one year left on his original rookie deal, and will have a 2015 cap number of $3.6 million. The new collective bargaining agreement, however, allows teams to tack on another year to the contracts of first-round picks. For a player like Poe, who was taken 11th overall, his cap number in 2016 would be the average salary of players ranked 3rd-25th in salary for that position.

The period to exercise those options began on Dec. 29, 2014. The Chiefs have until May 3 to exercise the option on Poe. I addressed his contract situation, with cap analyst Joel Corry’s thoughts, in The Star’s mega offseason preview a month ago.

8:33 a.m. — This is the final day of the media portion of the event, but there are a number of local players who have still not made an appearance in the media room, including Kansas State’s Tyler Lockett, Kansas’ JaCorey Shepherd and Missouri’s Marcus Murphy and Shane Ray. I’ll try to have updates on all those players, plus the ones who have done formal interviews with the Chiefs, today.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...#storylink=cpy

[redshirt32]

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/132590/justin-hardy

The Chiefs are "very high on" East Carolina WR Justin Hardy, reports TFY Draft Insider's Tony Pauline.
Coming off a mediocre combine, and entering alongside an extremely strong WR class, Hardy may come at a discount in April. The 6-foot, 188-pounder posted a 9-foot-6 broad jump -- indicating his athletic explosion is lacking -- and a mediocre 4.56 forty. All of that said, Hardy's game is predicated on crisp routes and agility out of the slot, skills that Kansas City's offense could absolutely use. "Hardy’s route running skills, ability to separate in underneath coverage and dependable hands would fit a hole in the Chiefs offense," Pauline wrote. Feb 22 - 2:09 PM

[Nightfyre]

I am hoping the Chiefs are looking at Hardy as a guy they can target in rounds 3-4 rather than 1-2.

[Dante84]

Originally Posted by redshirt32

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/132590/justin-hardy

The Chiefs are "very high on" East Carolina WR Justin Hardy, reports TFY Draft Insider's Tony Pauline.
Coming off a mediocre combine, and entering alongside an extremely strong WR class, Hardy may come at a discount in April. The 6-foot, 188-pounder posted a 9-foot-6 broad jump -- indicating his athletic explosion is lacking -- and a mediocre 4.56 forty. All of that said, Hardy's game is predicated on crisp routes and agility out of the slot, skills that Kansas City's offense could absolutely use. "Hardy’s route running skills, ability to separate in underneath coverage and dependable hands would fit a hole in the Chiefs offense," Pauline wrote. Feb 22 - 2:09 PM

Updated

[redshirt32]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

I am hoping the Chiefs are looking at Hardy as a guy they can target in rounds 3-4 rather than 1-2.

He is projected 99 overall 3-5 rds but who really knows, I'm high on Hardy as well.