Mock (1/29)
 

Assumptions:

1. The Chiefs extend Alex Smith 4 years, $60m ($36m guaranteed), and OLB Justin Houston 6 years, $62m ($32m guaranteed).

2. The Chiefs restructure SS Eric Berry and OLB Tamba Hali.

3. The Chiefs resign WR Dexter McCluster to a 4 year, $14m deal ($4m guaranteed), OG Geoff Schwartz to a 2 year, $7m deal, DE Tyson Jackson to a $4 year, 19m deal ($5m guaranteed), and S Husain Abdullah to a 2 year, $6m deal.

3. The Chiefs re-sign NT Jerrell Powe, ILB Akeem Jordan, and LS Thomas Gafford to minimal deals.

4. The Chiefs let walk: WR Kyle Williams, OT Brandon Albert, OG Jon Asamoah, OLB Frank Zombo, S Kendrick Lewis, S Quinten Demps

5. The Chiefs cut: CB Dunta Robinson

6. Chiefs sign OT Khalif Barnes (Raiders) to a 1 year, $3m deal, S Bradley McDougald (Buccaneers) to a minimal deal.

On with the show:

1.23. TE Jace Amaro, Texas Tech

Amaro is an expert route-runner that I've bragged about in previous mocks where I've taken him. Common wisdom suggests that when there's lots of elite talent at a position, they always find a way to fall in the draft. Amaro is great value at a critical position with so much question marks on the Chiefs. What do we have in Kelce? Can Fasano separate anymore? With Amaro, you've got a legit mismatch weapon for 12 years.

3.87. OLB Marcus Smith, Louisville

I can't help but go OLB in the 3rd this year -- I can't help it. The Chiefs desperately need help there to keep the pass rush fresh and to potentially replace Hali. Smith has been a tremendous livewire of talent for the Cardinals for the past couple of years. This past year, he has been an absolute demon off the edge and surprisingly adept in coverage. He is an absolute fit for this role and, in my opinion, approaches "steal" value here.

4.119. WR Martavis Bryant, Clemson

Bryant went under the radar this year playing under Watkins at Clemson, but it's easy to see him as an eventual #2 receiver in the NFL. Bryant's Combine scores will be interesting, but he has fantastic hands and 6'5", 200 lbs, great size that he uses very well to body off DBs. He needs to prove himself to be the athlete his play on the field suggests he was, and he's going to need to work on his route running.

5.151. CB Victor Hampton, South Carolina

One of my favorite mid-rounders at corner, possibly my best. Hampton could very well be taken sooner if he tests well at the Combine. Hampton is a Flowers-esque passionate defender on an island and he's exactly what you want if you want physical man coverage. Hampton does a great job of getting his head turned around and fighting through a receiver's arms.

6.177. S Marqueston Huff, Wyoming

Huff is not very well known to me, but he is an outstanding speed demon who can gravitate to the ball very quickly. Seems to me to be the ultimate late-round gamble for a team that needs FS help. You cannot argue with 4.4 speed, and I'm betting that Dorsey is definitely checking this guy out.

6.183. KR/WR Jalen Saunders, Oklahoma

Saunders is undersized in every way to be anything but a role player in the NFL. But in the late 6th, why not bring in a dynamic kick returner when the team is looking to save Knile Davis for more carries?

QB: Smith, Daniel, Bray
RB: Charles, Davis, Gray, McKnight
FB: Sherman

WR: Bowe, Avery, Bryant, McCluster, Jenkins, Hemingway, Saunders
TE: Amaro, Kelce, Fasano

LT: Fisher/Stephenson, Barnes
LG: Allen, Johnson
C: Hudson, Kush
RG: Schwartz, Johnson
RT: Fisher/Stephenson, Barnes

DE: DeVito, Bailey
NT: Poe, Powe
DE: Jackson, Catapano

OLB: Hali, Smith
ILB: Jordan, Johnson
ILB: Johnson, Johnson
OLB: Houston, Moses

CB: Flowers, Smith, Cooper, Hampton, Parker
S: Berry, Abdullah, Commings, Huff

K: Succop
P: Colquitt
LS: Gafford
KR: Saunders
PR: McCluster

They resign TJax AND let him walk?

That's just silly.

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4.119. WR Martavis Bryant, Clemson

Bryant went under the radar this year playing under Watkins at Clemson, but it's easy to see him as an eventual #2 receiver in the NFL. Bryant's Combine scores will be interesting, but he has fantastic hands and 6'5", 200 lbs, great size that he uses very well to body off DBs. He needs to prove himself to be the athlete his play on the field suggests he was, and he's going to need to work on his route running.

Isn't this basically the role that Bowe plays for us now? In reality we need a speedier #1 WR and to move Bowe to the #2 where he can use his body to shield defenders and go for jump balls. His poor route running and lack of explosion to create separation make him a better #2.

In reality....Bowe should be used more in the slot.

I like the thought of it but the slot receiver needs to get open quickly on the slants. Idk if Bowe can do that. I would consider handing that position to Jenkins next season with Hemmingway in the #2 position and just let them develop.

If somehow Ebron falls to us in round #1 or we can trade up then our receiving corps will be fine.

Bryant really reminds me of Justin Hunter when he was playing for the Vols. Similar build and skillset with the same questions of consistency.

Huff is the only guy I like in this one. Amaro is a clone of what we picked last year in Kelce. Redundant pick that should be used on upgrading the WR or OG position.

Not sure why someone building a team around Alex Smith wouldn't want 2 big and fast TE's. Nevermind that Kelce couldn't catch shit when he was on the field and missed the whole season due to injury and that Fasano and McGrath are both JAGs.

You aren't a six year NFL starter if you are "just a guy."

And considering that McGrath, prior to this season, only had one year of college ball at miniscule Henderson State and he was getting open/beating coverage from the get go, which, if you can extrapolate that, means he's got a lot of room for growth even after showing a lot on the field this past season.

Amaro at this point is the guy who is JAG. He's an unproven college kid that could bust. Who knows if he is able to get open on the next level? But what I do know is that Fasano and McGrath most certainly can. And Kelce is what you want drafted that just got drafted last season.

You don't embrace redundancy at TE, especially when you've got the holes the Chiefs do at WR, FS and OL (and even DL depending upon what they do with Jackson).

It's a deep draft for the TE position. They don't need to spend a first rounder on a guy when they have that guy and could get another guy later in the draft.

That's just silly.

Ya... Fasano is a real stud. He's a 6 year starter after all and averages 321 yards a year. What a ****ing player!

I'll take a TE over a WR if my QB is ****ing Alex Smith any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

So Amaro broke the NCAA record for yards by a TE but he's just a guy at this point? Interesting take.

I really think Alex would flourish with a legitimate 2-TE receiving combo.

His sweet spot is the 5-15 yard range, and with 2 big targets holding the LB's back in coverage, good things will happen:
- One will get open and get good yardage for a first down
- Run Jamaal on a delay draw; with the LB's in coverage instead of crowding the line all he needs is a seam...
- Pump to the middle and dump to Jamaal in the flats; again, it just buys him more time and space to do his thing

I would love to hit on one of these guys and have Kelce come back strong; assuming we make a splash for a WR in FA (healthy Maclin).

Christ, when does FA Start? This may be all bullshit until then.

This is not the first time Sac has dramatically underrated Amaro.

The only knock on Amaro is that he's pretty much at his ceiling -- he can get better in the blocking game but he is who he is at this point.

Fasano, however, isn't even that anymore.

Jermichael Finley has a Dorsey connection. Just saying.

Jermichael Finley has a fused spinal connection. I'mma pass on him.

Dorsey also has a Packers connection with James Jones and BJ Raji, though...

I'll take Raji

Hey Direckshun, just a thought. Now that we are fixing to sign Weston Dressler for punt return and slot receiver duties McCluster is not going to make this football team.

People have been saying that for the last 2 years.

McCluster wont "make the team" if another team gives him more money.

I think Dressler does little more than give the Chiefs an "option" to bring down the price on McCluster.

We'll see.

This.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Chiefs retain him at a price most people here won't like. He's not a throw away player.

The difference this time is McCluster is a FA this offseason. It was mentioned somewhere that he was looking for a contract that would pay him 3.5 to 4 million a year on average over 5 years.
There is no reason to sign a guy like Dressler if there were plans on keeping McCluster.

Dressler is training camp fodder. He's competition.

So you think a guy that is an all-star in his current role would leave that type of a situation to go where he would have little if any chance to make a team in the NFL? That would be pretty damn stupid.
I would imagine when we see his contract it will become clearer.

Oh my god, please stop.

Going to the NFL, even as camp fodder, is a huge pay increase.

ROFL

He probably tripled his salary the minute he signed.

Not to mention the fact that the NFL is leaps and bounds more prestigious than the CFL.

There isn't a single CFL player that wouldn't sign with an NFL team.

If he doesn't make the roster he will not get paid.

I guess that depends on whether you are alright with just riding the pine for some $$$$. I think most would rather be playing the game and making a difference.

There's no guarantee he's going to be riding the pine.

There isn't a player in the CFL that wouldn't sign with an NFL team for the SHOT AT PLAYING.

If he fails, it's not like his CFL team won't welcome him back with open arms...

If he is camp fodder he will either not make the team or maybe make practice squad or ride the pine. Otherwise he would not be camp fodder.

What he getting paid right now as camp fodder is better than what he's getting in the CFL.

And if he gets cut, he goes back to the CFL.

It's not hard to figure out. When an NFL team calls, you go.

He hasn't signed yet. When he does and the numbers come out you will see that it is not a camp fodder kind of contract. We shall see.