Kris Wilson a Free Agent Sleeper?

by Chris Thorman on Feb 15, 2008 12:08 PM CST in 2008 Kansas City Chiefs Off Season

To someone who reads and writes Chiefs information every day, this statement by Adam Caplan from Scout.com seems a bit far-fetched.

Kris Wilson/Kansas City Chiefs (UFA) - He was a pretty accomplished collegiate tight end and had a very good Senior Bowl week back in 2004. But he suffered a broken leg which curtailed his rookie season . Wilson's biggest problem is that he was drafted by a team that has a future Hall of Famer (Tony Gonzalez) as the starter at his position, so he was moved to fullback last season. But he has a ton of talent and could develop into a solid starter with another team. He's one of the true sleepers of free agency.

Since Wilson hasn't really played tight end since he's been in the league, Caplan is making this assessment based off of Wilson's college and Senior Bowl performance. I have not seen what Caplan has seen in Wilson while Wilson was playing in the NFL. It may be too late to be bringing up the 2004 Senior Bowl.

What about you? Do you think Wilson has the skills to become a great player somewhere else?

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I will actually be surprised

if we don't keep Wilson...Gailey's plan to build an offensive scheme around the players' strengths could do a much better job of utilizing Kris Wilson. As I said in an earlier post, it is not his fault that he catches 2-3 yard dump passes. I'm not saying he would ever become a great TE for us or anybody else, but I think Herm will be reluctant to lose a 2nd round pick from 2004. Who knows, maybe Wilson just hasn't performed up to expectations because we have never kept in the same spot very long. One thing I like about him is that he does create some mis-matches with defenders - he is a bit faster than most LB's so he can be effective receiving out of the backfield. I would predict we might sign him to a 1 year deal so Gailey can experiment with him, and if he doesn't pan out, then we can cut him. What's his cap hit again?

by PVChiefsfan on Feb 15, 2008 12:38 PM CST reply actions

Nothing

He's an UFA.

by Chris Thorman on Feb 15, 2008 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

duh

my bad...do you think he could be valuable if used correctly, or should we cut him?

by PVChiefsfan on Feb 15, 2008 1:24 PM CST up reply actions

oh yeaaaaaa

I totally forgot about how Wilson broke his leg and was out most of his rookie year. That completely changes my ammo against him in an earlier discussion I had, can't remember w/ who, about keeping Wilson over Grigsby.

Given that Wilson's 2 injury-free years have both been under a...shall we say..."slightly" unimpressive offensive coordinator, maybe there is a lot more potential than we (I) saw.

My guess is that if other teams really do think of him as a sleeper, he's much more likely to get signed away to a 2-3 year deal somewhere than he is to agree to 1 more year w/ the chiefs. If there aren't any serious suitors, then it definitely would be his best move to sign back on w/ us, but i bet if any team actually really wants him he'll be offered a much better deal than a 1-year extension of a trial run w/ the Chiefs.

If the Chiefs offer him a longer deal, that's a different story, and even more proof that I have no future as an NFL talent evaluator. But I wouldn't be surprised if he goes somewhere else for a fresh start, and a role as a true TE.

Another interesting thought is, unless we sign or draft a blocking TE, after Jason Dunn retires Wilson will be our 2nd TE by default, so he'll automatically be more involved in any 2 TE sets. I didn't see any blocking from him out of the "H-back" that was particularly impressive, but again, if he's back in his natural role maybe he'll step it up and be a serviceable #2 to TG.

by thehulk on Feb 15, 2008 2:01 PM CST up reply actions

however you look at it,

I think calling him "one of the true sleepers" of all of free agency is a little bit generous. That's one of those go out on a limb statements that will never be noticed if Wilson fades away, but a great "i told you so!" if he goes on to do anything substantial.

ooooh journalists, like we don't see right through you.

by thehulk on Feb 15, 2008 2:05 PM CST up reply actions

Might as well let him go with TG here

Wilson can't be blamed for his "2-yard outs" because that's a coaching call but he can be blamed for never turning those into anything more than a 2-yard out.

by Chris Thorman on Feb 15, 2008 4:25 PM CST up reply actions

Gotta disagree

IF the coaches really think Wilson has talent, I have no problem with them keeping him and utilizing him where they can.

Gonzalez has said he only plans to play for two more years so that he gets all the guaranteed money on his new contract.

I've said before that Wilson wasn't really getting a fair shake because he's not really playing his position. If the coaches didn't think he had talent, they would just let him ride the bench. But they're trying to find ways of getting him on the field even with TG out there.

I don't really know what to think of Wilson. I'll have to just leave it up to the judgment of the coaches.

by DJ @ Arrowhead Pride on Feb 15, 2008 5:33 PM CST up reply actions

He's a great sleeper...

... for a team who wants to throw a swing pass to the flat and gain just short of a yard per try.

He'll tear up the league with that play!

He's gone. Somebody else's unrealized potential now.

You can't blame it all on Brock Lesar's cheap shot that broke his leg...

He's had ample opportunity to step up.

The writing was on the wall last year when we drafted Allen.

Bye Kris!

Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you!

by mikvogel on Feb 15, 2008 3:27 PM CST reply actions

Wilson

Is it the players fault what plays are called? Last I checked they have no control over that.

by DJ @ Arrowhead Pride on Feb 15, 2008 5:34 PM CST up reply actions

still a turd

Can't hold the ball.

Steve Caskey

by swift347 on Feb 15, 2008 4:54 PM CST reply actions

no.

kris wilson has a boatload of talent and potential. that is why he was a second round pick, dick vermeil envisioned what he could be "someday".

well, guess what. he will likely never fully realize his potential, and if anybody signs him with an eye on him filling an important role, they will be disappointed.

i hope we get rid of him and move on with michael allan at TE and boomer/FA/draftee at FB.

by rockchalk on Feb 15, 2008 9:00 PM CST reply actions

Not that bad

Kris Wilson was never that bad as a TE. As a FB he was an abomination, but as a TE he was above average. He, of course, never got any significant playing time though because he was playing behind the greatest overall TE of all time, and one of the best blocking TEs of all time, so it's kind of hard to jockey for playing time behind that. But he's a speedy guy who can drag some defenders when he needs to. And now that Dunn is gone, I'd like to see him and Michael Allan fighting for playing time with one another.

by jayrodtremonki on Feb 16, 2008 12:38 PM CST reply actions

i just don't see it

in your opinion he was "above average" as a TE. it's possible that i was just oblivious to it, but i never saw anything that made him look above average. granted, most of his time was as an "H-back," whatever the crap that is, but what do you base your assessment of him as an above-average TE on? Is there footage or something out there that I missed, or are you referencing his college years, when he actually was a true TE?

by thehulk on Feb 16, 2008 6:27 PM CST up reply actions

TE

He really hasn't had a chance to play tightend in the pros. You going to take your Hall of Famer out to give the unproven rookie playing time? I don't think so.

One thing is clear, he's wasn't effective, or rather was not being used effectivly coming out of the backfield.

by DJ @ Arrowhead Pride on Feb 16, 2008 7:34 PM CST up reply actions

I've been following his progress for a while.

I'm basically basing it on all of the times that I've actually watched him line up at the TE position. Which means primarily 2006. From what I've noticed, he's nowhere near as good of a blocker as TG(think Antonio Gates) but he's got the speed to get by a linebacker without too much trouble.

by jayrodtremonki on Feb 17, 2008 4:09 AM CST up reply actions