Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 5/13

Takeaways From The Chiefs 2014 Draft Class from The Mothership

The countless hours of travel, film study and interviews paid off for the Chiefs, leading to the following player recaps and overall analysis:

1) Dee Ford Shines on the Big Stages

"He's made some huge plays," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. "I think when you watch the bigger games, when they needed a play, he ended up making the play. I think that guy jumped out to John and me. At that level, he did both. There weren't a tremendous amount of pass rushers in this draft by number, but I thought he was right up there with the best of them."

By The Numbers: Chiefs Rookie Free Agents from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs announced the signings of six rookie free agents on Monday, each added to the roster for the same reason as 2014 NFL Draft Class, create even more competition to bring out the best in each and every player. Below is a look at the recent production by each of the team's six newest rookies.

Chiefs Rookie Jersey Numbers Revealed from The Mothership

Days after the Kansas City Chiefs 2014 Draft Class was revealed, the team released the jersey numbers of each player* for the upcoming season. While the rookies were fitted for their jerseys in preparation for the 2014 campaign, we couldn't help but think of past Chiefs players, who wore the same numbers, during their time in Kansas City. Team historian Bob Moore offered thoughts on some of the former Chiefs, listed below.

Chiefs Community Report from The Mothership

The Chiefs hosted a reception at The University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex to celebrate the release of the 2013-2014 Chiefs Community Report. Those in attendance included individuals who are shown on the pages of the report or individuals who represent the organizations featured in the report.

Chiefs Fan Wins Trip To The NFL Draft from The Mothership

"We had no idea what to expect; we've never done anything like this before and it was incredible," Friedman said. "We arrived in New York and took in the sights, walked around and then went to check into our hotel. When we got to the hotel they told us we had a suite ready and I thought, ‘no way, we don't have a suite.'"

To Friedman's surprise, while in the hotel lobby he ran into head coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey and learned the two had upgraded the Friedman's hotel room to a suite.

3 In The Kee: Lingering Questions From The Chiefs' 2014 Draft from FS Kansas City

Going in to Thursday night, the Chiefs' two biggest question marks were starting free safety and No. 2 receiver. And, Monday morning, they're still the two biggest question marks.

With safety, the addition of ex-Rice cornerback Gaines brings another tall, fast cover man into the fold -- and could mean more nickel work or even safety action for someone such as veteran corner Brandon Flowers, who was used as something of a slot-receiver specialist for much of last fall. Dorsey likes tall defensive backs who can run; Flowers is 5-10, while strong safety Eric Berry is 5-9.

Brewing Position Battles On The Horizon from Chiefs Spin

[T]he Chiefs as of this publishing have 85 players, which includes the six rookie free agents officially signed Monday, leaving the team five players shy of the maximum of 90 allowed on the offseason roster.

But regardless what happens with the remaining players yet to be named, the stage is already set for battlegrounds at numerous positions.

First-round pick Dee Ford will likely begin the season learning from starting outside linebacker Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, so Ford isn't included in the below scenarios.

Here's how the interesting position battles shape out (Note: members of the 2014 draft class are bolded with an asterisk next to name):

Chiefs' Sixth-Rounder Doc Larry Is A Med Student And A Future Doctor from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

After all, how many 23-year-olds are late to their adviser's house to watch the draft because they were helping to deliver twins by emergency C-section? And how many NFL hopefuls have spent their spring working at children's hospitals, first in the emergency room and later in the NICU, often handling babies who fit comfortably in his massive hands?

How many players who heard their names called over the three days of the draft have just one more year of medical school before they can call themselves a doctor?

Thomas Could Have Big Impact For Chiefs from ESPN

He is world-class fast and for that reason, Thomas could wind up having the biggest immediate impact among any of the six players the Chiefs drafted this year.

The Chiefs would be smart to unleash Thomas immediately as their kickoff and punt-return specialist. He returned four kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns in his three seasons at Oregon. He'll be coached on special teams by Dave Toub, who has had a nice touch working with skilled return specialists before.

Chiefs, QB Murray Could Be The Right Mix from ESPB

That Murray doesn't have classic size (the Chiefs list him at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds) and a huge arm suggests Dorsey and Reid believe Murray can succeed in the NFL without those qualities.

Dorsey and Reid have a history of drafting and developing quarterbacks in previous jobs, Dorsey with the Green Bay Packers and Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles. When they like a quarterback, it's probably wise to listen. That alone makes Murray worth a fifth-round draft pick.

The Chiefs Undrafted? from Warpaint Illustrated

In the wake of adding six viable roster candidates and future NFL starters for the Kansas City Chiefs over draft weekend, the organization (though not official just yet) added some post draft football players in hopes of finding a future gem or two. So did they?

Thompson: NFL Draft Over-Hyped As Spectacle from The Leaf Chronicle

All we get to see with ESPN's wall-to-wall draft coverage is highlights of plays already shown countless times, along with often inane speculation and predictions by "experts" and Chris Berman. Throw in some predictable, sometimes cringe-worthy interviews with players, and it's really confusing to me why this event draws so much attention.

Before we go any further, though, I should admit that I was sucked into the drama of round one, when Johnny Manziel dropped all the way to the 22nd pick. Part of that was the simultaneously terrifying and intriguing possibility that "Johnny Football" could get selected by my favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Three More COC Products On NFL Teams from The Santa Clarita Valley Signal

On Monday, two more former COC Cougars signed free agent contracts with NFL teams. It's typical for teams to sign a handful of undrafted rookie players on the Monday following the draft.

Ex-COC offensive linemen Karim Barton (Philadelphia Eagles) and Will Latu (Kansas City Chiefs) were among the day's signees.

Roster Analysis 2013 To 2014: QB from ESPN

Murray may or may not be an upgrade over Bray as a developmental prospect. But if the decision comes down to the two of them for the No. 3 quarterback spot, the Chiefs need to go with the player with the best future and not Murray just because he is a drafted player. They need to make him, and Bray for that matter, earn it.

Hunt Discusses NFL Draft, Coming Season from Kansas City Business Journal

Seeing things turned around last year has Hunt more excited than ever to see what this season will bring. He said he can't wait to see where the program goes now. That excitement and anticipation permeates the entire organization, Hunt said.

"Everyone is looking forward to the 2014 season," Hunt said. "Back in late January, I walked into Andy's office, and I asked what he was doing. He said he was getting ready to play the Seattle Seahawks. (laughs) He was already breaking them down. At that time, he didn't know when, but he knew we'd be playing them this season."

Jack's Smack: It Was A Boring Draft, But No One Saw Dee Ford Coming from KSHB

This all played right into the hands of the Chiefs. Manziel, after being passed over 21 times, suddenly was a pick away from the Chiefs' turn.

It was compelling TV to see if Dorsey and Reid had the guts to pull the trigger and pick a quarterback in the first round. Of course, we'll never know.

Jim Alexander: When NFL Plans Turn Back Into Hopes from The Press-Enterprise

Sorensen, a safety from BYU and Colton High, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and thus can dream of the possibility of two games a year on the same field as his brother. Brad Sorensen was drafted by the Chargers last year out of Southern Utah and is currently their No. 3 quarterback.

Ian White At Chargers Training Camp from The Conway Daily Sun

White contacted his agent who assessed all of the team drafts and thought San Diego "was a very good fit" for his talents.

About 30 minutes after agreeing to be a Charger, White got a call from Kansas City seeing if he was still available.

Best And Worst Draft Marriages from ESPN

Worst

1. Dee Ford, OLB, Kansas City: This really doesn't have anything to do with Ford as a player. By all accounts, he's a gifted pass-rusher who someday might live up to the first-round pick the Chiefs used on him Thursday night. It has everything to do with the Chiefs' needs this coming season and where exactly he fits into that picture. Kansas City simply isn't good enough to take a player whose real value will come after next season, when Pro Bowl outside linebacker Tamba Hali might be too old and expensive to keep on the roster...

...He may be a star down the road -- and remember, he still has to prove he can move from defensive end to outside linebacker -- but the Chiefs likely won't reap any real impact from him until 2015 at the earliest.

Final Thoughts About 2014 NFL Draft from ESPN

5. The "best athlete available" theory isn't realistic for everyone. It's true that good general managers stick to their draft ratings, but the "BAA" theory is applicable only for teams that don't have glaring needs or upcoming contract concerns. GMs have to study their roster over a three-year period, noting when groups of core players are headed to free agency or their salaries are too big. That's why the Kansas City Chiefs drafted outside linebacker Dee Ford. Highly paid Tamba Hali came to the offseason program weighing 285 pounds, and outside linebacker Justin Houston is unsigned after this year.

The Alex Smith Deal: The Trade That Keeps On Giving for 49ers from The San Francisco Chronicle

Last year, Trent Baalke was hailed for netting two high-end draft picks from the Chiefs in exchange for quarterback Alex Smith.

But the 49ers general manager was just getting warmed up.

After three draft-day trades involving those two picks from Kansas City, the 49ers' haul for Smith has mushroomed into three players and a 2015 fourth-round draft pick.