Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 5/9

Kansas City Chiefs Draft Auburn DE Dee Ford from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Auburn DE Dee Ford with their first-round pick of the 2014 Draft, 23rd overall.

In five years playing for the Tigers, Ford started 20-of-52 games that he played in, recording 93 tackles (59 solos) that included 20.5 sacks, 27.5 TFLs and 30 QB pressures. Ford also caused three fumbles, deflected two passes and intercepted another, along with blocking one kick.

Among active NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players, Ford closed out his career ranked fifth in tackle-for-loss yardage (263).

John Dorsey's First Round Press Conference from The Mothership

Q: Is there an NFL player that reminds you of him?

DORSEY: "Not particularly. I mean, I could name some names, but I'd like to reserve that for a later date. I admire him not only as a person, but again, I keep adding his ability to rush the passer. If you look at him later into the season, as he goes along, we clearly thought he was the second-best pass rusher in this draft. If you watch the National Championship Game against Florida State, if you watch him against Texas A&M, even if you watch him in the Senior Bowl, the way he dominated people in the Senior Bowl, he's got a unique trait; not only is it speed, but what the great pass rushers have is they have this strong interior hip, when they start leaning to the quarterback, he doesn't lose his balance and he continues to drive forward and that, to me, is a very rare trait."

Reid: "Dee Ford Is A Relentless Football Player" from The Mothership

Q: Were you close to taking a quarterback?

REID: "That's not true. When you're sitting at the 23rd pick, you're looking at everybody. Absolutely, we check the quarterbacks out, but by no means was it Alex (Smith's) play or contract or anything else. That had nothing to do with it. We looked at every position, across the board; that's how we went."

Q: Did you get any trade offers that you seriously considered?

REID: "I would tell you the phone was ringing, probably for the kid that went before us. They don't tell you exactly who they want, but the phones were ringing at that time. I'm sure they were working both us and Philadelphia. That's how it went."

Dee Ford: "I'm Ecstatic Right Now" from The Mothership

Q: Give us a little self‐analysis? What do you need to work on the most?

FORD: "Everything. I'm not perfect in my pass rush or my run game. But let's be honest, I played in the SEC and I was a starter for two years - you have to stop the run. You have to stop the run. And, I was a starter. I was not a liability to my defense. I think sometimes, when your specialty is pass rush, the natural thing to do is question their ability to stop the run, because we're getting off the ball. And my height, the height issue and all of that, I can stop the run, but I'm working on every aspect of my game. I'm trying to chip down on every detail of my game. That's why (Tamba) Hali was a Pro Bowler, that's why they have Pro Bowlers on this team; they're constantly working on details in their game and details in their way of being a professional. I'm going to work against the run, I'm going to work against the pass, special teams and do whatever I've got to do."

Chiefs Host NFL Draft Day Party from The Mothership

For the third consecutive year, Chiefs Season Ticket Members (STMs) gathered at The University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex on Thursday evening to celebrate the NFL Draft.

This sold out event featured exclusive draft coverage, a photo op with the Super Bowl IV trophy and Chiefs Cheerleaders, a meet and greet with former Chiefs players and a chance to hear from coaches and players.

Chiefs First-Round Picks Describe NFL Draft Day from The Mothership

Chiefs DT Dontari Poe - 2012 NFL Draft - 11th-overall pick

"I was nervous. When you wake up that morning, you have a lot of cameras around you, but just the whole situation, it's a blessing to be in, but at the same time, it's business. It's a nerve-racking situation to not know where you're going to be drafted. There are a lot of nerves and your family is happy for you, but at the same time, you're thinking in your head, 'This is serious, right here'".

KCChiefs.com Video: Dee Ford Stood Atop Chiefs Draft Board

KCChiefs.com Video: Draft Profile: Dee Ford

KCChiefs.com Video: Reid: You Can Never Have Enough Pass Rushers

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: 2014 Draft Party Gallery

AL.com Video: NFL Draft: Go Behind The Scenes As Auburn's Dee Ford Gets Call From Chiefs

Dee Ford, A Puss Rusher From Auburn, Is Chiefs' First-Round Draft Pick from KC Star via The Macon Telegraph

Like Lee and Dennard, the 6-foot-2, 252-pound Ford has some durability concerns. But unlike those two, Ford is a pass rusher, which obviously appealed to the sensibilities of Chiefs coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey, both of whom have shown a first-round predilection toward men who can protect the quarterback and men who can get after the quarterback.

Sam Mellinger: Chiefs Are A Hit With Dee Ford In Draft from KC Star via The Macon Telegraph

Any immediate and definitive reaction to an NFL draft pick is always an overreaction, which means there is a whole mess of overreaction all across America right now. And in Kansas City, that overreaction mostly sounds like this:

Huh?

Hate The Pick All You Like, But The Chiefs Filled A Position Of Need With DE Dee Ford from FS Kansas City

Was Ford a reach? Maybe. But before you start shouting about wideout Marqise Lee, consider this, too: Of NFL.com's Big Board of the Top 100 players, nine were defensive ends. There were 12 wide receivers on the list.

Somebody who can catch the ball will still be there Friday. Somebody good.

Ford was a depth pick.

A message pick, too.

Chiefs Address Pass Rush With Dee Ford from Chiefs Spin

Fans may have been surprised Thursday night by the selection of Auburn defensive end/outside linebacker Dee Ford during the first round of the NFL Draft.

But they apparently weren't alone in that feeling.

"I'm definitely surprised that it was Kansas City," Ford admitted during a post-draft media conference call. "I'm not surprised it's the first round."

Kansas City Chiefs Select Dee Ford No. 23 Overall In The 2014 NFL Draft from Sports Illustrated

Though nowhere near the level of Blake Bortles to Jacksonville or the Browns' roundabout chase of Johnny Manziel, Kansas City threw a bit of a curve ball at No. 23 overall, drafting edge rusher Dee Ford of Auburn.

Ford flashed some tantalizing abilities off the edge for the Tigers, then really raised his stock at the Senior Bowl. Despite sitting out the combine due to a medical precaution (which should be of no real concern moving forward), Ford took time to declare himself a more complete player than Jadeveon Clowney, who went No. 1 in the draft.

Time will tell if Ford can prove that boast true.

Chiefs Bring Dee Ford To Kansas City With 23rd Pick from ProFootballTalk

Ford can contribute as a situational rusher as a rookie while gaining experience and skill that will make him an every down contributor in the future.

The Chiefs may now look toward wide receiver, where they could use some help if they want to build more 38-10 leads to protect in the future.

Another Pass-Rusher A Good Idea For Chiefs from ESPN

The Chiefs had more urgent needs at wide receiver, where they could have had USC's Marqise Lee. They could have used another capable body at cornerback, where they passed on Michigan State's Darqueze Dennard.

That they passed on other key needs is indicative of what the Chiefs thought of Ford.

For What It's worth: NFL Draft Thoughts from KWCH

Dee Ford---

I really wanted to see the Chiefs go with a receiver, but the one I liked for them had already been taken, so maybe they feel they can fill their most pressing offensive need in later rounds. Even with a really deep receiving class the problem for the Chiefs, as of right now, is that the Chiefs don't have a second round pick.

Chiefs Pick Dee Ford In 1st from ESPN

My take: Ford brings another edge pass-rusher to a team that sent two of them, in Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, to the Pro Bowl last year. The Chiefs will find a way to get Ford on the field as a rookie but this move could as much be aimed at the future as 2014.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Alex Smith Set To Host Youth Football Camp from SportsMedia101

The Alex Smith Football ProCamp presented by SunnyD will be held from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM on the designated days. The participants will receive an autograph from Alex Smith and a team photo with him. The 2013 Pro Bowl quarterback will meet and interact with the attendees while they learn the fundamentals of the game.

Notebook: Chiefs Spared Manziel Decision from Chiefs Spin

The answer may never be publicly known, as Chiefs general manager John Dorsey wouldn't address a "what if?" game during his post-draft news conference.

"That's a hypothetical because he went before us," Dorsey said when asked if the Chiefs would've drafted Manziel. "That wasn't even in the equation."

Nevertheless, national reports in the days leading to Thursday night indicated the Chiefs were potentially in the market for an early-round quarterback due to slow contract extension talks with Alex Smith.

However, Chiefs coach Andy Reid refuted the speculative reports.

Dee Ford: Kansas City Chiefs' NFL Draft Profile from CSN Chicago

"Fluid athlete with impressive burst, agility and underrated strength. As his size suggests, Ford relies on his burst off the snap to gain the corner against offensive tackles. He accelerates smoothly and is flexible enough to bend around the corner as a pure speed rusher." (Rob Rang, CBSSports.com)

Chiefs #1: OLB Dee Ford from Warpaint Illustrated

With Ford, who probably was an early second round pick heading into the draft a month ago, was determined to be a first round pick in recent weeks. To anyone that would listen, he told people that his pass rushing skills exceeded the number one overall pick of this draft, Jadeveon Clowney, who went to the Houston Texans.

That's a strong statement to make for a young man who already displays an incredible amount of humility for such a young prospect. That said Ford is perfectly suited to make the switch from defensive end at the college level to outside linebacker with the Chiefs. The good news is that Ford is a pure pass rusher and a player who isn't fazed by the pressure of the game. He had eight sacks for the Tigers last year and played some of his best football in big games at Auburn.

2014 NFL Draft: Chiefs Get C- For Selection Of Dee Ford With 23rd Pick from CBS Sports

The big question for the Kansas City is: Will Ford play end or linebacker? Ford's former coach at Auburn, Gus Malzahn, says that Ford can do both.

"He's versatile enough to fit at either," Malzahn told AL.com on Wednesday. "He's so explosive. He was one of the best pass rushers in our league, if not our best, so he's got a chance to be a really good player at the next level. He's a tough guy."

Dee Ford's Confidence Pays Off In First-Round Pick By KC from AuburnTigers.com

Ford was a pass-rushing specialist at Auburn. But he could wind up as an outside linebacker for the Chiefs. Two of his most memorable plays last season happened when it mattered most, a last-second sack on Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and a final-play hit on Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray that caused a pass to fall harmlessly away. Both preserved Auburn wins. He impressed the NFL during Senior Bowl week and again at Auburn's Pro Day.

Auburn's Dee Ford Selected By Chiefs In First Round Of NFL Draft, Will Play Outside Linebacker from AL.com

Ford celebrated with friends, family and guests at a club in Anniston. The party- and revival-like atmosphere included Ford's family singing a pair of gospel songs as the NFL teams peeled through their picks from Nos. 11 to 18 -- the cusp of Ford's projected landing spot in the draft.

Kansas City Chiefs Surprise Auburn's Dee Ford In First Round Of NFL Draft from AL.com

Doctors scratched Ford from participating in workouts at the NFL Combine due to an issue stemming from back surgery in 2011. The issue was not serious, according to sources.

He also battled a knee injury throughout the 2013 season and played in 11 games, but finished the season in a flurry. He sacked Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston twice in the Tigers' 34-31 loss in the BCS National Championship.

"He's healthy now," Kansas City coach Andy Reid told reporters Thursday night. "He played his best football in the (BCS) championship game. He was tremendous. And at the Senior Bowl, he was the healthiest he's ever been."

2014 NFL Draft: Round 1 Grades For Every Pick from CBS Sports

Kansas City: Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn: The Chiefs reinforce how much they value pass-rush here, by adding the explosive Ford to an already-strong tandem of OLBs in Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. Ford's first step, agility and closing burst make him a disruptive threat off the edge and give the Chiefs yet another speed-rusher to rotate in on passing downs. Ford is talented, but the Chiefs may have been better-suited addressing a bigger need here at 23. GRADE: C+

Recapping Round 1 from MMQB

Kansas City Chiefs: I don't understand the pick of OLB Dee Ford. Their cornerbacks got a bit exposed during the second half of last season, and there were still receivers on the board to fulfill another need. Yet the Chiefs took an edge pass rusher despite having Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, who are both terrific players? Don't get it.

Joe Medley: Ford's Anniston Draft Party Takes Turn For The Inspirational from The Anniston Star

Dee Ford keyed the room into a mood, and Debbie Ford unleashed the story of she and husband James Ford marrying with next to nothing to their names but "a vision." The vision was on keyboards.

Who knows and why count how many times the Ford family belted out the chorus line? It was about unloading years of waiting, hoping, working and praying in one night of thankfulness.

Dee Ford, who was in Oxford schools before his parents moved to Odenville, came back to Calhoun County to celebrate the night with so many family and friends still here. He was about to realized an NFL dream.

William & Mary's Couplin Awaits NFL Fate from The Daily Press

Couplin lowered his time in the 40-yard dash from the mid-4.5-second range into the mid-4.4s. He had a 43-inch vertical jump, a product of athletic ability as well as his wingspan. He logged a standing broad-jump of 11-feet, 5-inches - one inch shy of the facility record, held by one-time All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey.

Couplin didn't duplicate those numbers at William and Mary's pro day, a cold, windy, miserable March morning, but did plenty to interest a handful of scouts. The Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions flew him to their facilities to interview, and he also worked out for the Chiefs, Colts and Baltimore Ravens.