Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 4/30

What We Learned From Andy Reid and John Dorsey Friday from The Mothership

ANDY REID

OPENING STATEMENT: "So what we've done here in the second round, we took Chris Jones, defensive lineman, Mississippi State, and then Dorse has been moving faster than a greyhound, picking up all these picks here. We were able to pick up a third‐round pick, and pick KeiVarae Russell, cornerback from Notre Dame. That's where we'll play him, at corner, and again we feel very good about both of these players. Jones, I think a lot of people had him as a first‐round pick. He probably could have gone in either round, he's that caliber a player. He's a big kid with great energy. You guys got a chance to talk to him earlier in the day so you understand that. He's a pistol. He'll be a nice mix into our defensive line. We felt he was the best on the board at that time and we are very comfortable with him. KeiVarae, likewise, has been through a few things at Notre Dame and has worked through those things. He played through an injury this year and was still in position to be drafted in the third round here. He could have gone anywhere in there. He was one of those guys that probably could have gone higher than where he did, but we've gotten him here and we're excited to add him in the mix in our secondary.

What We Learned From Chris Jones' Conference Call from The Mothership

Q: How were you used at Mississippi State?

JONES: "I asked them to play at all positions. I played defensive end, I played linebacker, I played three-technique and I played at nose tackle."

Q: What do you think kind of fits your strength best, getting up field spreading gaps or two-gapping?

JONES: "I mean, I made plays at them all. I felt comfortable at them all, so wherever I get put in at the Chiefs, I'll be fine with it. I don't feel like I have a favorite position. I just love the game of football."

Five Things to Know About Chiefs DL Chris Jones from The Mothership

1. Jones was named a 2015 second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus.

About a month ago, Mike Renner, a Pro Football Focus senior analyst, went on record to say he would take Jones with one of the top five picks.

"What I love about Jones is that he combines that strength with ultra long 34.5-inch arms," Renner writes. "It leads to him tossing offensive linemen around like rag dolls and it's beautiful to watch."

Read Renner's full analysis here.

What We Learned From KeiVarae Russell's Conference Call from The Mothership

Q: Are you at home with your family now?

RUSSELL: "Yes, back home. We're at a little venue, but yeah, back home."

Q: How did your family react when you got the call from the Chiefs?

RUSSELL: "Everybody went crazy, man. Everybody went crazy. It was quiet for a while. I was on the phone because I didn't want to give it away. I was just acting like I was talking to somebody else. Then, I couldn't hold it in anymore. They defiantly knew it was an NFL team - they didn't know what team exactly. Once they found out it was Kansas City from the TV, they went crazy.

Five Things to Know About CB KeiVarae Russell from The Mothership

2. Russell was "Mr. Motivation" for Notre Dame in 2015.

According to an article from Derek Harper with CBS Sports, those in the Notre Dame football program thought of Russell as "Mr. Motivation" in 2015.

"Sources close to the program told NFLDraftScout.com's Dane Brugler that Russell was ‘Mr. Motivation' behind closed doors when he returned to the program and prepared for the 2015 season," Harper wrote.

What We Learned From Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt Friday from The Mothership

Q: As far as trading up or trading down - how much fun was it for you being in that room and not necessarily knowing what is happening but knowing he (John Dorsey) is on the phone and all the different options and seeing how it all played out?

Hunt: "Well, one of the things about having a late pick like we did yesterday is that there is more trade activity just by nature than there is when you have a higher pick. There were opportunities to move up, there were opportunities to move down, we were making calls, other teams were calling us. It was a very hectic period in the two or three picks leading up to ours."

Chiefs.com Video: Dorsey Wraps Up Day Two

Chiefs.com Video: Andy Reid: Confident in Dorsey's Decisions

Chiefs.com Video: KeiVarae Rusell: Ready to Play Next to Peters

Chiefs' day-two NFL draft picks: DT Chris Jones and CB KeiVarae Russell from The Kansas City Star

How he fits: With Dontari Poe entering the fifth year of his rookie contract, Jones provides insurance if the Chiefs can't hammer out a long-term deal with their 2012 first-round pick. After a breakout season, the Chiefs re-signed defensive tackle Jaye Howard to a two-year, $12 million contract earlier in the offseason, but Jones figures to be an immediate rotational player at a position of need after Mike DeVito's retirement.

Chiefs select DL Chris Jones with first of two second-round picks from Chiefs Digest

Where Jones, who said he looks up to Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, projects in Kansas City remains unclear. But his versatility to play various position helps soften the blow of Mike DeVito's recent retirement.

Jones could also provide insurance to Dontari Poe, who is set to play the 2016 season on a fifth-year option and will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in 2017.

"I don't specifically have a role right now," Jones said. "I'm just ready to get up there and work."

ESPN Audio: Chiefs DT Chris Jones shares his thoughts on being picked No. 37

Chiefs go for defensive line depth with Mississippi State's Chris Jones from ESPN

The Chiefs could be losing defensive lineman Dontari Poe to free agency after next season. The addition of Jones gives the Chiefs insurance in case that happens. In the meantime, the 6-6, 308-pound Jones gives the Chiefs another big, capable player to plug into their defensive line rotation. The Chiefs can use Jones in a rotation that also includes Poe, Allen Bailey and Jaye Howard. Jones probably won't be a starter as a rookie but could get a lot of snaps and help keep the veteran defensive linemen fresh. The Chiefs have given their starting lineman, particularly Poe, a lot of snaps in recent seasons.

Chiefs take defensive tackle Chris Jones in NFL draft second round, trade down for more picks from The Kansas City Star

Jones fits a trend for the Chiefs. For example, they selected left tackle Eric Fisher in 2013 to eventually replace Branden Albert, who departed via free-agency the following year. And in 2014 they selected Dee Ford to presumably replace Tamba Hali, who had to take a pay cut in 2015 to stay but re-signed in March of this year. And in 2015 they selected cornerback Marcus Peters to replace Sean Smith, who left via free-agency to Oakland in March.

The Chiefs' defensive line returns its top three starters -€” Dontari Poe, Jaye Howard and Allen Bailey -€” but lost Mike DeVito to retirement. Jones also provides insurance in case Poe, who is slated to be a free agent in 2017 barring a franchise tag, opts to leave or if his back flares up again.

Chiefs draft profile: Chris Jones from Chiefs Digest

Born in Houston, Miss., the county seat of Chickasaw County in the northeast part of the state, about 40 miles southwest of Tupelo and 45 miles northwest of Starkville, home of Mississippi State. Houston was estimated to have a population of 3,543 in 2014.

Houston hosts the Mississippi Flywheel Festival, a twice-a-year unique setting that celebrates the industrial and agricultural heritage of flywheel engines powered by steam, diesel, and water.

Chiefs landed a real character in hulking defensive lineman Chris Jones from The Kansas City Star

The selection of Jones came not a minute too soon for him after what he called a "nerve-wracking" Thursday night stranded on the board when he had expected to be snapped up.

"I had three years in college, I have no degree and I'm unemployed," he said, laughing. "So I'm ready to get on a team, man, ready to get on a team."

Jones is known for athleticism, including what he termed having been a "slick and slithering" high school basketball player. His official Mississippi State bio, in fact, says he won five varsity letters in the sport.

That couldn't be confirmed Friday night, but whatever the case ...

"I was a heck of a basketball player, too," Jones said. "Let me just state that."

It's conceivable, now, that Jones is prone to exaggeration.

Chiefs' second pick of draft, KeiVarae Russell of Notre Dame, is grateful for chance from The Kansas City Star

Russell started the first 26 games of his career at Notre Dame, emerging as an impact starter quickly. But he didn't have a smooth road there, either. In 2014, Russell and four of his teammates were suspended for academic improprieties. He missed the 2014 season because of an ensuing academic investigation but was cleared by the NCAA and reinstated in 2015, when he re-emerged as a starter and recorded 60 tackles (3  1/2 for loss), two interceptions and four pass breakups in 11 games.

"It's an isolated instance," general manager John Dorsey said. "He's a really sharp ... kid. Everybody in South Bend loves him. He was the class president of his high school. He's a well-spoken, articulate, sincere guy who likes to play the game of football, plus he wants to get himself a degree."

Chiefs trade out of second round for third-round pick, select CB KeiVarae Russell from Chiefs Digest

Russell joins a cornerback corps consisting of Marcus Peters, Phillip Gaines, Steven Nelson, Jamell Fleming, Marcus Cooper, Keith Lewis, Deveron Carr.

With Fleming expected to move to safety, Russell bolster depth at the position and he should have no problem acclimating to defensive coordinator Bob Sutton's scheme.

"I love to press, man," Russell said. "That's what I do."

Chiefs get their cornerback in third round in Notre Dame's KeiVarae Russell from ESPN

Emotional moment: Russell broke down in tears when answering questions from Kansas City area reporters shortly after he was drafted. "Bear with me," Russell said. "My mom struggled, never had much. It's just a way out, a way out for my family. It's a way to make my family smile, too. I was the first one to graduate high school, first one to go to college. I'll be the first one to get my degree when I get it. This is something big. That's why it's so special. [Being drafted] is changing my circumstances."

Chiefs GM says Denver drafting Paxton Lynch did not influence his decision to trade first-round pick from The Kansas City Star

During a news conference after the first round on Thursday, Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said he had his eye on a couple of players in the first round, both of whom were taken before the Chiefs pick at No. 28. He added that right around pick 26 — where Lynch was taken — or 27, teams began to communicate with the Chiefs about moving down.

But when asked directly if the Broncos' decision to draft Lynch affected their decision to move down, Dorsey shook his head.

"Not at all," Dorsey said.

Did Chiefs' tampering penalty cost them shot at QB Paxton Lynch? from ESPN

It's worth noting that the Broncos might have believed the team they really needed to jump in order to get Lynch was the Cardinals, who had the 29th pick and an aging starting quarterback in Carson Palmer. If that's the case, Seattle with the 26th pick was a logical trading partner because the Chiefs at No. 28 certainly weren't going to trade them the pick that provided the Broncos with their future starting quarterback.

Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt weighs in on first-round trade, other NFL draft topics from The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs play twice on NBC's "Sunday Night Football" — Oct. 2 at Pittsburgh and Christmas night vs. Denver — and also have a Thursday night game Dec. 8 vs. Oakland on NBC.

"I like having as many primetime games as we can have," Hunt said. "I'm glad that we're going to be on Sunday Night Football a couple of times this year. Obviously, I'm delighted to have a Thursday night game with the Raiders, but, quite frankly, we feel like we deserve more primetime games. I'm disappointed that we don't have a Monday night game."

Chiefs' Clark Hunt interested in Kansas City hosting NFL Draft from Chiefs Digest

"Absolutely," Hunt said Friday. "I think we've all seen the event that the draft has turned into and I think Chicago has shown everybody that you can have the draft somewhere else other than New York City and it can be very, very successful.

"Clearly, I'm personally interested and the organization is interested, and I think the Kansas City community is interested in trying to bring the draft here. So, when we get that chance we will put our best foot forward."

Kansas City also wouldn't mind hosting the Super Bowl, but there are numerous logistical matters to settle.

Hunt doesn't believe hosting the NFL Draft would meet the same challenges.

Chiefs' Dontari Poe: ‘The best I've felt in a couple of years' from Chiefs Digest

"I feel really good," Poe said. "Actually, it's probably the best I've felt in a couple of years."

Watch the video here:

Chiefs make trades, pick two defenders on Day 2 of draft from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs spent most of the first two days of the NFL draft stockpiling picks, but still found time to fill two of their biggest needs by grabbing a defensive tackle and cornerback.

The Chiefs took Mississippi State run-stuffer Chris Jones with the sixth pick of the second round on Friday night, then traded their other second-round pick to Tampa Bay. They received a third-round choice and two more picks, and used the third-rounder on Notre Dame cornerback KeiVarae Russell.

Fans snag free Chiefs gear during city-wide scavenger hunt from KCTV5

They gave away official New Era Chiefs draft hats to excited fans who used clues on the team's social media pages. The team used the hashtag #‎FitForAKingdom?.

The hats are the same style worn on stage in Chicago by the Chiefs' draft picks.

NFL draft: Second and third round pick-by-pick analysis from USA Today

37. Kansas City Chiefs (from San Francisco 49ers) - Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State: Kansas City's first pick of the 2016 draft is Jones, an uber-promising lineman, but one who's been criticized for not giving full effort every play. He joins a D-line that could lose NT Dontari Poe in a year to free agency and parted with retired DE Mike DeVito this offseason.

Keeping up with Jones: MSU defensive lineman taken by Chiefs in NFL Draft from The Starkville Daily News

It doesn't seem all that long ago that Chris Jones was a virtual unknown on the Houston High School football team.
Now, he's in the National Football League.

Hortonville native Joe Sommers working toward shot in NFL from WBAY

Following pro day, Sommers has had a number of individual workouts with teams like the Colts and Kansas City Chiefs. Him and his agent have also had serious conversations with 20 NFL teams.

"Some scouts have told me, I see you as a fullback, some scouts see me as a receiving tight end, so my biggest selling point is I'm versatile. Not too many of the guys, you saw the combine numbers, can run like I can, I'm just looking to make a big impact on special teams."

A handful of Canadians to keep an eye on in Day 3 of NFL draft from The Calgary Sun

Elie Bouka, on the other hand, still isn't full-go from the blown out Achilles he suffered last August, which has the 6-foot-1, 205-lb., defensive back shrouded in mystery.

The Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs have been sniffing around the Quebec native, however, showing just how coveted defensive backs with good size and speed are these days.

Bouka will be a top 20 option in the CFL Draft.