Although reaching for players that fill certain needs is usually not a good strategy, completely neglecting almost every major need is also not a good strategy. That is what the Chiefs decided to do in the 2014 NFL Draft. Coming into the draft, the Chiefs had considerable needs along the offensive line and a need for another wide receiver. The Chiefs waited until the sixth round to address the offensive line and while De’Anthony Thomas could replace Dexter McCluster, the Chiefs still need a legitimate complement to Dwayne Bowe. Here’s who the Chiefs ultimately selected:
2014 Chiefs Draft Picks
1st Round, 23rd Overall – DE Dee Ford (Auburn)
3rd Round, 87th Overall – CB Phillip Gaines (Rice)
4th Round, 124th Overall – RB De’Anthony Thomas (Oregon)
5th Round, 163rd Overall – QB Aaron Murray (Georgia)
6th Round, 193rd Overall – OG Zach Fulton (Tennessee)
6th Round, 200th Overall – OT Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (McGill)
2014 Chiefs Draft Grade: 5.5/10
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2014 Chiefs Draft Review
The Best Player: Due to his relatively small size, Dee Ford will likely play outside linebacker in the Chiefs’ 3-4 defensive scheme. With veterans Tamba Hali and Justin Houston already set to start at the outside linebacker positions, the biggest question is how the Chiefs will utilize Ford. Most likely, Ford will develop this year under Hali and if the Chiefs feel confident that Ford can become a dominant starter, they will release Hali to make room next year. Ford is talented, but he will have to wait for his chance and make the most of his opportunities as a situational pass rusher.
The Best Value Pick: The only reason quarterback Aaron Murray was still available in the fifth round was because he tore his ACL towards the end of his senior season. When his knee is fully healed, Murray will prove that he is a great value in the fifth round. He also fits well into the Chiefs offense, as he has a similar skill set as incumbent starter Alex Smith. If Alex Smith’s contract situation isn’t resolved and he moves somewhere else next year, Aaron Murray could replace him.
The Head-Scratcher: The Chiefs already have a very talented secondary, so drafting cornerback Phillip Gaines in the third round was definitely a head-scratcher. Both cornerback positions are occupied by Brandon Flowers and Sean Smith, and the Chiefs could have opted to resolve one of their key holes instead. Drafting somebody like wide receiver Donte Moncrief, guard Trai Turner, or offensive tackle Michael Schofield would have made more sense. These players were all taken less than 10 picks after Gaines.
The Surprise Pick: Phillip Gaines was really the only surprising selection in this draft class. His value was pretty solid though, despite the selection not really filling any specific need.
The Steal: Besides Aaron Murray, nobody else was really a steal. The rest of the selections were appropriate value.
Most Likely to Make an Impact in 2014: By default, playmaker De’Anthony Thomas has the best chance to make an impact in 2014. Without any serious injuries, Dee Ford and Phillip Gaines won’t see the field very often. De’Anthony Thomas has an opportunity to seize Dexter McCluster’s role, so he might make a decent impact.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Camp: De’Anthony Thomas’ flashy style could draw considerable attention in training camp. If he wants to take over the flashy role left behind by Dexter McCluster, he will need to show off his skills from the beginning.
Bottom Line: While the Chiefs drafted decent value for all of their selections, they neglected their biggest weaknesses. For this reason, I gave the Chiefs a 5.5. In free agency, the Chiefs lost left tackle Branden Albert, guard Geoff Schwartz, and guard Jon Asamoah. The Chiefs have gaping holes along their offensive line that still haven’t been addressed. They also lack a true #2 wide receiver that can complement Dwayne Bowe. Their offense is going to rest solely on the shoulders of Jamaal Charles, and that will not work.
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