NFL
By Bill Carroll
Rookies will have a chance to measure themselves when the Kansas City Chiefs start their Organized Team Activities with:
- Group 1: May 20-22.
- Organized Team Activities Group 2: May 28-May 30.
- Organized Team Activities Group 3: June 4-7.
- Mandatory Mini-camp: June 11-13.
They will do so with many of the players who just won the past two Super Bowls. Despite that, due to players lost to free agency or trades, such as Nick Allegretti who signed a 3-year, $16,000,000 contract with the Washington Commanders, including a $5,890,000 signing bonus, $9,020,000 guaranteed, an average annual salary of $5,333,333, opens an opportunity for a younger player.
Perhaps, the biggest blow was losing L’Jarius Sneed who signed a four-year contract with the Tennessee Titans for $76.4 million, including a $55 million guarantee with a $20 million signing bonus. Another starter gone on defense is Willie Gay Jr. signed a 1 year, $3,000,000 contract with the New Orleans Saints, including $1,200,000 signing bonus, $3,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,000,000.
The Chiefs’ other absconding players via free agency include Jody Fortson (1-year, $1.225 million) this former Chiefs’ rookie tryout tight end reunites with Tyreek Hill in Miami. Mike Edwards (1-year, $2.8 million)) joins the Buffalo Bills in an attempt to erase the need at safety after losing Jordan Poyer. Punter Tommy Townsend (2-year, $6 million) was signed The Houston Texans, early in free agency, for two-years.
In rookie mini-camp, Hunter Nourzad looked comfortable in his chances to play center, he is however right-handed, the returning starting center, Creed Humphrey, is left-handed. Fellow rookie, Christopher “C. J.” Hanson, is likely to also cross-train at center as well as both guard spots. Evaluating offensive line play in rookie mini-camp is close to impossible.
Of the offensive line rookies with a chance to start, Kingsley Suamataia looked long and strong but was getting an education at times on on on ones versus Truman Jones. Jones was an undrafted rookie free agent in 2023. He was a practice squad member last year. I think he makes the 53 in 2024.
Donovan Smith is still unsigned. The same is true of Blaine Williamson Gabbert, Carey Mecole Hardman Jr., Richard Rhondel James Jr. and Jerick Deshun McKinnon. It’s possible that one or two may be considered for a return post June 1st.
Rookies Drafted
Round 1: No. 28 (from BUF)- Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Round 2: No. 63 (from SF)-Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Round 4: No. 131-Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
Round 4: No, 133 (from BUF)–Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
Round 5: No. 159 (from DAL)–Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn State
Round 6: No. 211 (from SF)*-Kamal Hadden, CB, Tennessee
Round 7: No. 248 (from BUF) C. J. Hanson, G, Holy Cross
At the Rookie Mini-camp Some of the newest Chiefs stood out.
Rookies On Offense
Andy Reid also gave his impressions, via www.chiefs.com:
“Good to have the rookies in here. I think they did a nice job. It was good work, and a good introduction for these guys,” said Head Coach Andy Reid. “Some of these guys have been traveling all over America, so they haven’t done a whole lot of football up until this point. It was good to get them back into the swing of things and for them to see what kind of pace we go at.”
Rookie Running Backs
With McKinnon off of the roster there is room for at least one, possibly two rookie backs to stick. Much of the buzz has been generated by a player who has never played a single football game. Louis Rees-Zammit is a 23-year-old Welsh, former winger for Gloucester in the English Premiership. He played for Wales at an international level and has been timed at 10.44 in the 100 meters. He looked very sudden, but he showed rawness in his ball-handling and pad level.
Rookie Tight Ends
If there were one player at Chief’s rookie mini-camp who had the best all around week, that player was likely former TCU tight end, Jared Wiley. Wiley at the combine expressed that he could be a starter in the NFL.
“Number one goal for me is proving I’m a No.1 tight end and prove I can be a team’s trusted tight end. Improving my run blocking technique with my hands and width of my feet.”
Wiley is a smooth athlete with size 6’6 1/8″ 249 he can contribute as a rookie and may be Kelce’s heir-apparent. Here’s the rest of his measurements:
Arm: 33 1⁄4 inches
Hand: 9 1⁄2 inches
40-Yard Dash: 4.62 seconds, 5h-best among combine tight ends
Vertical Jump: 37″, 3rd-best among tight ends
Broad Jump: 9’10”
3-Cone Drill: 7.19, 6th-best among combine tight ends
Rookie Wide Receivers
Xavier Worthy was given a great deal to do, both as a receiver and returner. One the first day of rookie mini-camp he struggled with the wind in both roles. He had some drops. However, on the next few days, while he still had a few drops his play visibly improved and he had very crisp routes and sharp double moves.
At the College Gridiron Showcase pro day prior to the 2024 NFL draft, Jaaron Hayek ran a 4.59 40-yard dash, posted a 35 ½” vertical, a 4.25 short shuttle, a 6.9 three-cone, and 20 repetitions of 225 on the bench. Other than Worthy he was the most impressive rookie wide receiver.
The other rookie receiver who made some hay was Phillip Brooks III. The Lee’s Summit West High School graduate had a solid Kansas State career. He is likely in the mix as a returner.
Rookies On Defense
Rookie Defensive Backs
Undrafted rookie corner-back Miles Battle, an Ole Miss transfer who finished his college career as a Ute. At Utah’s pro day the 6’3 ¼” 196-pound, 6th year player wowed onlookers with a 4.37 40 time, 37” vertical leap, 10’07” long jump, 12 bench press repetitions, 6.84 3-cone, and a 4.03 short-shuttle.
The other rookie corner who looked good was Kamal Hadden. Picked number 211, Hadden posted a 34 ½” vertical, 10’.2” broad jump, and 4.53 unofficial 40-yard dash at the Volunteers’ pro day, he is smart and may play inside and outside.
Rookie Linemen
DT Fabian Lovett was undrafted after a 5.00 40-yard dash, 26 reps on the bench vertical jump, 8’5″ broad jump, 7.56 3-cone drill, and 4.82 short-shuttle. In his last season he recorded 22 tackles, three pass deflections and a sack. Over his five-year career, he’s amounted to 93 tackles, four pass deflections, six sacks and a forced fumble. He showed fluidity and quickness but must improve hand-placement and pad-level.
Rookie Linebackers
Of the three rookie free agent linebackers, Swayze Bozeman who excelled at Southern Miss’ Pro Day. Bozeman had a 40-yard dash time of 4.49, 36″ vertical, 10′ 11″ broad jump, 6.67 3-cone, 4.22 short-shuttle, and 28 bench press repetitions, Penn State’s Curtis Jacobs, a former wide receiver who ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, with a vertical jump of 35″ a well as a10′ 4″ broad jump. The final UDFA at the position is Luquay Washington. The Central Connecticut product ran 4.59 in the 40, had a 35″ vertical, 10′ 1″ broad jump, 7.19 3-cone, 4.4 short-shuttle, and 13 bench press repetitions, he will need to contribute on multiple special teams units to have a chance.
Rookie Summary
The Chiefs front office excels and finding players who fit the needs of the coaches and the franchise. The coaches excel at teaching the rookies how to play like the Chiefs expect and veterans excel at modeling accountability, football intelligence and leadership in a way that perpetuates winning culture.
If the rookies, drafted, undrafted and those who were signed from tryouts, look, listen and learn, the Chiefs’ Kingdom may yet reign for a third time.
