The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
GM’s moves keep Chiefs a contender
Dorsey’s signings, draft decisions help bring division title.
KANSAS CITY, MO. — A year ago, after the Chiefs were eliminated from the postseason by the Patriots, general manager John Dorsey was faced with decisions that would shape whether Kansas City would be a contender again. He hardly made a misstep. Dorsey shelled out money to solidify key positions, highlighted by the decision to franchise safety Eric Berry at a cost of more than $10 million. Then he went bargain hunting to fortify spots elsewhere and addressed the rest of his needs in the draft.
The result is not only a 12-4 record, the team’s first AFC West championship since 2010 and a first-round playoff bye, but the belief among many that Kansas City is a Super Bowl threat.
“In this day and age, you have to have an influx of young players. That’s just the way the (salary) cap works,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “You’ve got to draft well and those guys have to play. We’ve done that. Dorsey has done that.”
Reid likes to say the margin between winning and losing in the NFL is razor-thin, and that extends to the kind of decisions that Dorsey made during the offseason:
■ With the future of Jamaal Charles in question after knee surgery, the Chiefs needed to solidify the running back spot. But rather than give Matt Forte a $12 million, three-year deal like the Jets, or Chris Ivory a $32 million, five-year deal like the Saints, Dorsey wrote a pair of $3.6 million, two-year checks to keep Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West.
Ware and West combined for 1,214 yards, and having two of them provided depth.
■ Pass rusher Justin Houston’s slow recovery from a knee injury meant the Chiefs needed to add linebackers. But instead of blowing the budget on free agents such as Bruce Irvin, Dorsey kept veterans Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali with $21 million, three-year deals.
With their leadership assured, Dorsey signed role players such as Frank Zombo (three years, $3.6 million) and Ramik Wilson (two years, $1.14 million) that have not only played at a high level but filled in admirably when Johnson went out with a knee injury.
■ Naturally, the biggest decisions involved the biggest money, and franchising Berry, signing left tackle Eric Fisher and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz to big contracts, and giving a $46 million, fiveyear deal to tight end Travis Kelce have paid off.
Berry has picked off four passes and returned two for touchdowns, along with a 99-yard pick that he returned for a two-point conversion to beat Atlanta.
Fisher ($48 million, four years) and Schwartz ($33 million, five years) have provided bookends to an offensive line that starts three others still on rookie contracts.
Kelce caught 85 passes for 1,125 yards, earning a Pro Bowl nomination.
■ After forfeiting a draft pick for offseason tampering, Dorsey traded back in the draft to gain more selections. He wound up with Pro Bowl returner in Tyreek Hill, starting defensive tackle in Chris Jones and five more contributing players.