Four Lottery Tickets that could make the Chiefs' roster
Undrafted free agents worth monitoring in Training Camp
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Chiefs’ General Manager Brett Veach loves to spend money on high profile players. He has historically taken an aggressive, top heavy approach to his roster construction — securing key players in the top tiers are their positions.
To counteract some of the bigger cap figures sitting at the top of his balance sheet, he’s done a great job filling the bottom of his 53-man roster with players who came to the Chiefs as undrafted free agents or reserve/future contract players.
We call those players Lottery Tickets: players who cost little coming in but could pay off in a significant way.
Getting contributions from an undrafted free agent is significant — teams can secure four low cost years of a player if they make the roster. The Chiefs have seen players like Dan Sorensen, Byron Pringle, Charvarius Ward (acquired via trade), Darrel Williams, Ben Niemann, Tershawn Wharton, and Andrew Wylie (signed on a reserve/future contract) make significant contributions — all while entering as UDFAs and came to the Chiefs at no or little cost.
That’s a long list of role players the Chiefs have been able to identify in the last few years to help fill out their roster.
Here are four players that came to the Chiefs as undrafted free agents or on reserve/future contracts that could be next in a history of successful Lottery Tickets.
Safety Devon Key, Western Kentucky
The safety position isn’t particularly deep, and Key seems to have earned some opportunities early. I was able to review some Key film against Marshall and found some qualities that should serve him well.
Key is an active participant in the run game — he’s not afraid to be physical, sound football as part of the run fit. He wants to play downhill — flying around and making plays on the football. Key boasts a quality athletic profile and it shows on tape — he has good change of direction and adequate fluidity for the position.
Coverage is a little more of an adventure for Key. There were inconsistencies in zone coverage awareness — a lack of understanding of route concepts. In man coverage there are some technical things he can improve — like squeezing receivers to the sideline — but they are fixable.
Key could be the eventual Sorensen replacement — a third safety who can operate in the box, quality special teams players. That’s a big win if they can get that out of Key as an undrafted free agent. Players at the same position like Armani Watts will have some competition in Key.
Cornerback DeAndre Baker, New York Giants
A former first round pick is a Lottery Ticket?! Yes. Baker — a Georgia Bulldog — comes to the Chiefs this season on a reserve/future contract. He will be making the league minimum, and under club control at a low rate through 2023!
It might seem like a cop out to include Baker in this list, but this a representation of how impressive it has been for Veach to secure cost controlled talent at the bottom of his roster.
A late addition to the practice squad last season, Baker got called up late and saw defensive snaps in week 17 before breaking his femur.
Baker isn’t guaranteed a roster spot. But if he’s healthy, the Chiefs can help him realize his talent, and keep him on track, they’re getting a steal. Baker will be paid like an undrafted free agent for the next three seasons — and his talent warrants much more than that. This could be a big win for Veach and company if the young corner figures things out in Kansas City.
Defensive End Tim Ward, Old Dominion
Ward spent one year on the PUP list for the Chiefs, and last season on the practice squad. He was called up for week 17 last year and recorded a sack in his first career game.
There could be a roster crunch at defensive end because Chris Jones could be seeing some time outside, but if not Ward profiles perfectly as a Steve Spagnuolo defensive end. He has the requisite length and density that we’ve come accustomed to seeing up front on the edges.
He’s gained experience in the defense over the last two years, has developed further physically and is ready to compete for the fifth defensive end spot. Whether or not the Chiefs keep five defensive ends remains to be seen.
Wide Receiver Antonio Callaway, Cleveland Browns
Callaway — another reserve/future contract player — has a sample size of real success in the NFL. In his rookie year he had 43 catches, 586 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’s a restricted free agent in 2022 — giving the Chiefs potentially two years of a player that is still only 24 and has shown an ability to play at the highest level.
There’s a lot of unproven players behind Tyreek Hill at the receiver spot — and how that group shakes out will be fascinating to monitor throughout the preseason. Callaway is behind the eight ball compared to several players in the room from a system knowledge perspective, but the talent is better than most receivers on the roster.