Three Chiefs 'Lottery Tickets' Worthy of Attention

KC's Undrafted Free Agents to Monitor This Offseason and Training Camp

It’s not an accident that Chiefs general manager Brett Veach adds players on Saturday of the draft — be it late-round picks or undrafted free agents — who bring intrigue into the offseason.

When it comes to his 90-man roster, Veach takes swings on talent that may have fallen because of medical concerns or something else. The Chiefs have largely been risk-averse with their early assets in the draft, but once it gets to Saturday they seem more willing to look at checkered medical history.

There are always interesting additions in undrafted free agency. We call them Lottery Tickets: players who cost little to acquire but with a potential significant payoff.

We should probably pause to define “significant” before we continue, because expectations can sometimes get out of whack with undrafted free-agent players.

Tershawn Wharton, for example, was an excellent find two years ago out of Missouri S&T, and it was a significan payoff when he made the roster and contributed as a rotational pass rusher. Simply, getting a rotational piece with four years of club control at a league-minimum salary, without spending a draft pick or any real assets to acquire them, is a huge win. The Chiefs have also been able to find that in players like running back Darrel Williams and linebacker Ben Niemann.

The Chiefs have historically operated with a top-heavy approach to their spending — although that seems to, perhaps, be cooling off as they reset the roster a bit. Finding capable talent to make the 53 man roster with their “lottery tickets” has been big.

So, who could be the guy(s) this year to make the team and provide some tangible value? Justyn Ross is obviously the name that draws the most attention, and Matt Lane already did a great job breaking him down.

Here are some others worth paying attention to as the offseason continues and into training camp.

Linebacker Mike Rose

One sentence scouting report: Rose is a long, big, athletic linebacker with plus coverage ability and ball skills who will need to develop as a box defender.

The rundown: The former Iowa State Cyclone was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. He’s a unique player because a lot of what is intriguing about Rose’s on-field performance is his work outside of the box in coverage.

Rose operated frequently as an overhang in Iowa State’s defensive scheme so he’s more than comfortable dropping in coverage, reading route concepts, and making plays on the football. Playing as a traditional linebacker in the box is not something he got to do as much of as other linebackers in the class.

The physical profile — 6’4” and 245 pounds — and the quality athletic testing make you question why he wasn’t drafted. We valuated him as a 4th round pick in the 2022 KCSN Draft Guide.

In some ways I’m more intrigued by Rose than Ross when it comes time for training camp.

How he can help: Rose has a trump card with his coverage ability — something coveted from the linebacker position. Add in special teams ability and that might be enough to get him on the roster — especially with a lack of depth at the linebacker position.

There’s a need for a Dime linebacker, and Rose could potentially be that sooner rather than later.

Running Back Jerrion Ealy

One sentence scouting report: Ealy is a small running back who’s electric in space, has pass-catching ability, and could be utilized as an offensive weapon and return specialist.

The rundown: Listed as a RB/WR, Ealy isn’t a traditional profile for either position. What he is is a good football player with some question marks. The biggest question is his frame. Ealy is a smaller back who will not be able to hold an expanded role in the NFL. He will be a complementary piece for the course of his career.

He’s an absolute problem in space for second- and third-level defenders, displaying quick feet, burst, vision and anticipation in the open field that allows him to generate explosive plays. There are some receiving chops in him that will need to develop for the Chiefs to want to carve out a specific role for him in their offense.

How he can help: Ealy picked a good team to maximize his talents. Andy Reid has shown a propensity to include players with similar stature to Ealy in the past. Dexter McCluster and DeAnthony Thomas are two examples.

Ealy could find a role as a factor in the return game and a player the Chiefs carve out a package of plays for to try and utilize his electric ability. It’d be a big win to find another playmaker from the ranks of the undrafted free agents.

Linebacker Jack Cochrane

One sentence scouting report: Athletic, well rounded linebacker with coverage ability who displays the kind of effort that could make him a core special-teams player.

The rundown: The Chiefs nabbed athleticism at the linebacker position in undrafted free agency. You might be asking yourself why there are two linebackers on this list, but between the need for depth and minimal positional value, this is a position you might be able to find a quality player after seven rounds of the draft are over.

Cochrane is explosive. He has a 41-inch vertical to pair with a 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump and an elite 4.1-second short shuttle. Those are traits that play at the next level.

Unlike Rose, Cochrane is a smaller ‘backer and plays as such. He isn’t the strongest at the point of attack — but not from a lack of effort or desire.

Cochrane showed an ability to make plays on the football in both man and zone coverage at FCS South Dakota, where he was a sideline-to-sideline player. His play strength was questionable even at that level, however.

How he can help: Cochrane has real athleticism and a willingness to be physical that could play on special teams. That will be a key factor in his ability to play at the next level. That’s his primary role early in his career most likely.

The defensive side will come along more slowly, but the building blocks are there down the road for him to play as a sub-package linebacker. He could stand to gain play strength, but his athleticism and cover skills could translate.

There’s room for both linebackers mentioned in this article, but getting either of them on the 53-man roster is a significant payoff.

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