The Chiefs will have a battle between two kickers who didn’t play in the NFL last season.  26-year old veteran Nick Novak appears to have a small edge heading into training camp but he’s not a slam dunk to win the starting job.  Novak has played in 16 games in his NFL career and he has made 13 of 20 field goals (65%).  He has converted all 25 of his extra points which is a bright spot for him.  Undrafted rookie Connor Barth will battle Novak for the starting job but either way the Chiefs lose.  One day they will take the kicking job seriously……likely with the next head coach in 2009.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  F

32-year old Tony Gonzalez proved that he has a lot left in the tank last season for the Chiefs.  He played in all 16 games for the Chiefs last season and he caught 99 passes for 1,172 yards (11.8 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  With young Brodie Croyle the likely starting QB this season for the Chiefs Tony Gonzalez should have another good season as the kid’s safety net.  Gonzalez has now played in 174 games in his NFL career and he has caught 820 passes for 9.882 yards (12.1 avg) with 66 TD grabs.  He also has carried the football 2 times for 14 yards (7.0 ypc) in his career.

6′8″, 270 pound Brad Cottam was drafted last April to back up Gonzalez.  He has had huge problems staying healthy at Tennessee which caused a lot of teams to cool on him last April.  Cottam played in 38 games (7 starts) in his career at Tennessee and he caught 21 passes for 341 yards (16.2 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Don’t expect miracles out of Cottam in the next few years.

24-year old Michael Allan will likely be the #3 TE for the Chiefs.  He did not even take one snap with the Chiefs as a rookie last season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A

The Chiefs look very young at WR heading into the 2008 season but that’s not necessary a bad thing as they have speed to burn.  2nd year receiver Dwayne Bowe was awesome last season for the Chiefs.  Bowe is a big guy at 6′2″, 221 pounds and he’s really fast.  Bowe played in all 16 games for the Chiefs last season and he caught 70 passes for 995 yards (14.2 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Look for him to have even better numbers this time around for the Chiefs as long as they get better play from the QBs.

26-year old Devard Darling never lived up to his potential in Baltimore but the Chiefs hope a change of scenery will jump start his NFL career.  Darling played in all 16 games for the Ravens last season and he caught 18 passes for 326 yards (18.1 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Look for Darling to have a decent season with the Chiefs but he will have to hold off Jeff Webb and rookie Will Franklin for the starting job opposite Dwayne Bowe.  Darling has now played in 19 games in his NFL career and he has caught 20 passes for 331 yards (16.6 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

6′2″, 211 pound Jeff Webb will try to expand his role on the Chiefs’ offense in 2008.  He has made most of his money on special teams in his career to date.  Webb played in all 16 games for the Chiefs last season and he caught 28 passes for 313 yards (11.2 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 5 yards last year.  Look for Webb to push Darling for the starting job this season.  Webb has now played in 26 games in his NFL career and he has caught 31 passes for 336 yards (10.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.

6′2″, 205 pound rookie Will Franklin can really fly (4.4 40) and he can move right up the depth chart with a solid training camp.  Franklin played in 14 games (all starts) at Missouri last season and he caught 49 passes for 709 yards (14.5 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Look for Franklin to be no less than the #3 WR on the Chiefs by the middle of the 2008 season.  Franklin finished his career at Missouri playing in 48 games (36 starts) and he caught 143 passes for 2,125 yards (14.9 avg) with 14 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C-

The Kansas City Chiefs will ask their fullbacks to do one thing and one thing only and that is to block in the running game.  That is the reason why they signed 6′3″, 252 pound fullback Oliver Hoyte away from the Cowboys.  Hoyte played in 10 games (8 starts) with the Cowboys and he caught 1 pass for 2 yards.  Hoyte did a good job blocking for the Cowboys in the running game last season and the thinking here is that he will do a good job for the Chiefs too as essentially an extra offensive lineman in the backfield.  Hoyte has now played in 25 games (13 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 3 passes for 12 yards (4.0 avg).

Chris Manderino is the #3 fullback on the depth chart heading into training camp but he doesn’t have any experience.  He is 6′0″, 239 pounds so he is big enough to handle the job.

John Paul Foschi is a huge fullback at 6′4″, 270 pounds but he’s #3 on the depth chart right now.  He played in 1 game (0 starts) for the Raiders last season and he didn’t touch the ball.  Because of his size Foschi is a good target out of the backfield in the passing game if the Chiefs want to get him the ball once in a while.  Foschi has now played in 11 games (5 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 6 passes for 37 yards (6.2 avg).

Steven Jackson is #4 on the depth chart but the guys above him can be beaten out so it will be up to him to win a job.  Jackson is 6′2″, 255 pounds so he does have the size to handle the job.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  D

The Kansas City Chiefs are really young behind Larry Johnson on the depth chart so they need him to return to glory in 2008.  Two things will likely hurt Johnson in 2008:  1.)  He needs to recover from off season surgery and 2.)  The Chiefs need to throw the ball more often on early downs or Johnson will get beat up again and the Chiefs QB situation is bleak for 2008.  Johnson played in 8 games (all starts) last season for the Chiefs and he carried the ball 158 times for 559 yards (3.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He also caught 30 passes for 186 yards (6.2 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Johnson to rebound somewhat with 1,000+ yards rushing in 2008 but don’t expect miracles.  Johnson has now played in 56 games (36 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 1,050 times for 4,764 yards (4.5 ypc) with 50 TD runs.  He has also caught 127 passes for 1,219 yards (9.6 avg) with 6 TD grabs.

Kolby Smith was a rookie last season and he played pretty well under the circumstances last season.  Smith played in 16 games (6 starts) last season for the Chiefs and he carried the ball 112 times for 407 yards (3.6 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also caught 22 passes for 148 yards (6.7 avg).  Smith will have a battle on his hands to remain the #2 RB on the depth chart as the Chiefs drafted Jamaal Charles of Texas to compete for the job.

Jamaal Charles is good enough to start if something happens to Larry Johnson.  He shouldn’t have much of a problem beating out Kolby Smith for the #2 slot at RB.  He played in 13 games (all starts) for the Texas Longhorns last season and he carried the ball 258 times for 1,619 yards (6.3 ypc) with 18 TD runs.  Don’t expect numbers like that in the NFL but make no mistake Charles will be a solid running back in this league.

Jackie Battle will be the #4 RB on the Chiefs if they want to keep that many.  He played in 3 games (0 starts) as a rookie last season for the Chiefs and he carried the ball 14 times for 47 yards (3.4 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 1 pass for 4 yards.  Don’t expect much out of Battle unless the Chiefs suffer a lot of injuries at running back.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B-