KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Andy Reid dropped an interesting piece of information at his season-ending news conference regarding what the Kansas City Chiefs are expecting in terms of number of picks in next year's draft.
Looking ahead to the draft, Reid said, “[The Chiefs] have 11-plus picks there to work with to bring in people. We actually have a second-round pick this year. We’re sitting 18th in the draft. Not that you want to be there but we’re there. That’s a positive.’’
Eleven would be an interesting number of picks for the Chiefs. Eleven-plus would be more interesting. But the Chiefs are clearly expecting a big load of compensatory picks because of their net losses in free agency last year.
After Reid talked, general manager John Dorsey was asked what the Chiefs could reasonably expect in terms of comp picks but he was vague.
"You can kind of arbitrarily work a formula,'' Dorsey said. "Who knows what the true formula is but hopefully your analytics guy comes up with an equation that they think what the league is doing. And really I won’t count on that number until we come back and the league officially gives us actually how many picks we do acquire in that regard.”
Dorsey is right about this: The formula the NFL uses for awarding comp picks is mysterious. It has something to do with the number of unrestricted free agents a team signs and loses and the money involved in those contracts. Keep in mind players who have been released don't count in this formula. So the Chiefs won't get anything extra for losing cornerback Brandon Flowers, who was cut last June.
But even without Flowers, the Chiefs lost more than they gained last year. Offensive linemen Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz; receiver Dexter McCluster; and defensive lineman Tyson Jackson all departed for good money. Linebacker Akeem Jordan and defensive backs Kendrick Lewis and Quintin Demps walked as well.
The Chiefs signed four unrestricted free agents: defensive lineman Vance Walker, linebacker Joe Mays, cornerback Chris Owens and offensive lineman Jeff Linkenbach. Only Walker received what could be considered a lucrative contract, relatively speaking.
So it looks as though the Chiefs can expect a good haul of extra draft picks. And, judging from Reid's remarks, it looks like they are.