KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The pick: Phillip Gaines, CB, Rice
My take: The Chiefs needed some insurance at cornerback. Starter Brandon Flowers struggled at times last season and the play of Marcus Cooper as the third cornerback fell off greatly the second half of last season, so Gaines was a need pick. Gaines tested positive for marijuana and was suspended for the season opener last season against Texas A&M.
Another defensive pick: The selection of Gaines makes the Chiefs 2-for-2 in drafting defensive players. That’s not surprising given the way the Chiefs collapsed defensively over the second half of last season. The Chiefs led 38-10 in the third quarter of last season’s playoff game against Indianapolis but eventually lost 45-44.
What’s next: The Chiefs still need to address their shortcomings at wide receiver and kick returner. They had one of the least productive groups of wide receivers in the NFL last season and lost to free agency slot receiver Dexter McCluster, who doubled as a punt-return specialist. The Chiefs could also use some depth on the offensive line.