The Kansas City Chiefs enter the final day of the 2014 NFL Draft with currently four picks remaining, one each in the fourth and fifth rounds and two more in the sixth. While it's unknown who the team will draft with each of those picks, the motive behind each selection stems from one collective goal in mind, creating competitive depth on the roster.
"John (Dorsey) and his staff are going to continue to increase the competition level within the room," coach Reid said. "I think that's important to grow as a football team and that's the way John has presented it this offseason and the people he has brought it will add some competition in certain spots."
The depth has increased already, following the team's first-round pick, LB Dee Ford, as well as last night's third-round choice, CB Phillip Gaines, who earned the high praise of Chiefs general manager John Dorsey.
View photos of the Chiefs third round draft pick, cornerback, Phillip Gaines.
"Just watch him play the game," Dorsey said. "He has the physical dimensions to line up against anybody. He's not going to get outrun and he understands how to use his long arms to his advantage. He's confident enough in his skills and I think his track record speaks for itself in terms of production on the field and as a person. Whenever you're a two-time captain for any organization, I think that speaks volumes of your commitment to the game of football. I'm happy we added him."
Gaines' confidence will only help in his transition to the NFL.
"He's very advanced," Dorsey said. "He's very competitive. He's very prideful. He has that corner degree of confidence, where he'll walk in here and compete with the rest of them."
The all-time Rice record holder with 38-career PBUs, Gaines doesn't shy away from competition, having faced NFL-bound talent, while in college.
"I've gone against (current Washington Redskins QB) Robert Griffin III," Gaines said. "I've faced schools like UCLA and honestly, I really respect the receivers at Rice. I've gone against a 4.3 [40‐yard dash] guy. I've gone against a 6‐5 [height] guy, and I've gone against a great possession guy. I love going against my teammates, every day in one‐on-ones; that's what gets me ready for the games. Once I'm out there, there's really nothing I haven't gone against, especially in my conference and everything."
As for the positions the Chiefs may try to use Gaines, he's ready for whatever.
"Trust me, whatever the coaches tell me, I'll do that and more," Gaines said. "If they may tell me to do this and be here and there in practice, I'll do that and then, I'll go home and look at film. I will think about it the whole day. I love football, with all my heart. I love football. Whatever they tell me to do, I'll go above and beyond that. It doesn't matter to me, because I'm pretty much a perfectionist. I'm going to work on my craft as hard as I can and with the coaches in Kansas City and the defense they run, I can't wait to get up there and listen to what they tell me to do and soak it up like a sponge."
We're just hours away from Gaines and Dee Ford learning who else will be a part of their Chiefs rookie class, when the draft continues with the fourth round, today at 11:00 am CT.
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