Chiefs Likely Present at Georgia Tech Pro Day

Joel Thorman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:31:35 -0000

Tech DE Michael Johnson

As we've noticed with the Kansas City Chiefs offseason coaching search, sometimes knowing the right person is just as important as your, you know, actual job qualifications. Keeping this in mind, I wanted to highlight Georgia Tech's Pro Day which took place yesterday.

Chan Gailey is the former head coach of the Yellow Jackets and the Chiefs spoke with draft prospect Andrew Gardner at the NFL Combine so we have plenty of reason to think that the Chiefs are interested in taking a closer look at one, or a few, of the prospects that worked out.

With 26 teams (and two head coaches) attending yesterday's workout, we can make a safe assumption that the Chiefs were one of them.

A few of the participants we should keep an eye on are listed after the jump.

Michael Johnson was the star of the Georgia Tech Pro Day. He's being viewed as a late 1st/early 2nd round draft choice. At 6-foot-6 7/8 and 266 pounds and 40 times in the 4.61 range, consider him in as a rushing linebacker in a 3-4. Of course, the Chiefs don't have a 2nd round pick so he is likely out of the picture.

***

via media.scout.com

Remember Georgia Tech OT Andrew Gardner? He interviewed with the Chiefs at the NFL Combine. He seems to have the size (6-foot-6 305 pounds) for tackle in the NFL. Anyway, he participated in all drills at today's Pro Day except for the bench press. He tore his labrum towards the end of last season but he still ran the forty in a shade under 5.0 (4.99).

According to his agent, he'll be ready to participate in all mini-camp drills once he's drafted.

***

via img232.imageshack.us

Jahi-Word Daniels is a 6-foot 1/8th 191 pound corner coming out as well. He placed second among all defensive backs at the NFL Combine with 24 reps on the bench press. He's certainly got the big and strong part down.

According to Gil Brandt of NFL.com, he ran the forty in a high of 4.59 seconds but didn't participate in all drills because of a left groin injury

***

Vance Walker is a defensive tackled that measured in at a shade under 6-foot-2 and weighed in at 304 pounds. They say he's better suited for a one-gap defensive system.

The concerning part is a drop in production from his junior to senior year.

***

Darryl Richard is a defensive tackle that measured 6-foot-2 1/2 and 297 pounds. He put up 19 reps on the bench press (the highest was 37).

He's projected to be anywhere from a 7th round pick to an undrafted free agent.

Overheard at the NFL Combine

Chris Thorman — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:48:05 -0000

Obviously, I'm not at the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis. But courtesy of NFL Draft Scout, we're able to get a hold of some media transcripts, dig through them and pull out the parts related to the Kansas City Chiefs.

This list is neither comprehensive nor particularly telling of what the Chiefs are going to do in the draft. It's not uncommon for the players at the combine to talk with upwards of 20 NFL teams.

Here you go.

Ohio St. OT Alex Boone

Have you talked to Kansas City?

Yes. Very nice guys. I enjoyed talking to them. They just talked about tackle. It was kind of a get to know you, going over plays and schemes.

Virginia OT Eugene Monroe

On former teammate Branden Albert:

We talk on the phone every week. I ask him how he's doing, not just in football, but we have a good relationship.

How did Branden handle going 2-14?

In speaking with him I could tell he wasn't satisfied with the way things were going, but he's just going to keep working to improve things. I'm very proud of him. I've seen the work that he put in - even coming out of high school, nobody knew who he was, so to be drafted in the first round.

I felt that watching his game and working with him for three years together, he showed me how to get to a similar level.

Baylor LT Jason Smith

Talked to Kansas City?

No, I haven't. I talked to the Cincinnati Bengals last night. I didn't talk to Kansas City, I didn't talked to Detroit. I guess they don't want me. (laughing)

More on the team interviews Weds. night:

We had kind of an open deal last night where all the teams, if they wanted to talk to you they could. Detroit didn't talk to me, the Rams didn't talk to me. Neither did the Chiefs. So I guess they didn't want to talk to me.

Ole Miss OT Michael Oher also spoke with the Chiefs last night, as did Tennessee State offensive tackle Cornelius Lewis and Georgia Tech offensive tackle Andrew Gardner.

***

I'm sure there are more interviews to be reported (or not reported) but here's at least an initial taste of who we're talking to (or not talking to) at the NFL Combine this week. Don't get thrown off by the high number of o-linemen the Chiefs spoke with. Special teams players, kickers, offensive linemen and tight ends were the first to arrive yesterday.

SB Nation - Andrew Gardner

Chiefs Likely Present at Georgia Tech Pro Day

Overheard at the NFL Combine