KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Here are the biggest post-draft questions to be answered by the Kansas City Chiefs:
Who’s the No. 2 quarterback? The Chiefs haven’t ruled out the possibility that first-round draft pick Patrick Mahomes could be the primary backup to starter Alex Smith. But they’ve also acknowledged he isn’t ready to play, making it unlikely he’s their No. 2 quarterback when the season begins. The Chiefs could also go with Tyler Bray here, but don’t rule out the possibility they could acquire a veteran.
Who’s the featured back? The Chiefs like the ability of third-round running back Kareem Hunt. He ran for almost 1,500 yards last season and caught 41 passes, so he’s versatile enough to handle the responsibilities of a featured back in coach Andy Reid’s offense. Spencer Ware will also get some playing time and Tyreek Hill will get a few snaps out of the backfield, as he did late last season. So the Chiefs need to sort out a playing rotation that allows them to get the most production out of their backs.
How to improve the pass rush? There seemed to be little doubt going into the draft that the Chiefs would pick up the fifth-year option on the contract of their 2014 first-round draft pick, linebacker Dee Ford. They appear to have erased all doubt by failing to draft a pass-rusher. The Chiefs fell to 28 sacks last season after being among the league leaders the previous three seasons. They are hoping that having Allen Bailey and Justin Houston for a full season will help.
Who plays where at corner? The Chiefs didn’t draft a cornerback, but they have six players from last season who played a significant number of snaps there. Other than Marcus Peters, their No. 1 corner, the roles don’t seem to be defined. Steven Nelson will play, perhaps as a nickelback, perhaps as a starter. Terrance Mitchell deserves a shot to be at least the third corner, given the way he played late last season. Phillip Gaines, if he’s finally healthy after tearing his ACL in 2015, has earned the right to compete for playing time, too. Maybe D.J. White and Kenneth Acker can help. The Chiefs need to sort through it all, starting with the first offseason practice in May.