After winning a total of 10 games the past three seasons, Kansas City needs to make major improvements.



So far, in the offseason, the Chiefs have made decent strides. There has been some talk that perhaps in the second year of the Scot Pioli-Todd Haley era, Kansas City will be poised to make a major jump and become one of the NFL’s most improved teams in 2010.



I am not sure if Kansas City is quite ready to be considered a sleeper team. However, in the early portion of the offseason, it is the most improved team in the AFC West.



Most of Kansas City’s improvements have been made on offense. Defensively, Kansas City has a lot of work to do. Still, there is time through free agency and next month’s draft. Kansas City has the No. 5 overall pick and two picks in the second round. The Chiefs have three picks in the first 50 choices and four picks in the first 66 selections. It has a chance to get much better.



The following is a look at where I believe Kansas City has made great strides this offseason and areas in which it still needs to make improvements before it can be considered a viable playoff contender.



Reasons for optimism



Better coaching: The Chiefs now have the makings of an outstanding coaching staff. Todd Haley went back to his own well and Pioli’s past by bringing in offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. The two worked together during New England’s dynasty years of the early 2000s. Weis and Crennel are premier coordinators and they will help the Chiefs’ young players. Weis and Crennel will help Haley immensely during practices, in the meeting rooms and on game days. Haley has raved about his new staff additions. The Chiefs will be better coached in 2010 and it should result with more victories.



Running game: Kansas City has a chance to be one of the most effective running teams in the NFL. Kansas City’s big player splash of free agency was signing Thomas Jones to a two-year deal. Jones is 31, but he is a tough runner who still appears to have plenty left in his legs. He had more than 1,400 yards rushing last season. Jones will be a complement to young star Jamaal Charles. He burst onto the scene last November after Larry Johnson was cut. Charles had 1,120 yards rushing and he had 259 yards in the season finale, an upset win at Denver. Charles is a game breaker. Jones’ presence will keep Charles fresh. The pounding style of Jones and the speed of Charles will frustrate defenses. Teams that can run and control games on the ground can win a lot of games. This is a huge boost for Kansas City.



Better offensive line: The Chiefs’ offensive line has been one of their biggest problems in recent years. Quarterback Matt Cassel, who is not mobile to begin with, was under constant pressure last year. The Chiefs have been diligently trying to improve the line this offseason. Kansas City signed center Casey Wiegmann, who was a standout from 2001-07 and was part of some terrific offensive lines in Kansas City. He has a chance to start. He will be 37, but he is still tough and he’s a pro. The Chiefs signed Ryan Lilja this week. The former Colts starter is a fine player who will team with veteran Brian Waters to make up a good guard tandem. An interior line of Wiegmann, Waters and Lilja makes Kansas City much tougher upfront.



Needs improvement:



Overall defensive needs: While Kansas City gave Weis more to work with, Crennel hasn’t gotten much help yet. Kansas City is still void of overall talent on defense. I really like cornerback Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr, but there are questions on much of the unit, starting with a weak pass rush. Crennel’s staff will have to do a better job than the previous defensive staff in fitting in 4-3 players such as linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey into the 3-4 system. These players have to help. Second-year defensive end Tyson Jackson has to do a much better job in his second season as well. But the Chiefs also need more talent. It appears Kansas City will have to rely on much of the help in the draft because the current free agency crop is not overly talented. Still, it is a lot to ask for a rookie class to make a difference on an overall unit.



Offensive tackle situation: The offensive line makeover has been impressive, but there is a big need remaining. The Chiefs need a true left tackle. That is the most vital position on the line. Until the position is addressed, the line will still need help. The Chiefs can address the position very nicely with the No. 5 pick. If Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung is available when Kansas City picks, he would be a great choice. He could step right in and help this unit. Okung’s selection would allow Branden Albert, who was picked at No. 15 in 2008, to move to right tackle. Albert would likely a much better right tackle than he is a left tackle. If Okung is available and Kansas City takes him, the Chiefs’ line will be set. If not, the line will be incomplete.



Safety: The Chiefs’ safety and offensive tackle needs are connected. One will likely be addressed in the first round. The good news is there will be one less need area after the draft. But there could also be a hole. If the Chiefs don’t take Okung, they could take Tennessee safely Eric Berry. If St. Louis takes a quarterback Sam Bradford at No.1, Berry should fall to Kansas City. If Okung and Berry are both available, the Chiefs will have a tough choice. Okung may fill a greater need, but Berry could become the face of the defense. If Berry is taken, the Chiefs’ defense will get better and it could adopt a new, aggressive personality that can help this team as it continues to rebuild.

If the Dallas Cowboys are interested in Oklahoma State draft prospect Dez Bryant, why wouldn’t they be interested in Denver restricted free agent Brandon Marshall?

Marshall

Getting Marshall may actually be less difficult to than Bryant and Marshall is a much better player at this point.



Dallas has the No. 27 pick in the draft and it is planning to workout Bryant. Clearly, there is interest in adding a receiver. Bryant, even though he may slip down the draft board due to off-the-field questions, likely won’t be available at No. 27. Dallas would likely have to trade up to get Bryant.



If the Cowboys want Marshall, they could very well get him for the No. 27 pick. Denver put a first-round tender on Marshall and would like a first-round pick in return for Marshall.



Yes, Marshall wants a contract extension and he isn’t exactly looking for a bargain deal. Yes, Dallas also has to address receiver Miles Austin. But Bryant wouldn’t be a cheap pickup, either.



And we are talking about Jerry Jones here. There is enough money in Dallas for both Marshall and Austin. If Dallas wants another big-play receiver, Marshall could be the answer.

Falling



Baltimore Ravens defensive line: Two key free-agent losses in the past week have drastically hurt depth on Baltimore’s defensive line. Justin Bannan and Dwan Edwards signed deals recently with the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills, respectively. The two were key reserves in the rotation with Baltimore’s stout unit. Without them, the Ravens are currently looking very thin behind starters Trevor Pryce, Kelly Gregg and Haloti Ngata. Look for Baltimore to replenish its depth via the NFL draft, where there are a lot of quality prospects on the defensive line who can fill the roles Bannan and Edwards left.



Rising



Pittsburgh Steelers special teams: Pittsburgh went on an unusual signing spree last week in free agency and most of it was aimed at improving special teams. The Steelers’ return and coverage teams were below average last season, and it was an under-the-radar reason the team fell to 9-7. Enter receiver Arnaz Battle, safety Will Allen and receiver Antwaan Randle El. This trio should help Pittsburgh’s special teams in 2010. Battle and Allen were solid in coverage and Randle El, a former Steeler, may help with punt returns. With a top-five defense and an explosive offense, improving special teams would patch one of Pittsburgh’s few glaring weaknesses.

Falling



Kyle Orton, Denver quarterback: The Broncos’ trade for Brady Quinn doesn’t mean Orton’s run as the team’s quarterback is over. But it isn’t a vote of confidence for Orton, either. The Broncos obviously would like to see Quinn, who struggled in three seasons in Cleveland, figure it out and become a solid quarterback. There is no timeline for Quinn to take over, but Denver clearly sees something in the 25-year-old slinger. Again, Orton is not in immediate trouble, but teams who are completely sold on their 27-year-old quarterbacks usually don’t trade for younger ones.



Rising



Bruce Gradkowski, Oakland quarterback: Gradkowski is going to battle JaMarcus Russell to be the Raiders’ starting quarterback. Gradkowski signed his restricted free-agent tender Monday (during a time in which many restricted free agents are staying away from their teams) and was in attendance for the first day of the team’s offseason workout program. Russell was not there Monday, but he showed up Tuesday in better shape than he was last year. Still, Russell has a lot of work to do to catch up to Gradkowski. He was preferred by Oakland offensive players last year when he replaced Russell and the fact that he signed his tender and will be with the team all offseason shows he ready to pick up where he left off last season. While other restricted free agents are staying away around the league, Gradkowski is determined to beat out Russell.

Marshall

Seattle’s trade for San Diego third-string quarterback Charlie Whitehurst could affect its pursuit of Denver receiver Brandon Marshall.



Seattle swapped second-round picks and gave San Diego a third-round pick next year for Whitehurst, who has never thrown an NFL pass. San Diego now has the No. 40 pick overall and Seattle has the 60th pick.



Seattle visited with Marshall, a Pro Bowl restricted free agent, on the first weekend of free agency. Denver gave Marshall a first-round tender. It wants a first-round pick back. Seattle has the No. 6 and No. 14 overall picks and it have been reluctant to surrender either choice.



If Denver were to come off its need for a first-round pick, Seattle has less bargaining power now. Trading No. 40 would have been much easier than No. 60. There are still ways for Seattle to get creative if Denver were to play ball, but a Marshall-to-Seattle deal has just gotten a little more difficult.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Dwan Edwards thought he would be on the free-agent market for 48 hours tops.

Greg M. Cooper/US PresswireBills defensive end Dwan Edwards is determined to prove himself on the field after being passed over in free agency.

Two days turned into nearly two weeks. The former Baltimore Ravens defensive end visited the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, but both teams were bothered by concerns stemming from spinal fusion surgery he underwent in 2008.



“They had some issues with the neck,” Edwards said. “I thought I’d be signed quick.”



As his frustrations mounted over being labeled “damaged goods,” he became more anxious about finding a team. The first one to give Edwards the OK was going to get him.



The Buffalo Bills saw no reason to worry and signed him to a four-year contract worth a reported $18 million.



Now Edwards’ mission is to be a pain in the neck for opponents.



“They’re getting a great player,” Edwards said Wednesday afternoon at One Bills Drive. “I’m glad they took a chance on me.



“It motivates me, definitely, that teams dropped interest. I’m looking forward to getting back on the field with some of these teams.”



Edwards injured his neck in a 2008 preseason game and was placed on injured reserve. He underwent a procedure to remove a disk and insert one from a cadaver. His C3 and C4 vertebrae were fused.



The physician to examine Edwards for the Bills was Dr. Andrew Cappuccino, who performed the emergency surgery on former Bills tight end Kevin Everett in 2007. Everett suffered a life-threatening spinal cord injury in the season opener, but cutting-edge procedures at the scene helped him miraculously regain his ability to walk.



“I’m coming off playing 18 games, and I played well,” Edwards said. “It definitely was a frustrating free-agent period, and to get that label … There’s nothing you can do about it, but I know I can play.”



Edwards started 13 games in 2007, missed 2008 with the injury but opened last year as a reserve. He reclaimed a starting spot in Week 6 and kept it for most of the year. He started nine regular-season games and once in the playoffs.



Edwards recorded 50 tackles and one sack in the regular season. He added nine tackles and one sack in Baltimore’s two playoff games.



He agreed to terms the same day as inside linebacker Andra Davis, giving the Bills their first two acquisitions since announcing they would convert to a 3-4 defense.



Edwards admitted “3-4 end is not a glamorous position. You’re not going to get a lot of sacks and whatnot, but the guys that can play it right are really key, especially if you’re going to be successful running a 3-4.



“It’s a physical, nasty, dirty spot. You take on double teams and get cut [blocked] and all sorts of stuff. To be successful, you’re going to be holding up blockers for Andra Davis and those guys, who are free to the ball and can make a lot of tackles.



“They told me they needed me to be an integral part. That’s all you can ask, to feel like you’re wanted and to be a part of something special.”



Edwards is coming from a locker room dominated by linebacker Ray Lewis, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and safety Ed Reed. But Edwards acknowledged he’ll need to take on more of a leadership role with the Bills.



“You kind of take a back seat in Baltimore with all the great leaders we had,” Edwards said. “But I think I really could be that guy. I don’t want to come in here and start barking orders at guys. That’s not my personality. But I think I’ll show people the way I work and prepare. Hopefully, that can rub off on some young guys and I can pick up some things from them.”

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: Biggest needs revisited.



Denver: The Broncos have added three potential starting defensive linemen and a backup quarterback (at least for the time being) in Brady Quinn. Those two positions are probably out of the question for Denver in the early rounds. The Broncos do have plenty of needs, though. The Broncos will be looking for an inside linebacker after the release of starter Andra Davis. Alabama’s Rolando McClain has to be considered a possibility at No. 11. Denver is also looking for help on the offensive line at guard and at center. The Broncos will surely take a young interior offensive linemen early. With Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall’s future in flux, Denver has to be on the hunt for a receiver. This is a position the Broncos could address early.



Kansas City: The Chiefs have been aggressive in free agency. But because the Chiefs have to improve in many areas, there is plenty to target in the draft. Kansas City has been targeting several veteran offensive linemen, but I think it will try to draft an offensive lineman in the first round or with one of its two second-round picks. The Chiefs still have a big need at safety. If he is available, Tennessee’s Eric Berry has to be a real possibility with the No. 5 pick. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kansas City looked at a linebacker in the first three rounds, either. Even though veteran receiver Chris Chambers has re-signed, look for the Chiefs to try to get younger at the position, perhaps in the second round. The team’s need for a running back was filled with veteran Thomas Jones in free agency.



Oakland: The Raiders have been shedding veterans much more than they have been bringing in players so far in free agency. The need wish list still starts at tackle. The Raiders have long had a dearth there. There probably will be several solid choices at tackle with the No. 8 overall pick. Oakland has to consider this a priority position. The Raiders could also use a young quarterback in the early-to-middle rounds. With running back Justin Fargas cut, the Raiders also could use another running back, but it won’t be a high-round priority. With veteran Gerard Warren cut, Oakland will need a defensive tackle, probably in the early rounds. Linebacker is also an area Oakland may try to address early.



San Diego: The Chargers have as many draft needs as they’ve had in several years. The Chargers have seen several veterans leave through free agency, trade or release. The team has a lot of depth, but reinforcements are needed at several areas. The two main areas of need remain running back and nose tackle. San Diego will address these areas early. It just depends how early. The Chargers could potentially take two running backs early. It is a deep running back class, so San Diego will have options. San Diego really needs a nose tackle now that veteran Jamal Williams has been released and signed by Denver. Because nose tackles are more difficult to find than running backs, the Chargers may address this area first. San Diego could use help at tight end in the middle rounds and perhaps even a third-string quarterback. Linebacker and cornerback could also be addressed in the late rounds.

The Buffalo Bills 3-4 defense is taking shape.



New general manager Buddy Nix and head coach Chan Gailey made their first defensive free-agent signing Tuesday night and were close to adding another.



The Bills signed inside linebacker Andra Davis and were on the verge of locking up defensive end Dwan Edwards.



ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Davis’ deal is for two years at a maximum of $4.4 million, with $2 million this year.



Davis has been a starter for the past seven seasons, six with the Cleveland Browns and last year with the Denver Broncos. He was third on the Broncos with 90 tackles. He added 3.5 sacks and a team-high 14 tackles for losses.



Denver’s decision to release Davis was one of the offseason’s bigger surprises.



He could form a formidable tandem with Paul Posluszny, the Bill’s middle linebacker when they played a 4-3 defense.



“I’m just excited to play with the guys,” Davis said on a conference call. “I know I have a lot left in my tank. I know I can still play this game. I love this game. And to be able to come here to another great organization with a lot of great tradition, it feels good.”



Edwards made the Bills his third free-agency visits Tuesday. He started 22 games over the past two seasons for the Baltimore Ravens. He recorded 50 tackles and one sack last year.

It’s hard to keep score with the Cleveland Browns these days. So far they have been the biggest whirlwind in free agency this offseason.



The Browns got rid of their top two quarterbacks and added two more. They signed a veteran linebacker (Scott Fujita), tight end (Benjamin Watson) and right tackle (Tony Pashos). They also traded Corey Williams and Kamerion Wimbley for draft picks and added another fullback to the roster from the Denver Broncos (Peyton Hillis).



Yes, the Browns are making a ton of changes. But are they getting better?



It’s still early. But despite a large flurry of transactions, there is nothing the Browns have done to this point in free agency to make you believe they’ll climb out of the basement and to the top of the AFC North in 2010.



The division champion Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers all finished with winning records last season. And if the season started today, most would pick the aforementioned trio ahead of Cleveland, which was 5-11 last season.



“Anything we do, we’ve done it thoughtfully, hopefully,” Browns president Mike Holmgren said this week of their busy free-agency period. “We’ve done it together. We’ve done it to make the team better in our opinion and however that manifests itself.”

(Read full post)

Can newly acquired quarterback Brady Quinn fulfill his potential in Denver?



That’s what everyone in Denver wants to know. Quinn was not impressive in Cleveland in his first three NFL seasons. Cleveland gave up on the 2007 first-round pick after he failed to make strides in 2009. He was 2-7 as the team’s starter last season.



Still, Denver found it worth its while to take a chance on Quinn. Denver traded backup running back Peyton Hillis and two future draft picks for Quinn on Sunday.



If Quinn is going to succeed as an NFL quarterback, it could be in Denver. Second-year Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has a reputation for working well with quarterbacks. He made Matt Cassel an instant impact player in New England in 2008 and he helped Kyle Orton make strides last year in Denver. Quinn played for Charlie Weis at Notre Dame. Weis is a mentor of McDaniels. The two coaches have similar philosophies.



Quinn should have no trouble adjusting to McDaniels’ scheme. He is already well versed in it.



Quinn won’t face the same pressure to succeed in Denver that he did in Cleveland. He was a first-round pick for his home-state team. In Denver, Quinn comes with a small price tag and low expectations. There is also no rush for him to make an impact. Orton probably will start in 2010.



If Quinn makes great strides in McDaniels’ system, perhaps he can hit the playing field earlier than expected. His primary job now is to correct his issues and become a sponge in McDaniels’ system.



If Quinn embraces this opportunity, there is a chance his career can be salvaged.