Chiefs Exercise Eric Fisher’s 2017 Option
The Chiefs are the latest team to officially announce that they’ve exercised a fifth-year option on a 2013 first-rounder. In Kansas City’s case, that player is former No. 1 overall pick, Eric Fisher. The Chiefs formally confirmed (via Twitter) that they’ve exercised the veteran tackle’s 2017 option.
Fisher, 25, has been a starter for the Chiefs – first at right tackle and then at left tackle – since being selected first overall in the 2013 draft. Although his first two years were somewhat underwhelming, he showed signs of improvement in 2015, particularly down the stretch. His performance was enough to convince the Chiefs to exercise his option for 2017, which will put him in line for a $11.902MM salary.
Of course, for now, that option is only guaranteed for injury, so as long as Fisher stays healthy in 2016, Kansas City’s real decision will happen next March — on the first day of the 2017 league year, Fisher’s $11.902MM salary would become fully guaranteed.
Fisher had been one of two offensive tackles at the top of the 2013 draft whose fifth-year option for 2017 wasn’t necessarily a slam dunk. The Jaguars have yet to announce a decision on the No. 2 overall pick from that draft, tackle Luke Joeckel.
The full list of fifth-year option decisions for 2017 can be found right here.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Buccaneers Acquire 59th Pick From Chiefs
The Buccaneers have acquired the 59th selection from the Chiefs, tweets Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times. In return, the Chiefs will land the 74th and 106th picks, according to the NFL Network. Surprisingly, the Bucs will choose Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).
Aguayo is the highest-drafted kicker since the Jets used a second-rounder on Mike Nugent in 2005. The Buccaneers had the third-worst field goal percentage in the NFL last season at 72.5 percent and finished toward the bottom in extra-point success rate (91.5%), so upgrading was in order on paper. However, after the team replaced Kyle Brindza with Connor Barth in October, its kicking performance improved significantly. Barth hit 23 of 28 field goals and only missed one extra point on 26 attempts.
Aguayo missed nine kicks during his three-year college career, though five of those came last year on 26 tries. During his best season, 2013, he nailed 21 of 22 field goals, won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best kicker, and earned first-team All-America honors.
Pauline’s Latest: Dolphins, Cowboys, Chiefs, Giants
Here’s the latest from Tony Pauline of WalterFootball.com entering the second day of the draft:
- After the Dolphins used the 13th pick on Laremy Tunsil, they called veteran left tackle Branden Albert and assured him he’ll remain at his current position and Tunsil will play left guard.
- The Cowboys “covet” Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah going into the second round, per Pauline, who dismisses the idea that they’re instead after Boise State linebacker Kamalei Correa or Eastern Kentucky edge rusher Noah Spence. Dallas holds the 34th selection but could end up moving down, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones (link via ESPN’s Todd Archer).
- Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander is unlikely to get past the Chiefs at No. 37, reports Pauline.
- The Giants are targeting offensive linemen and safeties entering Day 2, meaning Clemson safety T.J. Green could be a fit for the team at No. 40. Like Big Blue, the Steelers and Vikings are also eyeing safeties.
Chiefs Tried To Trade Up For Laquon Treadwell
The Chiefs tried to trade up to get wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (on Twitter). After the Ole Miss product went to the Vikings at No. 23, the Chiefs traded out of the first round. 
It appears that the Chiefs were fixated on taking Treadwell with the No. 28 pick and when he was gone, they were content with converting that selection into a second-round pick (No. 37), a fourth-round pick (No. 105), a sixth-round pick (No. 178), and a seventh-round pick (No. 249) from the 49ers. At the time of the deal, some speculated that the Chiefs were trading out because they had missed out on Paxton Lynch, who went to the Broncos at No. 26.
The first round also saw fellow wide receivers Corey Coleman (Browns), Wil Fuller (Texans), Josh Doctson (Washington), and Treadwell come off the board. If the Chiefs are still thinking wide receiver, they could look into the likes of Ohio State’s Michael Thomas (widely regarded as the best WR left), Oklahoma’s Sterling Shepard, South Carolina’s Pharoh Cooper, Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins, and PIttsburgh product Tyler Boyd.
Treadwell, was widely projected as a top-15 pick before a slow 40-yard dash time and other concerns about his game hurt his draft stock.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
49ers Acquire No. 28 Pick
10:35pm: The 49ers also picked up an extra seventh-round pick (No. 249), tweets Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group.
10:16pm: The 49ers have acquired the No. 28 pick from the Chiefs, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link) reports San Francisco will ship a second-round pick (No. 37), a fourth-round pick (No. 105), and a sixth-round pick (No. 178) to Kansas City, and use the pick to select guard Joshua Garnett, per Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link).
Kansas City was reportedly trying to trade up at one point, perhaps with its eye on Paxton Lynch. Once Lynch went to the Broncos, however, it seems that the Chiefs changed course and decided to trade back and acquire more picks. Garnett will be plugged in as an immediate starter on a San Francisco offensive line that has become porous in recent years.
Chiefs, Cardinals, Titans, Cowboys Trying To Trade up
The Chiefs, Cardinals, Titans, and Cowboys all have interest in trading up, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Kansas City and Arizona would be moving up, while Tennessee and Dallas would be trading back into the first round, having already selected once.
The Chiefs, Cardinals, and Cowboys could all conceivably have interest in acquiring a quarterback. Paxton Lynch just went off the board at No. 26, but Connor Cook and Christian Hackenberg have been rumored as first-round options. Indeed, a sorce tells Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star Telegram (Twitter link) that Dallas “was” trying to trade up, and Ed Werder of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the Cowboys’ target was Lynch.
Chiefs Interested In Cedric O'Neal
- The Texans have displayed late-round draft interest in Valdosta State running back Cedric O’Neal, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle. O’Neal, an All-Gulf South Conference running back who led the conference with 17 touchdowns last season, has also drawn interest from the Chiefs and Eagles.
Chiefs Shopping RB Knile Davis
The Chiefs are shopping running back Knile Davis, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). 
Davis finds himself buried on Kansas City’s depth chart with Jaamal Charles, Charcandrick West, and Spencer Ware ahead of him on the depth chart. Late last month, West and Ware both inked brand new deals with KC that will keep them in the fold for the next two seasons.
Davis, meanwhile, reportedly requested a trade prior to the new deals for Charles’ primary backups. The Dolphins called the Chiefs about acquiring a running back in March and asked about all four tailbacks on KC’s depth chart, including Davis.
Davis was once listed as Charles’ primary backup, but he has since been leapfrogged by Ware and West. Last season, Davis’ main contribution came in the Wild Card playoffs when he opened up the contest against the Texans with a 106-yard kick return touchdown. In the regular season, Davis had just 28 total carries for 72 yards and one score. Over three seasons for the Chiefs, the former third-round pick has carried the ball 232 times for 777 yards, good for a 3.3 yards-per-carry average.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Demarcus Robinson Visited Chiefs
- Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) adds the Chiefs to the list of teams that hosted Florida wide receiver Demarcus Robinson for a pre-draft visit.
Chiefs Cut Paul Fanaika
The Chiefs have released guard Paul Fanaika, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. As Adam Teicher of ESPN.com writes, it’s an interesting move for the team to make so close to the draft. The Chiefs could go with Zach Fulton and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif as their starting guards, but they now lack depth on the interior line. Fanaika spent one year with the Chiefs but he unfortunately spent that time on the IR.