KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- We’re concluding our look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ roster with the kicking specialists.
In 2014 for the Chiefs: kicker Cairo Santos, punter Dustin Colquitt, long snapper Thomas Gafford.
Others on roster who didn’t play for Chiefs in 2014: Brandon Hartson, Jorgen Hus.
Potential free agent: Gafford.
2014 recap: After a rough start, Santos justified the Chiefs’ decision to go with him over incumbent Ryan Succop. He made 83 percent of his field goal attempts, making 14 straight in one stretch. He hit the game-winner in the final seconds of a three-point win in San Diego in October and made eight kicks in the final two games, when the offense repeatedly sputtered. He was also making the minimum salary, or far less than the veteran Succop was scheduled to make. Colquitt had another solid season, continuing to show a nice touch with punts inside the 20-yard line. The Chiefs blamed Gafford’s errant snaps for a couple of missed field goals in a December game against the Oakland Raiders.
Looking ahead to 2015: Even if they weren’t the only players at their positions on the roster at this point, there’s no reason to think the Chiefs won’t go with Santos and Colquitt again and expect big seasons from them. But the Chiefs might be ready to move on from Gafford. The Chiefs brought in a practice-squad snapper after the December game against Oakland and though that player is no longer around, they wasted no time at the end of the season signing Hartson and Hus.
