KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Interesting information from colleague Field Yates, who tweeted that the Kansas City Chiefs were one of 10 teams to put in a waiver claim on tight end Tim Wright, who was recently cut by the New England Patriots. The Chiefs didn't get Wright, who went instead to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But the Chiefs obviously believed Wright could have been of some value. They're right. He could have been. Tight end was already one of the thinnest spots on the roster and that was before Demetrius Harris had to have a second surgery on his broken foot.
The Chiefs say Harris should be back for the start of training camp this summer. Even if he is, tight end is a position to watch for the Chiefs. Travis Kelce is their only established tight end and while that's a good place for them to start, it's not enough. The Chiefs were very effective the first half of last season when they went to their three-tight end formations and offensively fell off a bit after injuries forced them to go away from such personnel groupings.
As things stand, the Chiefs have Kelce, Harris, fifth-round draft pick James O'Shaughnessy, journeymen Richard Gordon and Ryan Taylor and developmental prospect Adam Schiltz. Harris, a college basketball player, has ability but is also still trying to establish himself. O'Shaughnessy looks like he belongs, but he's still a rookie.
Without Harris, the Chiefs aren't as much of a threat when they go to three tight ends. If they lose Kelce, the Chiefs might be worse off at tight end than they were in 2013, when injuries cost them Kelce, Tony Moeaki and, for half the season, Anthony Fasano. The Chiefs cobbled together a group that included Sean McGrath but they didn't present much of a receiving threat at that position.
That's why the Chiefs put in a claim for Wright. That's why they should keep looking for tight ends.
