The inequities of the NFL Draft can be seen quite clearly along the Chiefs defensive line.
Defensive ends Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey are among the highest paid players at their position in football, and both have disappointed as pros. 2008 undrafted free agent Wallace Gilberry, meanwhile, looks ready to pass one of his highly paid teammates on the depth chart. Gilberry is set to make the minimum salary for the third straight year.
“Wallace is in a competition to try to be one of the guys in the front three in the 3-4 defense, and I think he can do that,” Haley said Tuesday in one of his patented depth chart wake up calls.
Gilberry is “only” listed at 6-2, 268 pounds, which far lighter than ideal for a 3-4 defensive end. But Jackson has backed up an invisible rookie year with a worse training camp by most accounts. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2009 draft seems further away from helping the team than Dorsey, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2008 draft. It’s unclear who Gilberry would replace.
The Chiefs would love it if two of their most highly paid players earned their money. But Haley needs to start finding any players on defense than can produce. Scholarships should have ended by now.
