May 7, 2016; Kansas City, MO: Chiefs coach Andy Reid addresses the media on Day One of rookie minicamp at the team’s training facility. (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs on Monday wrapped up a three-day rookie minicamp at the team’s training facility.
While the players are in shorts without pads and full contact is prohibited, coach Andy Reid came away pleased with the 67 participants, which included the Chiefs’ nine draft picks.
“It was great to see these kids out here playing these last couple of days here,” Reid said. “I told them this is probably the best group we’ve had just in the way they went about their business in learning and so forth. We’re able to actually have a good camp and get some things done there.”
What makes Reid’s high praise more impressive is the short span with which the coaching staff and players work with.
A majority of the players arrived Friday, which is considered a travel day. They then receive classroom work Saturday morning before hitting the practice field in the afternoon for individual position drills and install.
“They’re coming in here – they really don’t have any idea of your offense, defense or special teams,” Reid said. “That part is always a bit fun, and then seeing them execute after the things that you’ve been able to preach to them.”
With the rookie minicamp in the books, the Chiefs now turn attention to when rookies and veterans come together for the voluntary organized team activities (OTAs), which begin May 24.
But the team could also have in-house matters to handle before OTAs if any of the 39 players in camp on a tryout basis piqued interest.
The past three days afforded Reid and his coaching staff plenty of opportunities to get a hard look at individual players and position groups.
“Got good snaps on each kid,” Reid said. “They all got plenty of reps.”
The Chiefs are currently at the maximum of 90 players on the offseason roster, meaning they would need to make moves to free space to accommodate any signing.
“(General manager John) Dorse(y) will take it from there and make the decision if there’s any changes in the roster,” Reid said. “He’ll make that decision on that.”
Signing tryout players wouldn’t be anything new for the current Chiefs regime.
In 2015, the Chiefs signed four players after rookie minicamp concluded: Running back Keshawn Hill, guard Melvin Meggs, center Daniel Munyer and offensive tackle Kelvin Palmer.
Munyer, in particular, went on to sign a practice-squad contract before being elevated to the active 53-man roster, where he finished the regular season.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for The Topeka Capital-Journal and ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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