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A look at the top under-the-radar move made by each AFC West team thus far this offseason:

Denver: defensive tackle Terrance Knighton. The Broncos have made some big-ticket moves, including the signings of receiver Wes Welker, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and guard Louis Vasquez. But landing Knighton should not be overlooked. He fills a big need. He is a massive hole-plugger who should make a good defense even better. He was a favorite of former Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio, now Denver’s defensive coordinator. Knighton will be used correctly and should instantly be comfortable in Denver’s system. A run-stuffer was one of Denver’s greatest needs after last season. The position is now a strength.

Kansas City: defensive end Mike DeVito. DeVito wasn’t a big name to the average fan, but he is a favorite of NFL scouts. He was expected to be a hot commodity in free agency and the Chiefs made an immediate, winning run at him. DeVito reunites with former Jets assistant coach Bob Sutton, now Kansas City’s defensive coordinator. DeVito is a strong run defender and a relentless player overall. He is versatile and can rotate with 2012 first-round pick Dontari Poe. This could make Poe, who played well at the end of last season, even better. Strong move.

Oakland: defensive tackle Pat Sims. The football people I’ve spoken with believe Sims has among the best upside of the players the Raiders have brought in this offseason -- affordable, young, fringe-starter types who will be asked to take the next step in Oakland. Sims has a chance to stand out. If he can stay healthy and prove he can handle the rigors of being a full-time starter -- he was mostly a rotational player in Cincinnati -- Sims has a chance to be among Oakland’s better players. He is highly skilled, and he can be disruptive.

San Diego: guard Chad Rinehart. Scouts really like this signing. Yes, the Chargers’ offensive line still has question marks and yes, seeing Vasquez go to Denver hurts. But if he can stay healthy, Rinehart has a chance to step in at guard and provide a strong, stable presence. Many scouts thought he was one of the best bargain players available in free agency. He has a chance to develop into a strong starter. He played for new San Diego offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris in Buffalo. D'Alessandris pushed for Rinehart, and there is probably good reason he did so.

The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Mike DeVito.

DeVito is considered a strong player. He is a run-stuffing lineman and should make a nice pairing with Dontari Poe in a rotation that should help both players. The Chiefs are getting more stout up front.

DeVito played for new Kansas City defensive coordinator Bob Sutton with the New York Jets, where he spent the first six seasons of his career. The Chiefs, who have been immensely busy in the past couple of weeks, signed DeVito, tight end Anthony Fasano and quarterback Chase Daniel on Tuesday. They have also brought in starting quarterback Alex Smith and cornerback Dunta Robinson in addition to keeping several key free agents.

Kansas City, which went 2-14 last season, has to be one of the early winners of the NFL offseason.

In other AFC west news:

Former Green Bay linebacker Erik Walden reportedly had interest from the Chiefs and Raiders before going to the Colts.

Great statistic from the Broncos: New Bronco right guard Louis Vasquez, who signed from the Chargers on Tuesday, has played 3,435 snaps in the NFL with just one penalty. Some offensive lineman can’t go one set of downs with just one penalty.

The Raiders re-signed cornerback Phillip Adams to a one-year deal. He is a decent rotational player.

Linebacker Stewart Bradley is set to visit Denver.

Linebacker Karlos Dansby, cut by the Dolphins, could be a fit in San Diego.

Perhaps no draft prospect is rising up the NFL draft boards faster than Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd.

He is a great athlete, he is coming off a great combine and teams think he can be the next great difference maker on the defensive line. The question is can he make his way all the way up to the No. 1 pick and the Kansas City Chiefs?

The Chiefs are wide open in their search for the top pick. Many options abound. I wonder if Floyd could be one of those options. Of course, with every prospect the Chiefs are considering there are fit questions.

Floyd is considered a traditional 4-3 defensive tackle. The Chiefs run a 3-4 defense. I asked Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. if he thinks Floyd could play in a 3-4 defense and fit with 2012 Kansas City first-round pick, defensive tackle Dontari Poe.

This is what Muench had to say: “Floyd has the athletic ability and enough size to play defensive end in a 3-4 so he and Poe can coexist. That said, Floyd can be a difference maker regardless of the scheme but I think he is a better fit playing defensive tackle in a base 4-3. While he has decent quickness for an end, he’s much more disruptive and his shorter arms aren’t as much of a concern on the inside.”

Thus, the concern is Floyd could be underutilized in the 3-4. The Chiefs just went through that with 2008 No. 5 overall pick Glenn Dorsey. He was a misfit in the 3-4 and he has had an underwhelming career. Dorsey is a free agent and he is expected to join a team that runs a 4-3 defense.

The No.1 pick can‘t be taken on a player who might be a forced fit in a system, so the idea of taking Floyd may be too risky for the Chiefs no matter how good he may be.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Here are some notes from the news conference of new Kansas City general manager John Dorsey at the combine Friday:

Dorsey shares the same philosophy as new Kansas City coach Andy Reid when it comes to the using the No. 1 pick in the draft. The Chiefs are going for talent.

“It is an ongoing situation and at the end, we will see what happens, but it will be the best available player,” Dorsey said.

Like Reid said Thursday, Dorsey also said he is open to listening to trade offers for the top pick.

“Well it’s a very unique situation sitting here in the first spot, but I can say this, if anybody wants to come up they’re more than welcome,” Dorsey said. “But then again, I’m going to select the first-available player, or I’m going to trade. It all depends on the options that are presented to me. That’s why I’m sitting here, because I want to explore every opportunity possible and what’s best for the Kansas City Chiefs.”

Dorsey said the team will met with between 6-8 quarterbacks at the combine. Quarterback is the team’s greatest need.

Dorsey said the team has been in touch with pending free agents, receiver Dwayne Bowe and left tackle Branden Albert. He said the talks are ongoing. Dorsey also said the team has been in touch with quarterback Matt Cassel and defensive end Tyson Jackson. Cassel will almost certainly be cut, and Jackson will have to take a major pay cut to avoid being cut.

Dorsey praised 2012 the Chiefs’ first-round pick, defensive tackle Dontari Poe. He said he think Poe came on strong last season and he thinks Poe can be a standout.

Much has gone wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs this season. Things could get more complicated after the worst season in recent memory for the franchise.

Things are so bad for the Chiefs, even the lone benefit of having a disastrous season may not automatically play in the their favor. It looks like 2013 is going to be a bad draft year to need a quarterback.

Kansas City is 1-8 and on pace to get the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Despite their awful record, the Chiefs do have talent throughout their lineup. Their most glaring hole is at quarterback. Matt Cassel has lost his starting job and Brady Quinn appears to be a stop-gap answer. Ricky Stanzi, a fifth-round pick in 2011 doesn’t appear to be the answer, either. The Chiefs need a quarterback, but they may be a year too late.

The 2012 quarterback draft class may go down as one of the great all-time quarterback draft classes. Five rookies from that draft class are starting and Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the first two picks from the draft, appear to be transcendent talents.

What about the 2013 class? Scouts Inc. college scout Steve Muench calls the upcoming quarterback class “terrible.” West Virginia’s Geno Smith, USC’s Matt Barkley and North Carolina State’s Mike Glennon may be the only quarterbacks worthy of a first-round pick, but none of those players appear to be sure things. And if they go in the top three overall picks, they might be massively over-drafted.

In fact, Muench thinks Barkley’s draft stock is ”free-falling” and Muench believes Glennon will have work to do between now and late April to secure a spot in the first round. ESPN draft experts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have both often said this fall that this quarterback class lacks certainty. Much like the 1984 and 2000 quarterback classes that immediately followed terrific quarterback classes, the 2013 class appears to lack the tremendous talent level of the quarterback class of 2012.

“The Chiefs need a quarterback, so they have to look hard there,” Muench said this week. “But it would have been nicer if they were in this position last year. It would have been a lot nicer. ... There’s no Lucks here.”

Are the Chiefs, who definitely appear headed for a top-three pick, out of luck in the 2013 draft?

Not necessarily, but it appears there aren’t any clear-cut easy connections for Kansas City at any spot. There appears to be better value at the top of the draft at other positions. (Remember, this is always subject to change, especially during the time of the NFL combine in late February.)

Muench said the top five players on Scouts Inc.’s list include Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, Notre Dame inside linebacker Manti Te’o, Alabama guard Chance Warmack and Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore.

None of those positions are major need areas for the Chiefs, certainly not in the same scope as quarterback. Would the Chiefs really take a guard at No. 1? I Don’t think so, either.

Still, Muench thinks, as of right now, Lotulelei and Jones will be worth the No. 1 pick and the Chiefs should consider taking either players if they get the top pick. He thinks both players will be superstars and instant impact players.

The issue is neither player is a great fit for the Chiefs. Lotulelei may be the better fit for the Chiefs because of his value. Muench thinks he’d be a terrific defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. Kansas City, which has drafted three defensive linemen in the top 11 of the draft since 2008, could put Lotulelei at an end position to pair with 2012 first-round pick Dontari Poe at nose tackle.

“That could work,” Muench said.

Jones, whom Muench describes as an “absolute terror," is a dynamic 3-4 pass-rushing outside linebacker, but the Chiefs are stacked there with Tamba Hali and Justin Houston.

Muench does think if the Chiefs end up with the top pick, they should seriously consider taking Smith over Lotulelei and Jones. Yes, the two defensive stars appear to be more of sure things, but the quarterback factor is huge. Quarterbacks have more value and they often get drafted higher than players at other positions because of their chances of becoming stars.

Muench thinks Smith is a middle-of-the-first-round talent. Yet, he does think he can become a franchise player.

“He is not near Luck or Griffin,” Muench said of Smith. “But I do like him and he can hit big. He needs to get better under pressure, but he is excellent in the pocket and he has a lot of skills. I think he will be taken very highly because of the position and the potential, and I think the Chiefs very much should consider him if they get the No.1 pick. There is no sure thing, but he could hit big. What if he becomes a star and the Chiefs don’t take him? They’d still have a hole at the most important position on the field and they would blow a chance at a star. That’s hard to recover from.”

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. doesn’t think the Chiefs’ dilemma is big at all. He doesn’t care about the risk or the chance to get a better overall player elsewhere. Here are his thoughts on the subject: “It has to be a quarterback for Kansas City.”

It may be a year late, but the Chiefs’ draft thoughts may have to start at quarterback, regardless if it’s not a golden year at the position.

 

In the end, Brandon Flowers’ foot did not improve enough for him able to play in the Kansas City Chiefs’ opener against the pass-happy Atlanta Falcons.

Thus, the Chiefs will be without four defensive starters Sunday and with two starters who were listed as questionable on the injury report.

I picked the Chiefs to win the AFC West this season. I still stand by that pick, but today could be rough for the Chiefs playing with such a depleted defense against such a potent offense. The Chiefs must control the game clock with their stout running game featuring Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis.

There was hope Flowers could play after he practiced on a limited basis all week. Expect him to be able to play next week at Buffalo unless there is a setback, Jacques Reeves will replace Flowers.

Also out for the Chiefs’ defense are star pass-rusher Tamba Hali (one-game NFL suspension), safety Kendrick Lewis (shoulder) and nose tackle Anthony Toribio (ankle). First-round pick Dontari Poe, who improved steadily in the preseason, will start at nose tackle.

The Chiefs did get some good injury news. Linebackers Derrick Johnson (ankle) and Jovan Belcher (groin) are active. They were listed as questionable on the injury report.

In Other AFC West news:

• CSN Bay Area reports the Raiders have decided on who will be their kick and punt returners Monday night.
• The Broncos are wearing a ribbon on the back of their helmet that features the state flag. The ribbon is in remembrance of the victims of the July movie theater shooting in suburban Denver and the wild fires that ravaged the state this year.

Click here for the complete list of Kansas City Chiefs' roster moves.

Most significant move: I found it interesting that defensive tackle Amon Gordon was cut. Gordon is solid, but far from special. But it could open a spot for Shaun Smith. Smith, who was recently cut by the Titans, tried out for the Chiefs on Tuesday. He played for Romeo Crennel in both Cleveland and in Kansas City. Smith could be added to a defensive-tackle group that includes first-round pick Dontari Poe, Anthony Toribio and Jerrell Powe. It was also significant that rookie defensive back DeQuan Menzie was put on injured reserve. The Chiefs have a lot of injuries in the secondary (they also cut veteran Donald Washington) and will need to do something. Young running backs Cyrus Gray, Nate Eachus and Shaun Draughn all made the team, giving Kansas City some intriguing youth in the backfield. Interestingly, the Chiefs kept five tailbacks, but no fullbacks. What does it mean? The will be doing a lot of multiple-tight-end and -receiver sets. It’d also be nice to see Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis share a backfield on occasion.

Onward and upward: The Chiefs cut rookie receivers Junior Hemingway and Josh Bellamy. The Chiefs like both of those players, but they are deep at the position. Both should be headed to the practice squad. As expected, second-year quarterback Ricky Stanzi made the team. He will be the No. 3 quarterback and given another chance to develop. Defensive lineman Jerome Long, a draft pick, could also be headed to the practice squad.

What’s next: Whether or not the Chiefs sign Smith (doing so after Week 1 would avoid guaranteeing his 2012 contract), I think they could add to the defensive line. I think they certainly will look at help for the secondary because of injuries, and if the right linebacker becomes available, the Chiefs could add some depth. I also think the offensive line might be an area in which Kansas City looks for depth -- it has been trying to add a veteran all summer. One name to keep an eye on is former New England offensive lineman Dan Koppen. He has a history with Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli.

A look at the Chiefs’ 44-14 home loss to Seattle on Friday night:

• Yes, I’m sure many Chiefs fans are freaking out over a home blowout like this. But I can’t join the in the hysteria. Maybe I’m wrong, but the preseason is just the preseason, big win or big loss. Now, if the Chiefs get throttled at home by Atlanta in 16 days, then the hand-wringing should commence. But this loss doesn’t mean the Chiefs will be awful in that game.

• The Chiefs may be the answer to a trivia question: They were the opponent of Russell Wilson's first preseason start. The rookie quarterback was terrific in his staring debut. He beat up the Chiefs pretty good. Should Kansas City be worried that a third-round pick whipped them? It’s not ideal, but again, it’s the preseason, so it really doesn’t matter. Plus, the Chiefs have some injuries. Still, like their performances against St. Louis last week, the Chiefs’ defense showed it is not quite ready for prime time.
• Kansas City defensive linemen Glenn Dorsey, Anthony Toribio and Allen Bailey were all banged up some Friday. Toribio’s injury allowed first-round pick Dontari Poe to play with the first unit, which was valuable.
• Brady Quinn spelled Matt Cassel and it looks like he will win the backup job over Ricky Stanzi, which has long been expected. Quinn threw 10 passes and Stanzi didn’t play. You’d have to think that battle has been decided.
• The Chiefs’ offense was spotty. But it did have a 17-play, 80-yard drive. The Chiefs have had long scoring drives in all three preseason games, which is a good sign.
• Receiver Dwayne Bowe played some as expected. Bowe ended his holdout last week.
• Running back Nate Eachus made a push for a roster spot with 98 yards on 10 carries.
• Receiver Dexter McCluster had a strong game with seven catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- This isn’t a training camp for the leisurely.

Armed with the best roster this franchise has seen in years, the Kansas City Chiefs are moving quickly under new coach Romeo Crennel. For those who visited the Chiefs camp last year, this pace is foreign.

“There are no wasted moments,” said quarterback Matt Cassel.

The final training camp of the Todd Haley era will live in infamy in the Heartland. The Chiefs’ training camp last season was essentially a three-week walk-through exercise. Haley chose to go that route because he wanted to ease the players back into the program after a lost offseason due the lockout. The plan didn’t work as the Chiefs were physically and mentally behind the rest of the league. The Chiefs, who suffered several major injuries early in the season, were clubbed early in the season and it set the tone for a disappointing season.

However, speed is back in vogue as Crennel tries for head-coaching success in the NFL in his second go-around. The tempo change has paid off so far. The Chiefs have looked crisp in practices and they were dominant on both sides of the ball against Arizona in the preseason opener last week.

The idea is to keep the forward tempo moving into the season as the Chiefs try to win the AFC West for the second time in three seasons.

“It’s exciting to see what is happening here,” Cassel said. “We have a lot of work to do, but we are all on the same page and all want to have success together.”

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. The ACL Club: In addition to bringing in several free agents, the Chiefs are getting back three standouts. Safety Eric Berry, running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Tony Moeaki all blew out the ACLs in their knee last September. All of the players are back and on pace to be major contributors this season.

“All of those guys look great,” Cassel said. “They’re going to help us a lot.”

2. Dwayne Bowe’s absence: The Pro Bowl receiver did not participate in the offseason workouts and he was not present for the entire training camp in Kansas City. Bowe has not signed his franchise tender. The general consensus is Bowe will report in early September, just before the season. But there are issues. Bowe has had trouble staying in football shape in the past, so coming in late could be a problem. Plus, he has to learn a new offensive system. The Chiefs want Bowe back, but they are moving forward without him. They know he makes them better, but the team likes its roster and won’t wait for anyone.

3. Good vibrations: This team is in a good place. The players love playing for Crennel. One of the reasons why Crennel was promoted from interim coach was the players’ respect for him. It has continued now that he is the permanent coach. He is a polar opposite of former coach Todd Haley, who was known as somewhat of loose cannon. Crennel is a calm, steady hand. Players love that he’s organized and up front. There is a lot of trust going on in this club.

“They’ve worked hard and they know the possibilities this team has," Crennel said. “Every team feels good about itself this time of year, but this team’s attitude is in the right place.”

REASON FOR OPTIMISM

This is the best overall roster in the AFC West. It is one of the deepest rosters in the AFC. There is proven talent throughout the roster and the team has the right mix of veteran and young players. Still, the Chiefs are the youngest team in the NFL. They are the only team in the league not to have a player over the age of 30.

“When I was on my visit, I just looked up and down this roster and saw so much talent,” free-agent pickup, tight end Kevin Boss said. “It is just loaded with talent.”

You look at this roster, and there isn’t much not to like.

REASON FOR PESSIMISM

The Chiefs will be banged for not being a playoff contender this year until Cassel proves otherwise. The big reason why many people don’t believe in the Chiefs is because they don’t believe in Cassel, even though he has already delivered a division title in Kansas City. Many scouts don’t think he can be a difference maker and because he is the least talented of the four quarterbacks in the AFC West, he will not be able to overcome the other teams in the division. I am of the belief there is enough talent on the roster to help Cassel lead the Chiefs deep into the playoffs. But he must prove it.

OBVERSATION DECK

• The rap on No. 11 overall pick Dontari Poe is that the defensive tackle wasn’t productive at Memphis. The Chiefs didn’t feel that way. They reviewed every college snap he ever played and they were impressed that he played 60 percent of the snaps at 346 pounds. For what it’s worth, Poe’s college statistics and combine measuruables compare favorably to Green Bay’s B.J. Raji. He has become a star after being the No. 9 overall pick in 2009. Poe is two inches taller and nine pounds heavier than Raji, yet he ran a 4.9 40-yard dash at the combine compared to Raji’s 5.23. Poe had nine more tackles and four more quarterback hurries than Raji in college despite the fact Raji played 16 more college games. This is not to suggest Poe is going to be a better NFL player than Raji, but it does take away some of the steam out of the argument that Poe wasn’t a productive college player.
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  John Rieger/US PRESSWIREThe Chiefs like what they've seen from first-round pick Dontari Poe so far.
  With Bowe holding out, Jon Baldwin has been thriving under the professional guidance of veteran receivers Steve Breaston and Terrance Copper. Some folks in camp think Baldwin is making strides, because he is taking cues from Copper and Breaston.
• Defensive ends Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey are plus players for the Chiefs. No, neither is spectacular and they will always get grief for not living up to their draft billing. Dorsey was the No. 5 overall pick in 2008 and Jackson went No. 3 a year later. But both players are excellent run stuffers and are at their top of the game in that area.
• While the focus is on Poe at nose tackle, Anthony Toribio and 2011 draft choice Jerrell Powe are also in the mix.
• Inside linebacker Brandon Siler looks good after missing all of last season with an Achilles injury. He could push Jovan Belcher for playing time.
• While Haley was known for his ranting and raving on the field, new offensive boss Brian Daboll is also fiery. He scoots around the field, barking instruction.
• His new teammates love running back Peyton Hillis. His toughness and competitiveness have been a talk of camp.
• Very quietly, left tackle Branden Albert is becoming the player the former Kansas City regime thought they were getting when they took him No. 15 overall in 2008. I expect the Chiefs to try to extend the pending free-agent at some point. He’s been stellar.
• I wouldn’t be surprised if the Brady Quinn-Ricky Stanzi battle to be Cassel’s backup continues all season, but with Quinn winning the job initially. The Chiefs like where they stand with both players.
• The Chiefs are excited about the potential of tight ends Moeaki and Boss. Expect both to have high profiles in the offense.
• Second-year pass-rusher Justin Houston has been terrific and the Chiefs are bubbling over at what kind of pass-rush combination Tamba Hali and Houston can become.
• The team appreciates the flexibility of third-year player Dexter McCluster , who has bounced from receiver to running back to receiver again. McCluster may never have a classically defined role, but he will have a role in this offense.
• Undrafted rookie receiver Josh Bellamy still has a chance to make the 53-man roster, but in a numbers game, he could be practice-squad bound.
• So far, so good for new center Rodney Hudson. The second-year player looks comfortable playing with Cassel and vice versa.
• Camp observers believe kicker Ryan Succop has gotten bigger and stronger, which will help with his field-goal range.
• The team's fourth-round pick, receiver/returner Devon Wylie, is explosive. He will be given a chance to contribute.
• Keep an eye on defensive end Ropati Pitoitua. He has outplayed 2011 third-round pick Allen Bailey and he may be a keeper.
• Brandon Flowers’ foot injury has allowed second-year cornerback Jalil Brown to blossom. I expect Brown to be on the field often in the regular season.

The following are three things to watch during Kansas City's game at St. Louis on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.

1. Brian Daboll’s momentum: It was a great start for the new offensive coordinator of the Chiefs. Kansas City’s first-team offense scored touchdowns on both of its series in the preseason opener against Arizona last week. The unit was clicking on all cylinders, and players gave much credit to Daboll. Let’s see it continue.

2. Jon Baldwin: The promising receiver didn’t have any catches last week. It’s not a big deal. Baldwin has been a training camp star, but it would be nice to see him make an impact in a preseason game.

3. Dontari Poe: The rookie received some praise from coach Romeo Crennel. Poe, the No. 11 overall pick, is going to be a work in progress, and needs to make some noise in the preseason.

Here are some thoughts from the Chiefs’ 27-17 home win over Arizona:

Last year, the Chiefs were awful in the preseason and it spilled over to a horrible start to the regular season. If the first preseason game in 2012 is any indication, the Chiefs are heading into the regular season on the right track.

Kansas City looked crisp and executed beautifully under coach Romeo Crennel, who finished the 2011 season as the Chiefs’ interim head coach.

Kansas City’s first-unit offense staked the Chiefs to a 14-0 lead.

The most maligned Chief of them all, quarterback Matt Cassel, led the way as he completed 5-of-6 passes for 67 yards. The team’s first series were an impressive 12-play, 72-yard drive.

Running back Peyton Hillis had 41 yards on four carries and Jamaal Charles had 12 yards on three runs in his return from an ACL injury.

It was a terrific start to Brian Daboll’s tenure as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator and it shows Kansas City’s offense is well on pace for the start of the regular season.

“It’s definitely meaningful. Coach Crennel has been preaching all camp long to get off to a good start,” Cassel said. “That’s exactly what we came out and accomplished tonight. I think offensively, defensively and special teams got off to a great start. I think that gives us momentum going forward. But again, we know it’s only the first preseason game. We’ve got a ways to go. We’ve got a lot of work to do. There will be a lot of corrections made tomorrow. But, at the same time, I was proud of how everybody came out and got off to a good start today.”

Kansas City’s first-team defense also did well as the Chiefs ran out to a 17-0 lead.

Crennel said first-round pick Dontari Poe made some nice progress Friday night. Still, Poe didn’t do much against an undrafted rookie on an Arizona scoring drive.

Crennel said there were no injuries of note, which is a nice change in Kansas City.

Like Charles, safety Eric Berry and tight end Tony Moeaki got some good work in their first game coming back from torn ACLs.

I would think Brady Quinn will remain the backup quarterback for the second week of the preseason. Quinn completed 7-of-13 passes for 81 yards and he did have an interception. Ricky Stanzi was 2-of-7 for 42 yards.

There appears to be no movement in the holdout of receiver Dwayne Bowe. He flew to Kansas City on Friday and there was an unsubstantiated report he was ending his holdout. But that has not happened.

New cornerback Stanford Routt was called for pass interference. He led the NFL with 17 penalties while with Oakland last season.

Fourth-round pick, receiver Devon Wylie, ripped off a nice 33-yard punt return.

Tackle turned tight end Steve Maneri had three catches for 69 yards.

Here are three things to watch in Kansas City’s preseason opener against visiting Arizona on Friday. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.

1. The ACL Club: Safety Eric Berry, running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Tony Moeaki will all play. They all suffered torn ACLs in their knees last September. Don’t expect any of them to play extensively in this game, but it will be interesting to see them in action.

2. The quarterbacks: Starter Matt Cassel is under a lot of scrutiny. Every outing is important, no matter if he just plays a series or two against the Cardinals. Also, Brady Quinn and Ricky Stanzi are in a battle to be the backup, so this is a critical game for both.

3. The past two first-round picks: Receiver Jon Baldwin, the No. 26 overall pick in 2011, and nose tackle Dontari Poe, the No. 1 pick in 2012, have been closely watched in camp. Baldwin has been terrific and a lot in expected from him. Also, this is Poe’s first game action. The Chiefs are going to want to see him show he belongs.

Dontari Poe will be to training camp on time.

The Kansas City Chiefs announced they have signed the No. 11 overall pick. The Chiefs report to camp Thursday and begin practice Friday.

Poe was one of the last first-round picks to sign, but the bottom line is that the massive defensive tackle will not miss any camp time. The Chiefs expect Poe to make a push to be a major contributor right away. He fills one of the team’s final holes.

Now, the only question is in Kansas City is if franchised receiver Dwayne Bowe will report on time. He has yet to sign his tender and could stage a holdout.

The remaining unsigned draft picks in the AFC West are Oakland’s Tony Bergstrom (guard, third round) and receiver Juron Criner (receiver, fifth). I’d be surprised if either player is not signed on time for when the Raiders open camp Monday.

» AFC Scenarios: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Chiefs in 2012.

Dream scenario (10-6): Kansas City’s roster is much stronger than it was in 2011, when the Chiefs were riddled with key injuries. Kansas City lost franchise building blocks like Eric Berry, Jamaal Charles and Tony Moeaki very early. If such young players can return to where they were pre-injury to go along with an extremely strong offseason for Kansas City, this roster could be one of the most talented and deepest in the NFL. Despite a gaping hole at right tackle, the Chiefs’ pass blocking was pretty strong in 2011, but the run blocking was suspect. Kansas City has upgraded dramatically at that spot with the addition of Eric Winston, so expect the front five to excel this season. Another area where Kansas City could rather easily improve is on special teams, where overall they struggled quite a bit in 2011. Based on last year’s opponents’ winning percentage, the Chiefs have the easiest schedule in the AFC West by a narrow margin over Oakland. To me, the Chiefs ceiling this year is winning the division and maybe a playoff game or two.

Nightmare scenario (7-9): When discussing the Chiefs’ roster, which overall I am very high on, I failed to mention the quarterback position. Matt Cassel is not a bad quarterback, but he certainly isn’t a difference-maker either. In fact, Kansas City is possibly the weakest team in the AFC West at the most important position on the field -- although a case could be made for the Raiders for that distinction. Also, there is little behind Cassel if he should fall to injury, as he did a year ago. That in itself puts a low ceiling on what this team might be able to ultimately accomplish in 2012. Also, will those young talents return to past form after injury? Will Dontari Poe be a difference-maker in his first NFL season? Although I don’t see the Chiefs’ ceiling being as high as Denver’s, I also think their floor is in the 7-9 range unless utter disaster strikes again.