Chiefs add another blocker

Even though the Chiefs selected a tight end in the third round of Sunday’s draft, they kept true to their board by adding another with a specific skillset with their final draft pick of the day.

Michael Merritt, out of Central Florida, stands 6-foot-4 and weights 263 pounds, so he’s by no means a finesse player, as he caught only 17 passes in his college career.

“We brought him in here, phenomenal blocker,” said Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards. “When you watch him block, he is unbelievable.”

The Chiefs seem bound and determined to find a replacement for Jason Dunn, who served as their fifth tackle playing at the tight end position the last few years. They drafted Brad Cottam out of Tennessee in the third round Sunday and have definitely created competition for the role of blocking tight end.

The Chiefs want at least two blocking tight ends on the roster. With the emphasis on the running game in 2008 critical to the development of quarterback Brodie Croyle, Kansas City now has several options with the addition of Merritt.

In short yardage situations last year, Kansas City often used a back-up tackle as a blocking tight end. Now with Cottam, who can catch the ball, and Merritt, the Chiefs are better equipped for such scenarios.

Last year’s seventh-round pick, Michael Allan, will now be in a battle to make the opening-day roster.