Chiefs sign rookie wideout Will Franklin

With OTAs completed the Kansas City Chiefs front office is hard at work securing their draft picks. Last week it was fifth-round pick Brandon Carr and today the team signed fourth-round pick Will Franklin to a four-year deal.

The Chiefs are now one of the more active teams in the NFL in regards to signing rookies. Of course they do have 12 to sign, while most other teams are dealing with just seven. Nonetheless, it’s not easy to get players under contract this early.

Franklin, the former Missouri Tigers standout, quickly became a hit through recent OTA and mini-camp practices at Arrowhead’s training facility. He had little trouble adjusting to his role on the field and often worked with the first-team offense.

The knock on Franklin, according to some of the media that covered him in Columbia, was his frequency of dropped passes, but he’s shown no signs of that problem as a pro. He’s already in the mix to be the starter opposite Dwayne Bowe.

The Chiefs at the moment have an open tryout at that slot which includes Devard Darling, Jeff Webb, Bobby Sippio and Franklin.

In other News:

LB Johnny Baldwin – The Chiefs released him due to a failed physical. Though Baldwin had little chance to make the final 53-man roster, his health didn’t help the situation, nor did the competitive group of young linebackers the Chiefs have assembled this offseason.

DT Glenn Dorsey – The Chiefs continue to talk contract numbers with their top pick according to our source. No deal is imminent, but there is optimism one will be struck with both Dorsey and Branden Albert prior to the start of training camp in July.