Kansas City Chiefs: Can They Turn Things Around in '09?

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

After winning just twice in 2008 and six times in two seasons, the Chiefs have decided to blow up the whole operation and start over. Scott Pioli and Todd Haley have replaced Carl Peterson and Herm Edwards, and the rebuilding process is currently underway.

Conventional wisdom suggests that such turnarounds might take a couple seasons, but after what the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins were able to accomplish, expectations are almost certainly higher -- which means that Kansas City could be just a few personnel moves from returning to the playoffs. The issue, of course. is which personnel moves will give Kansas City the best chance to make a postseason run in '09.

Free Agents: DE Jason Babin (UFA), LB Rocky Boiman (UFA), S Oliver Celestin (UFA), G Adrian Jones (UFA), S Jon McGraw (UFA), LB Patrick Thomas (UFA), C Rudy Niswanger (RFA), CB Dimitri Patterson (RFA), CB Jarrad Page (RFA), WR Jeff Webb (RFA)

Draft Picks: 1.3, 2.2, 3.3, 4.2, 5.3, 6.2, 7.3

NFL Coaching Carousel

Hired: Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs
The architect of the Cardinals' offense heads to Kansas City to try to turn around a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 1993. Click through for more NFL head coaching changes.

Al Behrman, AP

Fired: Herm Edwards, Kansas City Chiefs
Edwards was canned after a disappointing three-year campaign which was capped by a 2-14 record in 2008.

Andy Lyons, Getty Images

Hired: Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions
Schwartz, who had been Tennessee's defensive coordinator, inherits a Detroit team that finished 0-16 in 2008.

Carlos Osorio, AP

Fired: Rod Marinelli, Detroit Lions
An 0-16 disaster capped Marinelli's run in Detroit. In his three seasons as the Lions head man, Marinelli posted a 10-38 record.

Carlos Osorio, AP

Hired: Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs twice promoted Morris once the 2008 season ended. Initially, he was tabbed as the team's new defensive coordinator, replacing Monte Kiffin. Then, when the team canned Jon Gruden, Morris ascended to head coach.

Chris O'Meara, AP

Fired: Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Both Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen were canned after the team collapsed following a 9-3 start and failed to make the playoffs. It was a stunning turn of events for the coach who brought Tampa Bay a Super Bowl title in 2003.

Reinhold Matay, AP

Hired: Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts
Caldwell will step in for Tony Dungy as the new head coach of the Colts. Dungy hired Caldwell in Tampa Bay in 2001, then brought him to Indianapolis in 2002. Last year, Caldwell was tabbed as Dungy's heir.

Al Behrman, AP

Retired: Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts
Perhaps the most well-respected coach in all of the NFL, Dungy announced his retirement after seven seasons with the Colts. Dungy racked up 139 wins in Tampa Bay and Indianapolis and won a Super Bowl title.

Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images

Hired: Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos
The 32-year-old McDaniels will take over for Mike Shanahan in Denver. McDaniels had been New England's offensive coordinator, and helped groom quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt Cassel.

Bill Sikes, AP

Fired: Mike Shanahan, Denver Broncos
An incredible late-season collapse ended Shanahan's 14-year run with Denver. The Broncos led the AFC West by three games with three weeks left, but lost the division title in a Week 17 blowout loss to San Diego.

David Zalubowski, AP

Needs

1. Quarterback. The team thinks enough of Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle to let Damon Huard walk, but the jury is still out on Thigpen's long-term prospects. For all the people who think that he has a legit chance to be a solid NFL starter, there are just as many who think the Chiefs should give serious consideration to finding the next face of the franchise in the draft. That would mean either Matt Stafford or Mark Sanchez. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco showed that rookie quarterbacks can excel under the right circumstances, but this assumes that the top QBs in the 2009 class are comparable to last year's class; I'm not so sure. Kansas City could also look for an interim solution via free agency, but there's not much to sift through. Instead of throwing money at a one- or two-year stopgap, it might make more sense to just let Thigpen play. Worst case: he struggles. But it won't cost the team a huge chunk of the salary cap.

2. Defensive End. The Chiefs' defense was abysmal against both the run and the pass, and finding a player to wreak havoc in the backfield should top the to-do list. Brian Orakpo is an obvious choice, but if Kansas City decides to upgrade another position along the front seven, linebacker Aaron Curry, arguably the safest pick in the draft, is also an option.

3. Getting the Most from Young Players. The Chiefs' 2007 first-rounder, Dwayne Bowe, quickly made himself into one of the best young wide receivers in the league, but the club will need strong contributions from last year's draft class to have a chance at turning things around next season. The early results were encouraging -- running back Jamaal Charles (3rd round) averaged 5.3 yards per carry and cornerback Brandon Flowers (2nd round) started 13 games. The two first-round picks -- OL Branden Albert and DL Glenn Dorsey -- started 15 and 16 games, respectively, and while they didn't have breakout seasons, they should only improve with experience.