“I don’t know if Tyler will get drafted, but I’d expect him to be in someone’s camp making some noise the same way Mike DeVito [now playing for the New York Jets after signing a free-agent deal] did last year,” Gesner said.  “Brandon and Jhamal both had good workouts, but I can’t speculate who might have broken out today.”

Eastman, who weighed in at 310, also dropped some weight to improve his quickness and agility and it apparently helped.

“My big thing was speed, so I dropped weight.  When I played in the Texas [-Nation college All-Star] game, I was 323,” Eastman said.  “I was happy with my running and I got personal bests in the jumps with a 29-inch vertical after 24 inches before and a broad jump of 8-3.”

After taking a chance on someone like Colin Brown in last year’s draft, I don’t know that Pioli will want to bring in another project, but if he does Eastman fits the bill.

He is a big guy at 6-5/310 and the vertical his put up at his pro day would have put him just outside the Top 10 of all offensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine.

What makes Eastman all the more intriguing is that he only started for Maine his last two seasons.  Most of these small school prospects (like Belcher) are starters their entire career and might be seen as having a lower ceiling.  With Eastman any team that drafts him will get an offensive lineman still learning how to play the position properly.

The Kansas City Chiefs have added depth along their offensive line by agreeing to terms with a familiar name: Casey Wiegmann.

That blue-collar attitude is back to compete for a spot along the Chiefs offensive front in 2010.  Wiegmann rejoined the Chiefs Friday evening after a two-year stint in Denver.  Ironically, his competition this spring and summer is currently the man that he once groomed to replace him – Rudy Niswanger.

Known for his tireless work ethic, relentless attitude and iron man consecutive snaps streak, Wiegmann started 111 consecutive regular season games at center for the Chiefs from 2001-2007.  His consistency and durability was only matched by his high level of play as the signal caller of the Kansas City offensive front.  It comes as no surprise that Wiegmann started all 32 games during his two-year stay in Denver, never missing a snap.

In fact, dating back to 2001, Wiegmann has taken a remarkable 9,078 consecutive snaps at center for the Chiefs and Broncos, by far the longest current streak by an offensive lineman in the NFL.  He’s also started 143 consecutive games, which is the longest streak of any active lineman.

Todd Haley loves to talk about competition, but I think we just found our story to watch in camp: student vs. teacher.

Wiegmann has done nothing but play since 2001, meanwhile Niswanger was the only person along the Chiefs offensive line last season that was able to contribute all season long.  With Brian Waters refusing to speak with the media, Niswanger also served as the vocal leader of the line in the locker room.

The early money has to be on Wiegmann, but don’t rule out Niswanger after he was able to show Todd Haley just how tough he can be on a day-in day-out basis.

The deal is worth $3.5 million and could reach as much as $12 million total with incentives.

Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowl pick who has run for 6,219 yards and 55 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals, is expected to work with incumbent Redskins running back Clinton Portis.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan called the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Johnson a “physical runner” and a “great addition to our backfield.”

During his visit to Washington this week, Johnson said he envisioned himself and Portis being for the Redskins what he and Priest Holmes once were for the Chiefs.

Let the games begin.

Just as he did with the Chiefs last offseason, LJ will say all of the right things about playing alongside Clinton Portis.  But we all know that it’s just a matter of time before he spouts off about how he is the best running back on the team or how his father is/was a better coach than Mike Shanahan.

I still am baffled that the Redskins would rather potentially pay Johnson $12 million than Thomas Jones $5 million.

Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson is still looking for a team to play for and the Redskins need a backup for Clinton Portis.  So it makes sense that Johnson is looking forward to his trip to Washington later Friday.

“Larry is extremely excited and anticipates having a great visit with the Redskins,” Johnson’s agent, Peter Schaffer, said in a phone interview.  “He grew up a Redskins fan.  He was born in the D.C. area and he’s a lifelong fan.  To some extent, this could be a dream come true for him.

“He looks forward to meeting with the coaching staff and front office to explore his opportunities, how they would use him and if it’s going to be a good fit.  Obviously, I will have to hunker down with [General Manager] Bruce Allen and Eric Schaffer [the team's vice president of football administration] to see if we can work out a contract that is fair to both sides.”

Johnson, 30, could be an intriguing option because of his past success as a power runner.  If Johnson and the Redskins do not reach an agreement, Johnson is expected to visit the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

The presence of another big-name back on the roster might prove to be a source of motivation for Portis.  He is coming off a concussion that sidelined him for the final eight games last season.

Portis, 28, reported to training camp out of shape, attempted to have fullback Mike Sellers demoted during a game – prompting a locker-room altercation – and also was critical of quarterback Jason Campbell in a radio interview after the season.  Portis is guaranteed $6.4 million of his $7.19 million base salary for the 2010 season.

Given his client’s track record, I would imagine any team willing to roll the dice on Johnson would be a “good fit” in Schaffer’s mind.

I still don’t understand why there is interest from Washington’s side.  As I said yesterday, do you really want to be forced to rely on LJ if Portis is unable to return from the concussion that ended his season last year?

Clearly they are determined to add a veteran runner, but they would be much better off with a guy like Justin Fargas as long as he is healthy (Oakland claims he failed a physical, Fargas says otherwise).  Or if they really wanted to push Portis, Thomas Jones would have been a perfect fit (sorry, DC) coming off a 1,400 yard season.

If the Redskins end up signing Johnson, how long long before he gets into it with Portis?  I’m setting the over/under at Week 3.

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed WR Jerheme Urban, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Terms of the deal were not immediately known.

Urban played for Chiefs coach Todd Haley when he was an assistant for the Arizona Cardinals.

This is an interesting move by Kansas City.

Haley first crossed paths with Urban in Dallas when the Cowboys signed him to their practice squad in 2006.  He was cut before the 2007 season, but the next year became a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

Playing under Haley in 2008 he had the best season of his career.  He played in all 16 games and caught 34 passes for 448 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent, Urban was a two-sport star at Trinity University in Texas.

He holds the Trinity record for touchdowns and kick return yardage and was also named SCAC Track & Field Athlete of the Year each of his four years.

There’s no way to tell how much tread he has left on his tires, but at 6-3 he can be a factor even if he has lost a few steps in the vertical game.  Urban’s numbers won’t blow anyone away though playing behind Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin will keep anyone’s stats down.

Unlike another former Cardinals receiver — Lance Long — Urban produced during his time under Haley and has legitimate NFL size.

Smith, who started nine games last season and 16 in his two seasons with the Chiefs, visited Buffalo and Arizona before choosing the Texans.  He’ll compete for a starting job at center and guard.

“We think he has a legitimate chance to start inside,” coach Gary Kubiak said.  “We didn’t guarantee him anything about a starting job, but if he plays well enough to be one of our three-best interior linemen, then he’ll start.”

Smith, 6-4, 296, turns 29 next month.  He played at Memphis.  He spent four seasons with Miami and two with the New York Jets before signing with the Chiefs.

The emails I received overnight were a good 70/30 questioning why the Chiefs didn’t make a stronger play (or any play at all for that matter) to keep Smith in Kansas City.  While I agree Smith did everything asked of him last year, it’s hard to give a backup lineman that kind of money.

With that being said, there’s no way he is going to Houston to sit on the bench.  The Texans will be giving Smith more time and money than the Chiefs were willing to offer.

There are reports out there saying Kansas City was interested in bringing Smith back, but they had more than ample opportunity to do so and never stepped up to the plate.  If they truly wanted to keep him with the Chiefs they could have made an effort to sign Smith before he became an unrestricted free agent.  Even if Scott Pioli initially underestimated the market for a backup guard, his almost-signing in Buffalo would have served as a wake up call.

ESPN.com has taken a new approach for their latest mock draft, they have set up Todd McShay and Mel Kiper’s selections next to each other.  While the two draft gurus disagree on many picks throughout the first round, they agree on who the Kansas City Chiefs will target at No. 5: Tennessee safety Eric Berry.

Kiper

The Chiefs will race to the podium when Berry is still there at this position.  He’s a clear need fit and is exceptional value here, and Berry showed in Indy that his physical capabilities match his outstanding film.  The Ed Reed comparisons are legit.

McShay

The Chiefs have bigger needs, including offensive tackle, but Berry is clearly the best available player in this scenario.  Berry’s range and ball skills would significantly upgrade a safety group that comes up short in both areas.

You can add me to the list of agreeing with this selection.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, behind Ndamukong Suh I believe Berry has the most potential of any player in this draft.  His impressive numbers at the scouting combine only reinforce what his stellar play at Tennessee established.

Where I disagree with McShay is that somehow offensive tackle is a bigger need than safety.  Once the line had a real running back on the field and settled into the offense they were average at worst.  Meanwhile, every single game there were at least one or two major mistakes coming from the safety position.  Along with linebacker, safety is the Chiefs biggest need and Berry would go a long way to making sure it’s not a problem again for another decade.

Two days after former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker visited with Washington, the Redskins are scheduled to host a visit Thursday with Johnson.

The Redskins have made it known around the league that they would like to sign a veteran back.

Johnson, whose production has declined in recent years, appeared in seven games last season for both the Chiefs and Bengals, carrying the ball 178 times for 581 yards.

NFL.com’s Jason La Confora is reporting Johnson will also visit Oakland this week.

Just like the Bengals did last year, someone is going to give LJ a chance to carry the ball.  I almost wonder if he would be better off with a team that has an young, established back instead of a veteran like Portis.

Not that a coach should feel all that comfortable having Johnson around to influence his younger players, but at this point in his career he can’t be counted on to carry the load for a team.  Portis has missed half of a season twice in the last four year and there’s no way to know how he will respond to the concussion that put him on the shelf last year.

The Raiders signing Johnson makes sense on many different levels.  First is obviously that they rarely — if ever — show they care about a player’s character.  Secondly, they have two young runners in Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.

LJ was born to be a Raider.

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed NT Shaun Smith, according to…  Well, Shaun Smith.

It’s a officiical am a Kansas city chief

Smith was not tendered a contract by the Bengals last week.  He’s played with 3 teams in six seasons, including two stints with Cincinnati.

After Ron Edwards, the Chiefs have nothing at NT so Smith will have a chance to come in and (obviously depending on what happens during the draft) contribute immediately.

He only played in three games for the Bengals last season, but during their season finale against the Jets he had 7 tackles.

Smith’s best season as a pro was in 2007 playing for Romeo Crennel in Cleveland.  That season he recorded 62 tackles and 2 sacks while playing in 15 games.

For those wondering, Josh Looney @ KCChiefs.com has confirmed the news.

Last summer, shortly before training camp, Simmons suffered an LF-s1 herniated disc in his back.  The back itself wasn’t as much a problem as the nerve being pinched running down his right leg.  If Simmons was hit the wrong way, he was told, he could be paralyzed.

Released by the Packers in early August, Simmons quickly underwent surgery in New York, hoping to be healthy by late in the season.

But an early December workout with the Detroit Lions ended when he broke a bone in his foot with “three routes left.”

“For about 15 years of my life playing football there wasn’t more than a sprain or a dislocated finger, nothing that would keep me out from playing,” Simmons said.

At 250 pounds, the 6-foot-2 wideout ran the 40-yard dash… in 4.66 seconds, a little more than a second off his time a year ago, when he weighed 231.

He caught every pass thrown his way by Hiller but one, showing the same vise-grip hands that made his bruising frame and deceptive speed all the more effective in college.

“I felt I had a pretty good showing, 20 pounds overweight,” said Simmons, who plans to lose 10-15 more pounds in the next month.  “I’m thinking about playing a lot of H-back or tight end.  It’s all what teams want, what teams need.  I just want to show myself and get my name back on the radar so I can have another chance.”

If he can get himself in shape between now and the summer, Simmons could be an intriguing player at training camp.  Besides the obvious “injury prone” tag, there will always be the people unwilling to see him as anything but a system wide receiver.  While he is a completely different player, there were the same things being said about Greg Jennings after his time at Western Michigan.

Simmons has played running back, wide receiver and if he can play at 6-2/235 he could be helpful as a hybrid H-back-tight end.