Gutierrez has played in six games with New England (2007-08) and Kansas City (2009).  He appeared in one contest for the Chiefs in 2009.

Smith played in 27 games (nine starts) in three seasons with Kansas City (2007-09), rushing 162 times for 540 yards with three TDs and catching 34 passes for 209 yards. He saw action in four contests for the Chiefs in 2009.

Smith and Gutierrez are the only names that jump out here at first glance, but the practices over the last couple of weeks foreshadowed both of those decisions.

When Brodie Croyle went down with an injury, it was Tyler Palko — and not Gutierrez — that stepped in to take reps with the second team offense. Likewise, with Jamaal Charles recovering from offseason surgery, it was Kestahn Moore turning heads during OTAs.

Landry, Banks and Jones were all undrafted free agents and outside of a blip from Banks, mostly stayed off of the radar during their short stays in Kansas City.

I thought the Chiefs might take a flier on Porter.  He would have been a project this year, but with the improved depth, it looked like Todd Haley might want to try and develop him along with 2009 draft pick Colin Brown to see if they could find a diamond in the rough.

I’m starting to think this will be a mostly project-free season.

Kansas City was awarded a waiver claim placed on TE Leroy Banks (Atlanta) and signed of two rookie free agents – DB Andre Jones (Arkon) and DL Jeffrey Fitzgerald (Kansas State).  Banks was also an undrafted free agent (Southern Miss), originally signing with the Falcons shortly after the draft concluded in April.

Banks (6-3, 243) played in 23 games in two seasons at Southern Mississippi, catching 34 passes for 462 yards (13.6 avg.) with four TDs.  He began his collegiate career at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where he recorded 62 receptions for 1,098 yards (17.7 avg.) with six TDs.

Fitzgerald (6-4, 280) played in 12 games at Kansas State in 2009, recording 40 tackles (24 solo), 10.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks (-67.0 yards), one INT, seven passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.  He played in 25 games in two seasons at Virginia, tallying 137 tackles (72 solo), 24.0 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks (-64.0 yards), four INTs, seven PDs, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.

Jones (5-11, 180) played in 47 games (41 starts) at Akron, working at both defensive back and wide receiver.  The Washington, D.C. native compiled 183 tackles (119 solo), 4.5 stops for loss, a sack (-7.0 yards), four INTs, 10 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.  He also posted 80 receptions for 1,231 yards with 11 TDs, in addition to 36 punt returns for 348 yards and 29 kickoff returns for 586 yards with a TD.

We reported that Fitzgerald would sign with the Chiefs at the end of April, so that’s no surprise.  I actually like him as much as any of the UDFAs that the team has brought in and would look for him to have a great shot to make the final roster.

Banks and Jones are both interesting additions.

Kansas City looks thin at tight end right now once you get past third round pick Tony Moeaki, especially with Brad Cottam’s status up in the air after his neck injury.  That means Banks should get ample opportunity to show he deserves a spot on the team.

Todd Haley talks a lot about versatility and you won’t find many more kids more versatile than Jones.  I realize Akron isn’t the SEC, but to make that sort of successful transition from safety to wide receiver that he did is very impressive.  And to think he has a chance in the NFL going to play on defense again speaks volumes about his raw athleticism.