While growing up and attending college in Louisiana, rookie wide receiver Quinten Lawrence didn’t get much of a chance to watch or learn a lot about the Chiefs.

One recent player he does know about is Dante Hall. That’s no coincidence because Lawrence, a sixth-round draft pick, is trying to be the first Chiefs player to adequately replace Hall as the kick-return specialist since Hall was traded two seasons ago.

Lawrence is part of the Chiefs’ plan to upgrade their feeble special teams. They also drafted a kicker, Ryan Succop, in the seventh round and a cornerback, Donald Washington, in part for his special-teams skills, in the fourth.

Including the re-signing of their best special-teams player, Jon McGraw, and the addition of veterans like Monty Beisel, the Chiefs appear serious about becoming competitive in the kicking game.

“We want competition,” coach Todd Haley said, “in as many positions as we can.”

The Chiefs have a lot to fix in the kicking game. Their coverage teams have been nothing special. Opponents had the best average starting field position after a kickoff last year (31.9-yard line) than against any other NFL team.

But it’s been in the return game where the Chiefs have truly been futile. Only five teams had a worse average than the Chiefs (21.5 yards) returning kickoffs. Just three were worse returning punts (6.5 yards).

In the past two years, the Chiefs tried various return candidates, including Eddie Drummond, B.J. Sams, Dantrelle Savage and Kevin Robinson, but none came close to giving the Chiefs what Hall once did.

“I’ve told everyone here that if you can be a better-than-average punt and kick returner, you’ve got a very good chance to make this team because I don’t know if we have one right now,” Haley said. “That’s a great opportunity for somebody. That’s definitely an area we went into the draft and the offseason knowing we needed to find somebody.”

It’s why they drafted the speedy Lawrence. The Chiefs hope he can eventually become a productive wide receiver, but he may be first in a short line of return candidates come the start of training camp.

Lawrence’s senior season at McNeese State was shortened because of a broken right ankle. But he showed ability as a returner. He brought back his only punt return 70 yards for a touchdown.

“They’ve got me returning punts and kickoffs right now,” Lawrence said. “At the same time, I have to win those spots. Special teams is a very important part of the game. They’re stressing it hard. I know it’s something they really want to improve on.”

The Chiefs looked at Lawrence as their punt and kickoff returner during last weekend’s rookie minicamp.

“I’m not speculating whether he can or can’t right now,” Haley said. “He’s got a long way to go.”

Connor Barth stabilized an unsteady kicking situation last year, making 10 of 12 field-goal attempts. The Chiefs want better kickoffs and more range on field goals, so they drafted Succop with the final pick in the draft to see whether he could provide them.

He might have been selected higher in the draft, but he was injured part of last season at South Carolina because of a sports hernia and had statistically his worst collegiate season. Succop didn’t miss any games but made only two-thirds of his field-goal attempts.

“It was definitely a frustrating year after the injury,” Succop said. “The hardest part about it was it was too painful to practice during the week, so I just had to take a shot and play on Saturday.
“It was a tough experience, but I think it made me a little better.”

The Chiefs drafted Washington in the fourth round despite being well-stocked at cornerback. They drafted Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr last year, and both wound up starting as rookies. The Chiefs also found nickel back Maurice Leggett last year as an undrafted free agent.

So Washington knows how he will have to earn playing time as a rookie.

“I did some special teams at Ohio State,” he said. “It’s probably the same for every rookie. To contribute early, you’re probably going to have to do it on special teams. I kind of knew that coming in, but they’ve talked about that a lot since I’ve been here.”