CHIEFS AGREE TO TERMS WITH RB JAMAAL CHARLES, TE BRAD COTTAM
EIGHT DRAFT CHOICES HAVE NOW AGREED TO TERMS

Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson announced on Monday that the club has agreed to terms of three-year contracts with RB Jamaal Charles and TE Brad Cottam. As per Chiefs policy, no other terms of the agreements were made available.

The Chiefs have now agreed to terms with eight of their 12 draft picks from the 2008 draft class. Charles and Cottam join third-round selection S DaJuan Morgan (82nd overall), fourth-round pick WR Will Franklin (105th overall), fifth-round selection CB Brandon Carr (140th overall), sixth-round picks T Barry Richardson (170th overall) and WR Kevin Robinson (182nd overall) and seventh-round pick DE Brian Johnston (210th overall).

Charles (5-11, 199) joined the Chiefs as the club’s first of three third-round picks (73rd overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft. He saw action in 38 contests (17 starts) at Texas, rushing 533 times for 3,328 yards (6.2 avg.) with 36 TDs. His rushing total ranked fourth all-time behind Texas greats Ricky Williams (6,279), Cedric Benson (5,540) and Earl Campbell (4,443). He was also a two-year member of the Texas track and field team.

Charles opened all 13 contests for the Longhorns in 2007, recording 258 rushes for 1,619 yards (6.3 avg.) with 18 TDs. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors and was named third-team All-America by The NFL Draft Report. He recorded 45 carries of 10+ yards and seven 100-yard rushing games.

The Port Arthur, Texas native was a Parade All-America selection at Memorial High School. Charles set the Port Arthur City rushing record, breaking the previous mark held by RB Joe Washington.

Cottam (6-7, 269) joined the Chiefs as the club’s second of three third-round picks (76th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft. He saw action in 38 contests (nine starts) at Tennessee, catching 21 passes for 341 yards (16.2 avg.) with one TD. He also had one special teams tackle and was a three-time Academic All-Southeastern Conference selection.

Cottam’s finest college season came as a redshirt junior in 2006 when he played in 13 games (six starts) and caught 14 passes for 182 yards (13.0 avg.). The Germantown, Tennessee native was an All-Metro Memphis private school honoree at Evangelical Christian High School. He was also a standout prep basketball player.