Defensive coordinators preparing for the Kansas City Chiefs may have to revise their long-standing game plans after last weekend's NFL draft.

Kansas City's acquisition of California tight end Tony Gonzalez -- a player the Chiefs traded up from 18 to 13 to get -- is the reason.

In the past several years teams facing the Chiefs knew their strong safeties need not pay a lot of attention to Kansas City tight ends, who usually could be covered with a linebacker. The strong-side guy could instead sit back in a cover-two zone and double team an outside receiver. Or, given the strength of Kansas City's running game, he could creep into the box and show the eight-man front that has been effective in limiting the Chiefs' rushing attack.

Gonzalez, however, adds an element to KC's moribund passing attack that been missing since Keith Cash was last healthy several seasons ago. An athletic tight end who can outrun most linebackers, this football-basketball standout should now command the attention of opposing strong safeties and -- the Chiefs hope -- open up more one-on-one opportunities for wide receivers.

"We think we got the guy who was most important to us in the 1997 draft,'' said coach Marty Schottenheimer. "His ability to create a presence in the passing game should enhance the opportunity for our wide receivers and quarterback to make plays.''

Needing to punch up an impotent offense that ranked only 22nd last year in total offense, and only 26th in passing yards, the Chiefs used all six picks on offensive players. They added a proven pass-catcher in second-round selection Kevin Lockett of Kansas State, improved their quarterback depth by stealing Cal's Pat Barnes in the fourth round, and added a do-everything running back with fifth-round pick June Henley from nearby Kansas.

But the key pick was Gonzalez. The Chiefs felt so strongly that they needed a pass-catching tight end that they gave up their third-round pick and one of two sixth-round picks to Houston to move up five spots and grab Gonzalez. They also swapped fourth-round picks with the Oilers -- a move that helped them get Barnes.

"Our feeling was we needed a tight end who could get open and catch the ball,'' Schottenheimer said. "When you've got a tight end who can perform in a winning fashion, it creates a number of single-coverage circumstances in other positions.''

Given their inability last year to move up from the 28th spot and acquire Rickey Dudley -- a tight end they coveted but lost to Oakland when the Raiders moved up to ninth -- Kansas City's aggressiveness in trading up to protect their interest in Gonzalez makes this a winning draft.

Gonzalez will contribute immediately. The others do more for depth and future contributions than immediate impact. Lockett isn't a game-breaker and seems like a third-receiver candidate in the immediate future, but local fans have spent four years watching him make the tough catches at nearby Kansas State. Barnes was a fourth-round steal who in time will contend for the backup job currently held by veteran Rich Gannon. Henley is a strong runner who will contend for time in third-down situations.

ROUND-BY-ROUND ANALYSIS

Round 1/13 -- Tony Gonzalez, TE, California

A proven receiver with good hands, long arms and the jumping ability that enabled him to play power forward on Cal's Sweet 16 basketball team. Not an accomplished blocker yet, but the Chiefs already have a premium blocking TE in Derrick Walker. Gonzalez' 4.7 speed presents potential matchup problems for opposing LBs. Averaged 14.5 yards a catch on 90 receptions over the past two seasons, with 53 catches coming last year. A versatile athlete, as a senior in Huntington Beach, Calif., he was named co-winner of Orange County's athlete of the year. He shared the award with Tiger Woods.

Round 2/47 -- Kevin Lockett, WR, Kansas State

A local fan favorite after setting the Big 12 record for career receptions (217) and finishing second in career receiving yards (3,171, behind only Hart Lee Dykes). He's not big (6-0, 171) and not a burner, but Lockett has proven his ability to make the tough catch anywhere on the field. Kansas City scouts rated him No. 1 among all draftable receivers in both hands and ability to play immediately. "When I think of him, one word comes to mind -- acrobatic,'' said Schottenheimer.

Round 4/110 -- Pat Barnes, QB, California

After completing 59.5 percent of his passes for 3,499 yards and 31 touchdowns last season, Barnes was rated as a possible second-round pick by many analysts. But his stock slipped with a mediocre Senior Bowl performance (4 of 10 passing) that had many people concerned. Turns out he was playing with a broken bone in his throwing wrist, the result of a practice session injury during preparations for the East-West Shrine Game. He underwent surgery in February and the Chiefs are convinced he has recovered fully. He was throwing hard for offensive coordinator Paul Hackett just one week before the draft. Coached for a year at Cal by QB whiz Steve Mariucci, he invokes favorable comparisons to Brett Favre at this age. That also includes a touch of the party animal and immaturity, but like every team on draft day, the Chiefs insist this will not be a problem. His immediate task is to beat out third quarterback Steve Matthews, then to fill the backup QB role.

Round 5/163 -- June Henley, RB, Kansas

The career rushing leader at Kansas, Henley rates high for his abilities to run, block and catch out of the backfield. "I see some of Marcus Allen's attributes in him, especially in the way he cuts back and his awareness of everything on the field,'' said Chiefs president Carl Peterson. Not a burner, Henley is nonetheless a tough inside runner who is better at 10-yard bursts than 40-yarders. He comes with a checkered past with convictions on misdemeanor shoplifting and a recent DUI conviction for which he was sentenced to community service. "We are well aware of those problems,'' Peterson said. "We feel we can help him; we wouldn't have drafted him if we didn't feel that way. But now the onus is on him.''

Round 6/195 -- Issac Byrd, WR, Kansas

KC's second pick from KU, Byrd was under contract to the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League when he decided to return to Kansas for his senior year in football. Rated best for his ability to catch the ball in traffic, he's a possible inside receiver. Also has punt return abilities.

Round 7/214 -- Nathan Parks, T, Stanford

The Chiefs are hoping he can fill a big need area at tackle should Trezelle Jenkins, their top pick in 1995, not develop into the starter they need him to be. At 6-5 and 305 pounds, Parks isn't ready to play yet. "He's not exactly nimble-footed,'' Schottenheimer noted. "But the word everyone uses with him is `nasty,' and that sounds to me like a real western Pennsylvania guy.'' That, of course, is Schottenheimer's native territory.