Chris Oladokun is “in a really good position” ahead of his third season with the Chiefs

Chris Oladokun is ready to take the next step.

There aren’t really many concrete ways for a backup quarterback on the Kansas City Chiefs to advance given the dominance and shadow of Patrick Mahomes, but a hard-working player like Oladokun still has a lot to learn, and for the next season with the team – this third – he’s ready to pose a challenge in any way possible – even if that sounds unlikely.

Oladokun is saying and doing all the right things for the Chiefs this offseason as he begins his third training camp with the team. Once again, it’s off to St. Joseph, and Oladokun has exceeded expectations and stayed with the team for so long after facing competition from at least one other developmental player each year. And while he hasn’t progressed beyond a role as a scout team quarterback and practice squad player, he’s still as motivated as ever. That’s why it’s easy to see what the Chiefs’ coaches love about his intangibles.

“Every repetition is important – whether it’s good, bad or mediocre. It’s good to see things live and then go into the classroom and make the corrections. That’s really important for me, especially when Pat and Carson come back because then those repetitions get really short. So every repetition is crucial for me.”

When asked if he was targeting the QB2 job currently occupied by free agent Carson Wentz, Oladokun was quick to answer during a recent media briefing at the start of training camp.

“I mean, if my answer is no, I shouldn’t be here. I’m always going to come here and compete, no matter who’s in the room. Every day I try to beat Pat, Carson and Ian – that’s my job. I’m here to make a living. I’m going into my third year and I’ve been on the practice squad for the last three years. My work and approach is very intense and I make sure I do my best.”

That’s not to say that Oladokun has anything against Wentz. In fact, Oladokun had several positive things to say about the team’s newest quarterback addition.

“Carson was great. A professional among professionals. He did everything right: He came in, learned from Pat and even from me since I’ve been here so long, and let him know how we do things on a day-to-day basis. We’re happy to have Carson with us.”

What will set Oladokun apart this time around may be his experience. By this point, there should be no surprises and the game should have slowed down considerably. Given his familiarity with the system and his own improvements to his game — which included working with Mahomes’ own coach, Jeff Christensen — Oladokun rightly sounds like a man ready for another competitive summer.

“I’ve been working a lot with Pat and Jeff Christiansen this offseason. I’ve been working a lot on the mechanics of my feet and even the way I grip the ball and have made a lot of changes that way. I feel a lot more comfortable in the pocket this year than I did last year. I feel like with my arm strength and obviously my mobility, I can make any throw on the field. So I feel really well positioned going into this camp.”