One by one this offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs have acquired the defenders they believe will put them back among the NFL’s elite.

After the drafting of outside linebacker Derrick Johnson, it’s a lot easier to think they’re going to get there.

Kendrell Bell came over from Pittsburgh to be the middle linebacker.

Speed rusher Carlos Hall, formerly with Tennessee, will come in on passing downs at defensive end.

Sammy Knight was acquired from the Dolphins to stop the run and add secondary leadership at strong safety. Last week, there was the trade with the Dolphins for two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Surtain and now the drafting of the exceptionally fast, exceptionally aggressive 6-foot-3, 234-pound Johnson.

There’s a viable argument the Chiefs have had the best offseason in the NFL, but is all of that enough for a team that last year averaged 28.4 points a game on offense and gave up 25.9?

Most of these acquisitions come with some baggage. Bell was injured much of last year and Knight, while still pretty savvy, is far from the best cover safety in the league. But the beauty of the 2005 Chiefs is they don’t need a great deal of improvement on defense.

With Trent Green throwing to Tony Gonzalez, Eddie Kennison, Johnnie Morton, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, and with Holmes and Johnson splitting backfield snaps, they are going to continue lighting up the scoreboard.

Now, if they can just pare five or six points on defense, they can be the surprise team that steps forward past a number of strong AFC clubs.

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As you examine what the 32 teams did over the weekend, you have to look not just at the draft but at the free agency/trade period as well.

It has been largely status quo for last season’s super powers Super Bowl champion New England, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. Among those four teams there were only two significant pickups — receiver Cedrick Wilson to the Steelers and cornerback Duane Starks to the Patriots.

Just behind them are San Diego and Atlanta, clubs which had very successful regular seasons but lacked key elements to go deep into the playoffs.

Neither the Chargers or Falcons landed the receiver they desperately sought in free agency, but both scored in the draft. San Diego selected 6-5, 241-pound wideout Vincent Jackson of Northern Colorado in the second round so that quarterback Drew Brees doesn’t have to keep looking for tight end Antonio Gates on every pass play.

Atlanta, greatly disappointed in expensive free agent Peerless Price, drafted swift Roddy White of Alabama-Birmingham in the first round.

The Super Bowl champions have a single serious issue with which to deal — the uncertain future of linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who had a stroke this offseason. He may not play again. Coach Bill Belichick reacted by drafting an offensive lineman, defensive lineman and tackle on the first day of the draft. Smart moves.