Kansas City, Mo. ? As Kansas City’s most important draft in nearly 20 years drew to a close, smiles abounded.

The owner, the general manager and the head coach all agreed it had been a successful two days for a team desperately in need of help at almost every position group – a team whose fan base has become increasingly sullen and disinterested.

“I think it’s been a very, very fruitful weekend,” said president and general manager Carl Peterson. “To have a successful draft, I think you have to have some luck also, and I think we did that.”

Luck came into play immediately. All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey of LSU fell to the Chiefs with the fifth pick in the first round, something they had not expected. Then came the trade with Detroit that moved them up two spots to the 15th selection in the second round, netting offensive tackle Branden Albert of Virginia.

After completing the first day with a second-round selection of Virginia Tech cornerback Brandon Flowers, the Chiefs had three projected rookie starters who take direct aim at three of the biggest needs on a team that already has jettisoned many of the aging players who led it to a 4-12 disaster last season.

“We were able to take advantage of a lot of needs without having to stretch, to reach,” coach Herm Edwards said.

With Sunday’s three picks in the third round, the Chiefs went for a safety, a blocking tight end and a fast, shifty running back from Texas.

Brad Cottam, a tight end from Tennessee, was taken with the overall 76th selection and will be used to complement Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez, who is poised next season to become the most productive receiving tight end in NFL history.

A few minutes earlier, Kansas City made Texas running back Jamaal Charles the 73rd player selected, projecting him as a backup to Larry Johnson and a possible kick returner. With the third choice in Sunday’s opening round, the Chiefs went for safety DeJuan Morgan of North Carolina State.

The Chiefs drafted six of the players they had brought in among 30 for further evaluation.