Chiefs fans need to learn these names: Glenn Dorsey and Brandon Carr, Brandon Flowers and Brian Johnston, Branden Albert and Brad Cottam.

For Kansas City, it’s suddenly all about youth.

When the Chiefs gather for training camp next month, they’ll have 35 rookies compared to just 12 players with six years or more experience.

“It’s drastic,” coach Herm Edwards said. “We were in the position that we had to go this way. That’s the way the cards were dealt.”

Dorsey, Carr, Johnston and the rookie crew highlighted Thursday’s offseason practice — the last until training camp — held at Missouri Western’s Spratt Stadium.

After a 4-12 disappointment last year, the Chiefs are pinning their hopes on youth. They had 12 draft picks, and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham already calls it the best draft class he’s ever been associated with.

“We got every guy we wanted,” Cunningham said. “Really, every one of them. That’s the only time I’ve experienced that in my 28 years.”

Here’s the quick roundup of rookies from Cunningham:

Dorsey. “He’s special. He’s rare. That was obvious from the first day. I still can’t believe we got him and (offensive tackle Branden Albert) in the first round. Everything just worked out perfectly for us.”

Cornerback Flowers and cornerback Carr, who hails from Division II Grand Valley State. “(Carr’s) speedy and he’s physical. Both of them are going to get a lot of playing time this year. I think they’ll both be starting at some point.”

DeJuan Morgan. “We weren’t going to draft a safety, but we’d seen him last year when we were working out Tank Tyler (before the 2007 draft). He was so good, we couldn’t pass him up.”

And then there’s a less-heralded rookie that Cunningham glowed over. Brian Johnston, 6-4, 269, is a defensive lineman out of tiny Gardner-Webb. “He’s going to contribute. He reminds me a lot — a lot — of the guy who just left here (All-Pro Jared Allen). Look at him, and you’ll see the same kind of build, looks just like. Works hard like him, too. I’m excited about him.”

Edwards threw in a few evaluations, too.

He said tight end Brad Cottam is going to be a boost on offense, and Mizzou standout Will Franklin already is cutting out a role for himself as a slot receiver. “He’s comfortable going inside,” Edwards said.

It all just adds some excitement for a team looking to rebound from 4-12.

“This group reminds me of the old guys we used to have (back in the mid-1990s),” Cunningham said. “It wasn’t about girls or attention for them; it was all about football. I see that in this group. They just love to play football.”

And Edwards said he’s ready to play the rookies — and play them a lot.

“The first thing it adds is energy,” he said. “I saw it the first day.

“Now, I always say they’ve got four games to be a rookie. After about a month, no more excuses. There’s a learning curve. They’re going to make mistakes, but that’s how you learn. They’ll be ready.”

Sports Editor Scott Pummell can be reached at scottp@npgco.com