ChiefsPlanet - Mock Draft (9/17/12)

Against all hope, I expect the Chiefs will sign Albert during the season and tag Bowe again.

Like I did with Brandon Carr, I will continue to assume we will let Dorsey walk. To replace him, the Chiefs try out Poe at DE, and start Powe at the nose.

I also anticipate us letting Peyton Hillis walk. We'll replace him by taking another one-year flyer on a backup everybody thinks is broken down in Rashard Mendenhall.

Quinn is also allowed to walk.

Belcher and Siler will both walk. To replace him, we sign a bigger, more versatile, more talented ILB in Daryl Smith of the Jaguars. For depth, Larry Foote or some similar out-and-out vet is scooped up for a one-year deal as he finds he has nowhere he can go.

Toribio, resigned for a couple years. Lucas Patterson is kept as a reserve. Travis Daniels kept on as a safety.

The Chiefs finish 6-10, and miss the playoffs. They will be picking at #9.

They get a 3rd round compensatory pick for Brandon Carr, and a 6th round compensatory pick for Kyle Orton.

1. QB Matt Barkley, USC

Whether Pioli is kept on or not (and I believe it would be both wise and likely he is kept on), it's pretty clear the Chiefs need to trade the house for a new franchise QB. So the Chiefs trade their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, as well as a 1st and 3rd in 2014 and 2nd in 2015 to move up from #9 to #2 overall. They get back an additional late rounder in 2014.

It'd be one thing if Matt Cassel simply wasn't getting the job done. But if the coaching staff doesn't trust him enough to make aggressive playcalls in your 4th year starting, then drastic moves are necessary. Clark Hunt made the unassailable, league-wide praised splash of getting the best GM prospect on the market in 2009 in Scott Pioli. Hunt doesn't mind going bold on the biggest calls, and I believe he'll do the same thing here if Barkley, an imperfect QB prospect, is passed over for the #1 overall pick.

3. OLB Dion Jordan, Oregon

Pretty athletic passrushing jack-of-all trades who can play goal line TE? Sounds like a Pioli selection.

4. CB Desmond Trufant, Washington

Trufan excels in Washington's man-to-man schemes, but the Chiefs just need to keep adding prospects at CB and hope they hit on one soon.

5. QB Mike Glennon, North Carolina State

Ricky Stanzi, say hello to your primary competition in 2013 for the #3 QB slot.

6. ILB Bruce Taylor, West Virginia

Aggressive passrushing LB who loves to plug gaps with decent enough size.

6. OG/C Chris Jacobson, Pittsburgh

Versatile backup option.

7. RB Marcus Coker, Stony Brook

Iowa connection here, even though he was kicked off. The Chiefs like Mendenhall, but they need big back insurance.