Mock (3/9/13)
 

Assumptions:

1. The Chiefs let Dorsey walk and cut Cassel.

2. They get one compensatory pick, an extra third (Carr).

3. The Chiefs try furiously to trade down, but there are no takers.

On with the show:

1. DE Star Lotulelei, Utah

Andy Reid clearly came to Kansas City to win now. And you win now by making your team better. Essentially trading out Cassel for Smith is doing just that. Keeping Bowe and Albert on hand does just that. Getting a one-year plug at CB so investments can be made at other positions does just that. And I believe the Chiefs have one more big-time investment on the horizon, be it Sean Smith, Cullen Jenkins, or Greg Jennings.

Plugging the first overall away for a right tackle doesn't help your team. Neither does investing it in a QB you don't plan to start and nobody's sure if he'll even be any good.

But replacing the mere run-plug that Glenn Dorsey was with a pocket-collapsing, QB pursuing, double-team commanding talent like Lotulelei could make life very difficult for an OL that has to face him, Poe, and Tyson Jackson.

This all assumes Lotulelei's heart checks out. I see him as a clone of Marcell Darieus, who plays pissed off and is almost unstoppable when he's on.

2. QB Ryan Nassib, Syracuse

The Chiefs package their 3rd and their 4th to move up about ten or so spots when they hear some team has a hard-on for Nassib. I don't think there is much of anything in this draft to get excited about at QB. I like Geno's tools, but his inability to take over and win games spooks me if I'm at 1.1 (I still probably take him in most scenarios, though).

Nassib is one of the few QBs on this platform that has another level he plays at -- it's not an elite level, but it's better value with a 2nd than you're going to get there anywhere in this draft. He is an accurate, noodle-armed game manager at the NFL, and fits like a prototype behind Alex Smith.

3. ILB Jon Bostic, Florida

Now that everybody hates my first two picks, let's do a crowd favorite at a position of legitimate need.

5. WR Marquise Goodwin, Texas

The idea here, obviously, would be to add a ridiculous speed dimension to our offense.

6. OLB Cornelius Washington, Georgia

A huge-bodied passrusher from Georgia could be useful to provide some much-needed depth behind Hali and Houston.

7. ILB Michael Mauti, Penn State

Anything to give this defense a little more depth at the linebacking corps is welcome.

QB: Smith, Nassib, Stanzi
RB: Charles, Droughn, Gray, Eachus
FB: DiMarco

WR: Bowe, Baldwin, McCluster, Goodwin, Wylie
TE: Moeaki, Maneri, Rucker

LT: Albert, Stephenson
LG: Allen, Hochstein
C: Hudson, Patterson
RG: Asamoah, Hochstein
RT: Stephenson, Allen

DE: Lotulelei, Bailey
NT: Poe, Powe, Toribio
DE: Jackson, Muir

OLB: Hali, Jones
ILB: Bostic, Sturdivant
ILB: Johnson, Mauti
OLB: Houston, Washington

CB: Flowers, Robinson, Arenas, Brown, Daniels
S: Berry, Abdullah, Lewis, Menzie

K: Succop
P: Colquitt
LS: Gafford

Direckshun, I think your new man crush on Lotulelei is a little overblown.

This post just reeks of homophobia.

I'm not homophobic, just lotuleleiphobic.

You don't think a DL of Lotulelei, Poe, and Jackson with Hali and/or Houston coming off the edges poses significant difficulty for more offensive lines?

I think our DLine wont mean a damn thing when we still wont be able to field a respectable lineup of QBs.

I just have little faith in Lotulelei being able to consistently beat NFL linemen in his rookie year. He may not even command double teams.

If Lotulelei is physically fine, he is a terrific pick. He has Poe's physical ability + he's a damn good player (what a concept for a first round pick?)

Honestly, I don't see how he and Poe or Powe play together on a three man line. They are all inside guys...much more suited for the 4-3. None of these guys are five techs.

Nassib is very crisp in the short passing game. He doesn't have the arm strength to threaten anybody deep, however. For that reason, I wouldn't take him.

Don't like the Goodwin pick because he is a track guy trying to play football and will play soft IMO whereas Austin is a football guy first with track ability but he will be gone in the 1st and I get your reasoning behind this pick.

I like your Star pick with our first because he is Ngata v.II IMO. And if they don't pick Star first then I hope they either take Floyd or Austin. These 3 players will have immediate impact type play aside from the Joekel/Fisher potential picks.

Do this with out the trade up.

If I don't trade up, I likely miss out on Nassib, Emanuel, or Bray.

That means I have to settle for Dysert or some shit like that.

Not a fan.

Austin as in Tavon Austin? JFC NO!

I would think someone will be there early 3rd but we will have to see.

So, we give up our 2nd, 3rd, 4th and a day 2 pick next year for Alex Smith and his backup?
Someone worthy will be there with the first pick in the 3rd and we pick again in the 3rd then again in the 4th.