Dean: No question, Surtain is the Chiefs' best play
 

http://chiefszone.cjonline.com/stori..._surtain.shtml


Dean: No question, Surtain is the Chiefs' best play

By Rick Dean
The Capital-Journal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Up until a week ago, when they had only two picks in the three-round first day of the NFL draft, the Chiefs' reluctance to trade a draft pick for a proven NFL cornerback was merely distressing.

But today, now that they have picks in each of the draft's first three rounds, Kansas City's failure to make a trade for Miami cornerback Patrick Surtain would be distressingly unacceptable.

The Chiefs this past week picked up their missing third-round draft pick -- the one they traded to Philadelphia last year in a draft-day deal for starting lineman John Welbourne -- when the NFL awarded a compensatory pick for last year's loss of tackle John Tait. When Tait received $14 million in guaranteed money from Chicago, the Chiefs declined to match the ransom figure and subsequently received the extra pick for losing their designated transition player.

The Welbourne draft-day trade was a good one after Tait's departure left a major void at right tackle. Using a draft pick in a relatively high round to acquire a player who could fill that hole immediately was a better talent acquisition than Kansas City usually makes in the third round.





Rick DeanIt's hard to imagine now why Kansas City wouldn't do the same to fill an even more glaring need at cornerback in these days leading up to the April 23 draft.
The Dolphins are anxious to trade Surtain despite his standout history (Pro Bowls in 2002 and '03 and an alternate spot last year) and bright future (he'll be 29 in June). They aren't anxious to lose a player whose 25 interceptions during the past four seasons are the most by any NFL corner. But with Surtain's '05 contract accounting for $8.38 million against their cap, and with young Will Poole ready to join Sam Madison at the corners, Miami is shopping a quality player.

The Chiefs were cautious browsers early before deciding that Miami's asking price, a second-round draft pick, was too high for a team that at the time didn't have a third-round pick.

That was an acceptable decision when other quality free agents corners were in play. But then the Chiefs let Samari Rolle leave Kansas City unsigned and were late in inviting Fred Smoot for a visit. Now their best hope for adding a quality corner to the league's worst pass defense comes down to Surtain or Ty Law.

Law would be a great free agent pickup if someone could promise Carl Peterson that the 31-year-old Patriots standout will recover completely from his broken foot and again be the cover guy who deserved four Pro Bowl trips. Only a used car salesman would make that promise.

If the Chiefs wait until Law proves he's healthy, they will enter a high-stakes bidding war they can't afford.

Surtain is the better play -- right here, right now. He may well cost $12 million or more in guaranteed money on a new contract, but it's a price the Chiefs have to pay to play in coach Dick Vermeil's last season.



I like posting propaganda that coincides with my personal beliefs. What can I say? ;)

This seems like a no brainer. I agree, Surtain is the best option.

When you consider that even if we get Surtain, we still need another CB in the first round and a replacement at OLB, it was never the best option.

Why would KC need another CB in the first round if they have Surtain?

because Warfield will likely be suspended the first 4 games due to his alcohol *cough* issues.

McCleon looks to be past his starting days and bartee sucks.


we need a new start AND a new nickleback who's good enough to start during the first 4 games.

I'm not sure Chiefs can shore up all of the defense problems to include the Warfield suspension.

We need Surtain. I challenge anybody to prove otherwise. Problem is, if we get him, it won't be until draft day (or maybe a few days before), which means we are all going to twist in the wind for another month or so.

And while we are talking about trading draft picks, let's go ahead and send the Texans a fifth rounder for Jamie Sharper.

So--Surtain and a first round CB?

Nah.

Oh who am I kidding, Carl is making the selection anyway...

so do you or don't you think we need to add 2 cornerbacks?



or just avoiding the issue...

I personally don't want a CB in the first round. Unless a top tier CB unexpectadly falls to us. I think (1) with the addition of Surtain, using a #1 and #2 draft pick would be too steap for CB's. (2) I believe that our first round pick could be better spent on another position like LB or WR. And (3) I feel that we have two semi-promising CB's on the roster in Benny Sapp and Julian Battle.

***This opinion hinges hugely on the assumption that we trade for Patrick Surtain.***

I'm glad to see some support on going after Surtain from the media. Good read.

There are 7 CB's in he draft that could potentially be solid starters by mid season if not sooner and better.And with Barber out till mid season we desperately need a LB who can start as well. That 3rd is basically a top of the 4th pick and that sure aint gonna help us .

When your pass defense is last in the league, I dont think that there is any price too steep to get it fixed. Teams were flat out throwing the running game out the window against the Chiefs.


Look at the cornerbacks on this roster.

Warfield is an average corner at best, who will be missing 1-4 games.

Mcleon was never more than an average corner, and with his age getting up there, he will be little help.

William Bartee, simply the mention of his name should be enough to tell that horror story right there.

Julian Battle, another failing attempt at converting a safety to corner.

Benny Sapp, the one true cornerback on the team, and he's only trustworthy in the dime package.


I would say that using the 1 and 2 picks on corners is not too steep. Get some real talent in there at corner, guys who are true corners and know how to play, and get that pass defense respectable. Im sure that Carl and company would be surprised at what happens when you put ACTUAL CORNERBACKS on the field to play corner, instead of a bunch of safeties with their heads up their asses.


They can worry about the OLB position when teams think they have to start running the ball again. The only linebacker I could see the Chiefs going first round on would be Derrick Johnson, and Im betting he goes top 5.

Wide receiver I would rank pretty low on the list for first round selections. The offense is the least of the Chiefs worries right now. If they dont want to continue putting up awesome offensive performances and watching all that work go down the drain the very minute the defense takes the field, then they had damn well better use those picks on some guys to fix that secondary, because right now the only sure thing in the secondary right now is Sammy Knight at SS.

The Chiefs can get by with Bell, Barber and Fujita once Barber returns. The D-line is servicable, and if Gunther would kick Eric Hicks and Ryan Sims in their asses, it could get better.


The Chiefs need corners right now in the worst way. I think the Surtain deal is a no-brainer. Adding a pro bowler to the roster, and reuniting him with his former Dolphin teammate Sammy Knight, I dont see how you could go wrong there. The Dolphins have had one of the best secondaries the past few seasons. The Chiefs would have half of that group if they added him. Those two guys already know how the other operates, so there would be immediate chemistry already in the secondary. I dont see how they can justify not trading the second rounder and getting Surtain in there.

You don't go into the draft looking for a specific player/position, anyway. It's an organic process, and you rate players/position by talent and need. Personally, with or without Surtain, I don't think we can say any one defensive position is any greater need than another, with the exception of DT and S (simply because of numbers and what we've spent in the recent past). A LB, a CB, a DE...any one would be a valid choice, depending on how the chips fall.

That is where we disagree. I believe the front seven needs to be addressed in the draft before the CB position does. Either at DE or LB. You say a CB in the first round. Just a difference of opinion.

I believe with the addition of Surtain, our CB position would be more than serviceable. I agree, there is no reason why Patrick Surtain shouldn't be in a KC uniform.