It won't be DeCastro. I'm still betting Kuechly. But here's a dark horse...
 

I am willing to bet something severe on my signature, like a one-year ownership of it, that this team will not take David DeCastro at any point in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Several reasons, which we've all visited:

• The run game is mostly fine. We led the league in rushing two years ago with Thomas ****ing Jones taking half the carries, behind Ryan Lilja. Scott Pioli does not view Lilja as a weak spot, nor really should he for another year or two. DeCastro would offer an upgrade, but it would almost certainly involve cutting Lilja, which Pioli is not going to do.
• At the same time, DeCastro would offer an upgrade over Lilja in pass protection, but only a marginal one. Lilja is a technician in pass protection, and you're only going to see the upgrade against the bigger nose tackles when they're lined up over Lilja. Even then, as milkman said in another thread, Cassel still took over 40 sacks in New England behind their stud, first round guard.
• The Chiefs do have three good value guards under contract, and by good value I mean we have two solid starters and solid depth with Darryl Harris, which is what most teams strive for. All three first-rounders during the Pioli era have been selections at a position the team is perilously thin at (2009, DE; 2010, S; 2011, WR).
• Kind of a lesser argument here, but DeCastro was not a captain at Stanford, and has a reputation for being quiet as a Will Sheilds mouse. If Pioli's going to take a guard, he's going to want it to be a dynamic-changing personality -- not somebody who will just upgrade one spot, but somebody who will elevate several spots through force of will.
• Even more than picking an elite talent at guard, Pioli wants to stockpile 2012 and 2013 draft picks. It's infinitely more likely we'll trade out of the #11 to somebody who really wants DeCastro than it is we'll pick DeCastro ourselves.

It is still my opinion that this team wants Luke Kuechly. The Chiefs in 2013 will only have one ILB under contract in DJ. Siler and Belcher will be free agents, though I believe Pioli would love to keep Belcher, and I bet we can.

Although I really believe, following this front office as closely as I've tried to, that Mark Barron and Michael Brockers are both everything this front office loves in a prospect. The safety position is very thin now, and the DE position will be thin next year, assuming Brandon Bair doesn't blow up.

It doesn't take a lot to see that they are really intrigued by Tannehill.

And they no doubt love Riley Reiff, but of course we have no need for him.

Another dark horse, considering these factors: the Chiefs still lack a deep threat to stretch defenses, and Baldwin's shown flashes, but only flashes, at this point is still a bit unreliable.

Kendall Wright played for four years at Baylor, and was an emotional team captain for that offense (whereas RG3 is more of a cool-as-a-cucumber, poker face leader). Wright's timed speed means precisely jack and shit to Pioli, who's spoken at length about Kendrick Lewis playing faster than he timed -- and Wright plays like a 4.4 speed demon.

The Chiefs have Breaston and Baldwin another four years, and I don't think they'll get Bowe signed in July. They may hold off longer to see if Baldwin can take off, and if he does (and he's shown that he can...), they could always let Bowe walk or trade him off, and a WR corps of Baldwin, Breaston, and Wright would provide a perfect balance of weapons.

Of course, I hope we never do let Bowe go. In a passing league, there is plenty of room for four WR's to get lots of catches, and it would make life very easy for the QBotF after Cassel.

No point to this thread, other than some random thoughts. I think Wright is a sleeper if the Chiefs trade down.

FTR

Charles
Hillis
Bowe
Baldwin
Wright
Breaston
McCluster
Moeaki
Boss

Just saying.

I do like Wright, but again, I think there are guys later that can do the same thing he does.


One of the two slot guys from Arkansas come to mind. Ty Hilton, etc.


This is the craziest spot I remember the Chiefs being in, with regards to a first round pick.

Both the Arkansas guys, to my mind, are slot guys.

Hilton is more akin to what Wright does, an outside deep threat. And he offers a similar skill set.

He doesn't offer four years in a BCS conference and Wright's leadership abilities, however.

All true.



I just don't think they will be looking for much more than a pure speed deep threat, if they look at all.

I really like Hilton in the 3 or 4. He brings alot of talent.

Who's going to throw him the ball? Cassel can't throw a deep ball for shit.

Stanzi can!!!

Two playmakers I'm really high on are Doug Martin and Ryan Broyles. Doug Martin is almost like Ray Rice 2.0 and Ryan Broyles is perfect for a slot receiver.

I think we might have some nice leverage at our spot for a trade down. Mevlin Ingram and Luke Kuechly are both getting slotted to the Seahawks a lot.

But if not I would love a
1. Kuechly
2. Martin
3. Chapman
4. Broyles

the old tried and true Matt Millen approach to building a team...no thanks

Cassel can't hit the broad side of an ocean if it ran 4.4....it's like buying erkel an EXTRA hooker...he's still explaining WOW to the first one

agree about DeCastro, obviously, and have said so for awhile...

I think the Chiefs will draft a WR but I seriously doubt it will be in the first two rounds.

Saints drafted Robert Meachum in the first when they didn't need a WR.

Packers drafted Randall Cobb last year in the 2nd when they didn't need a WR.

Is there any chance you'd argue either of those were poor selections?

Build the offense you need to win a championship. Bowe, Baldwin, Breaston, and Wright is a championship caliber WR corps.

If the QB can't play in that offense, get a new QB.

Like Brandon Weeden in the second.

Couldn't resist.

the outside running game is mostly fine


the inside running game has sucked ass and costs us in short yardage all the time. It didn't matter who ran the ball up the middle Jones,McClain,Battle,DMC ... it sucked.

which is what Decastro would be drafted to fix.

I think T.Y is this years Cobb.


Wouldn't be upset if he came in the 3 or even 2.

I'm talking about 1 round picks, obviously

second, is there any chance you're seriously comparing their QB situations to ours?...which again, is obviously the point