PFW: The Way We Hear It — draft edition

[Tribal Warfare]

Belichick disciples cloud top five; Draft audibles

By Nolan Nawrocki
April 8, 2009

With barely two weeks to go before the draft takes place, most teams have entered final draft meetings to properly set their boards before final character and medical meetings allow the board to bleed, as red strikes are crossed through names, draft cards are flipped upside down or removed altogether.
Virginia OLT Eugene Monroe

Virginia OLT Eugene Monroe
The top of the draft is beginning to shape up, with Matthew Stafford and a pair of blind-side protectors — Baylor’s Jason Smith and Virginia’s Eugene Monroe — all in heavy consideration at the top of the draft and expected to fit into the top five.

However, the presence of new Chiefs GM Scott Pioli and Browns head coach Eric Mangini — two tight-lipped, guarded Bill Belichick disciples — near the top of the draft order has left observers only guessing at what might happen in the top five, creating as much uncertainty at the top of the draft as ever.

There's a leaguewide perception that Aaron Curry is being prized by the Chiefs at No. 3 because he is such a safe choice. However, the way we hear it, the Chiefs will be in the big-man sweepstakes, with the new regime being driven by the need to draft someone who can protect new QB Matt Cassel and thereby enhance his chance of success.

If Stafford is selected first overall as expected, it would force either Smith or Monroe into the Chiefs’ hands. Monroe played for Al Groh, who worked with Pioli and new K.C. head coach Todd Haley previously in New York with the Jets, and shares a playing history with Chiefs OLT Branden Albert. Reuniting the two would be a very natural fit. If Smith happened to fall, the Chiefs could leave Albert on the left side and kick ORT Damion McIntosh inside to guard, significantly improving the pocket.