Chiefs, Jaguars, Panthers, Raiders, Eagles vying for first overall pick

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Chiefs, Jaguars, Panthers, Raiders, Eagles vying for first overall pick
Posted by Michael David Smith on December 3, 2012, 10:52 AM EST
2012 NFL Draft - First Round Getty Images

The Panthers are playing a lot of big games down the stretch. At least if you’re an NFL draft junkie.

While we spend most of our time in December dissecting the teams in the playoff hunt, we’ll also spend some of our time looking at the teams racing to the bottom of the standings, teams vying for the first overall pick in the 2013 draft. And that pick is almost certain to come down to the 2-10 Chiefs, the 2-10 Jaguars, the 3-9 Panthers, the 3-9 Raiders or the 3-9 Eagles.

The Panthers, in particular, have been a factor in the race for the first pick. By beating Philadelphia last week and then losing to Kansas City this week, Carolina tightened things up considerably in the Top 5 of the draft order (which is to say the Bottom 5 of the standings). The Panthers also have a game remaining against the Raiders, and the Raiders also have a game coming up against the Chiefs, so those are the biggest games to watch if you want to see how the top of the draft order will look in April.

In recent years, the first overall pick has almost always been a quarterback. The last four first picks were quarterbacks, and going back to Peyton Manning in 1998, 12 of the last 15 first overall picks have been quarterbacks. But that could change this year for a couple of reasons.

The first reason is that if Carolina ends up with the first pick, the Panthers would definitely not take a quarterback, with 2011 first overall pick Cam Newton already in place. Carolina could trade the first overall pick to a quarterback-needy team, but that leads to the other reason a quarterback probably won’t go first overall.

The other reason is that — even though the Chiefs, Jaguars, Raiders and Eagles all might consider drafting a quarterback — this year’s draft doesn’t appear to have a quarterback worthy of the first overall pick. The two quarterbacks most often mentioned as the best prospects for 2013, West Virginia’s Geno Smith and USC’s Matt Barkley, both saw their stock decline with inconsistent play down the stretch this season.

The players who are more often mentioned as potential first overall picks include Notre Dame inside linebacker Manti Te’o, Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, Alabama guard Chance Warmack, Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore, Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel and LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo. For fans in Kansas City, Jacksonville, Carolina, Oakland and Philadelphia, dreaming about one of those players in the home team’s colors can brighten up an otherwise dreary December.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Petro just brought up a very good point.

The Chiefs just played their PERFECT game. They did EVERYTHING they wanted to do - no turnovers, no stupid penalties, ran the ball well, efficient in the passing game...

And they beat the 3-win Panthers in a nailbiter.

They are who we thought they were.

Yeah.....and the Panthers defense is HORRIBLE.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Look, do what you want. Get your hopes all up for Geno. I absolutely love him as a prospect and he's far and away my first choice for our pick.

But I'm a Chiefs fan, and have been for a few decades, I know how this works.

I'm not gonna invest ANYTHING emotionally in this because that ALWAYS ends in a letdown. ALWAYS.

You should probably step away from this team for a couple of years.

[InChiefsHeaven]

It seems to me that the only teams that would want a QB would be us, the Jags and the Raiders...

[Crush]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

After what the man went through on Saturday, you'd think some fans would have more class than this.

If Coach Winslow doesn't want to be attacked by the "classless and evil" fans then he has every right to resign and get the **** out of Kansas City.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

You should probably step away from this team for a couple of years.

Not yet. I'm gonna wait and see what they do and then make a solid and STEADFAST decision.

They either get rid of Pioli and draft a QB or a take a step away from this team PERMANENTLY.

At least that's where I'm at right now.

[Chief_For_Life58]

Originally Posted by R8ers

May never see Seymour again, I think he retires... He won't be in a Raiders uniform next year regardless...

who wants to play in a raiders outfit?

[Chief_For_Life58]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Not yet. I'm gonna wait and see what they do and then make a solid and STEADFAST decision.

They either get rid of Pioli and draft a QB or a take a step away from this team PERMANENTLY.

At least that's where I'm at right now.

this also means you have to leave cp if youre gonna leave the chiefs

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Chief_For_Life58

this also means you have to leave cp if youre gonna leave the chiefs

There's plenty of Pats and Broncos fans posting here.

So you can **** off, True Fan.

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Not yet. I'm gonna wait and see what they do and then make a solid and STEADFAST decision.

They either get rid of Pioli and draft a QB or a take a step away from this team PERMANENTLY.

At least that's where I'm at right now.

Seconded

[L.A. Chieffan]

meh, I'm confident KC will find a way to **** it up even if they get the #1

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Not yet. I'm gonna wait and see what they do and then make a solid and STEADFAST decision.

They either get rid of Pioli and draft a QB or a take a step away from this team PERMANENTLY.

At least that's where I'm at right now.

I really haven't changed that much on the subject as it seems. I give them about a 10% chance of taking a 1st round QB.

It was fun again yesterday to see a QB actually do his job instead of acting like a scared bitch.

Did I get as excited as I used to with a win? Not even close, and some of that was due to the Belcher murder/suicide that I only found out about right before the game.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I don't know. Losing him to the Raiders would probably hurt worse.

You know what would sting the most though, whether it's the Jets, Raiders, or Jags?

That we lost him to a team that has taken a 1st-round QB in the last 5 ****ing years yet we haven't taken one in THIRTY.

Losing him to the Raiders and keeping Peeholi/Crennel changes everything for me. I officially cut this team the **** loose.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by SNR

What do you guys think the odds are that if we fail to capture the #1 pick that the draft tards like McShay and Kiper are right, and teams DON'T want one of these QBs?

I mean, if we fail here, we're going to be at the mercy of their prognostications to successfully find our QB. That's not very comforting, no, but is it still somewhat possible?

It's going to come down to who has the pick. The only non-QB I see in this draft who has a REMOTE chance of reaching appropriate value is Star Lotulelei. How many teams would be tempted to draft him? Carolina, certainly. Jacksonville and Oakland possibly. Philly and Cleveland probably not.

After that I see feces. **** Te'o in the top 5. Jarvis Jones? You kidding me? Talk about the top guys at their position who aren't of a #1 overall quality. That Alabama game is a damning case against Jones even going in the top 10, personally. I know some team will snatch him up regardless, but still.

Werner will go ahead of Jones at this point. He's been an absolute beast this season with a non-stop motor.

Lotulelei will go first if it's Carolina picking #1. It's as good a pick as they can possibly make and Starlite is as good a defensive tackle prospect as there is in a draft.

Jacksonville needs pass rushers in the worst way as their defensive ends have generated nothing in terms of production for the entire season. However, Gabbert is done there, so they'll also need a QB. Their interior defensive line isn't very good either. It's going to come down to whether or not they think an impact defensive player is higher rated or the QB. It will come down to Geno Smith, Starlite Lotulelei or Bjoern Werner if they are picking first. My personal feeling is that they go Werner and then take the QB in the second.

Oakland is in the same exact boat as Jacksonville other than they could possibly squeeze out a couple more years from Carson Palmer. They gave up a lot to get him, so I can see them going defense before a QB. Their interior line is horrible and so are their ends. They also need a ILB. I can see them going with Manti Te'o, or Lotulelei or Werner if they are picking first. Most likely Lotulelei.

Philadelphia is through with Vick. Foles is only a fourth rounder with no experience. Their offensive line isn't good either - particularly their tackles. If I was a betting man, they probably end up with Luke Joeckel if they pick first.

The Chiefs should go Geno Smith. They should have their franchise taken away from them if they don't. However, I could see a catastrophic idiocy take place and have them go with Manti Te'o, especially in the wake of the Belcher situation - and if Pioli is still calling the shots. He'll go after Alex Smith and draft Te'o. (Don't think it's possible? This is the guy that took a five tech defensive end third, a Conference USA nose tackle 11th and a safety fifth. That's ****ing nuts. And if Te'o wins the Heisman? Fergit about it.)

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Petro just brought up a very good point.

The Chiefs just played their PERFECT game. They did EVERYTHING they wanted to do - no turnovers, no stupid penalties, ran the ball well, efficient in the passing game...

And they beat the 3-win Panthers in a nailbiter.

They are who we thought they were.

Petro must have been sitting directly behind me in section 131 yesterday, because I said the exact same thing to Phobia yesterday during Carolina's last "drive".

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Chief_For_Life58

this also means you have to leave cp if youre gonna leave the chiefs

Belcher yourself