***OFFICIAL Walterfootball.com Mock Draft Thread***

[The Franchise]

He updates his mock draft like once a week.....so I'll just post them when I see them.

http://www.walterfootball.com/draft2011.php

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#23 - Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh

A list of players who have lined up across from Dwayne Bowe this season: Chris Chambers, Terrance Copper and Verran Tucker. Bleh.

Jonathan Baldwin has struggled this year amid quarterbacking issues, but he's still a physical freak at 6-5, 230.

#54 - Kansas City Chiefs: Jabaal Sheard, DE/OLB, Pittsburgh

The Chiefs have only one reliable pass-rusher. Adding a solid complement across from Tamba Hali would take Kansas City's defense to the next level.

#87 - Kansas City Chiefs: Christian Ballard, DE/DT, Iowa

The Chiefs could use some help up front; they've struggled against the run lately after a great start to the season in that department.

[Quesadilla Joe]

What I came away with from that Taylor video is a guy who plays much smaller than his size. He does have some quickness to him, and that's good, but he doesn't play with the strength you would expect from a 340 pounder.

If you watch the Dareus video, he plays bigger than his size (that's saying a lot for a 318 pound man) AND he has the quickness that Taylor has and then some. I think Dareus could be an excellent NT, 5 tech, or 3 tech.

[Nightfyre]

I....*gulp* ... agree wit knowmo about dareus. Someone put me out of my misery. In all seriousness, I think dareus goes #1. Ron rivera has to love his playstyle and versatility.

[BossChief]

Dareus is the prize DL from this class IMO.

Taylor will be a guy that doesn't show up and make plays till his contract year and then disappears again once paid. Thats just how I see it.

[The Franchise]

Updated April 5th -

21. Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor
Scott Pioli needs his Vince Wilfork. The Chiefs struggled against the run late in the year because they had nothing at the nose tackle position. Phil Taylor would remedy that issue.

After a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, Taylor continued to impress at the Combine and his Pro Day. He lost some more weight (334) and despite his massive frame, he ran a 5.18. Taylor has completely turned his life around, so despite his altercations three years ago at Penn State, I believe that Pioli will strongly consider him at No. 21. Pioli has met with Taylor multiple times in the past month.

Other 2011 NFL Draft Possibilities:

1. Brooks Reed or Akeem Ayers, DE/OLB - Kansas City needs help across from Tamba Hali.

2. Nate Solder or Gabe Carimi, OT - The Chiefs need to improve both tackle positions.

55. Sam Acho, DE/OLB, Texas
The Chiefs have only one reliable pass-rusher. Adding a solid complement across from Tamba Hali would take Kansas City's defense to the next level.

86. Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana
A list of players who have lined up across from Dwayne Bowe this season: Chris Chambers, Terrance Copper and Verran Tucker. Bleh.

118. Delone Carter, RB, Syracuse
Thomas Jones, 33 in August, is owed $3 million in 2011. He wasn't very effective this past season, so even though the Chiefs said they plan on bringing him back, that could be a smokescreen of some sort. If so, Delone Carter would be a very cheap alternative. Carter has drawn some comparisons to Maurice Jones-Drew.

135. Tim Barnes, C, Missouri
Kansas City acquired this selection from Tampa Bay for Alex Magee.

ESPN's Bill Williamson reported that there's a 50-percent chance that Casey Wiegmann, 38 in July, will retire this offseason. The Chiefs need a successor and some insurance just in case Wiegmann hangs it up.

140. Nathan Enderle, QB, Idaho
The Chiefs will owe Matt Cassel a ton of money in the near future if they decide to stick with him. They need to groom a young quarterback just in case Cassel's abysmal playoff performance wasn't a fluke.

199. Darius Morris, G/OT, Temple
Barry Richardson is a great run-blocker, but can't keep anyone out of the backfield. Ryan O'Callaghan is always hurt.

[Rain Man]

What does everyone think about that Bruce Carter dude? I think he'd be a nice fit for us.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by KCbroncoHATER

I'd say he's a big project. He flat out got blown off the play on a double team a few times in that video. We already have a NT who can suck that much when faced with a double team, and his name is Ron Edwards

Eh. How you line up and anchor against an NFL defense is much different than how you do so against a spread offense.

I think his style fits the NFL much better than it does spread offenses in the NCAA. I think that's true for all noses.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Updated April 5th -

There's not a single SEC player in that mock. Clearly didn't do his homework

[Quesadilla Joe]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

What does everyone think about that Bruce Carter dude? I think he'd be a nice fit for us.

He is only 235 pounds and is more of a 4-3 weakside linebacker.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

What I came away with from that Taylor video is a guy who plays much smaller than his size. He does have some quickness to him, and that's good, but he doesn't play with the strength you would expect from a 340 pounder.

If you watch the Dareus video, he plays bigger than his size (that's saying a lot for a 318 pound man) AND he has the quickness that Taylor has and then some. I think Dareus could be an excellent NT, 5 tech, or 3 tech.

That's because you don't know jack shit about football. Dareus is a classic 4-3 DT. He can be used as a 5-tech in the 3-4, but he's no way a NT.

You should stick to quitting on your football team. It's the only thing you are good at.

[booger]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

What does everyone think about that Bruce Carter dude? I think he'd be a nice fit for us.

i haven't seen him play very much so just judging by the draft sites he seems to be more likely to fit into DJ's weak inside spot rather than OLB or to push Belcher at the SILB spot.

I would like to see competition with guys like Studebaker and Belcher even though i think both could suprise. So assuming ILB would be his spot for KC and Carter would get drafted say 2-3-4 rd, i think we have more pressing needs.

http://www.draftcountdown.com/Scouti...uce-Carter.php
ACL concerns could drop him maybe

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/...ter?id=2495136

arm length is on the short side for an OLB to take on the long armed OT's they look for i think Carter wouldn't necessarily fit the OLB spot. James Harrison seems to be a rarity as a shorter 34 OLB.

JMO

[Quesadilla Joe]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

That's because you don't know jack shit about football. Dareus is a classic 4-3 DT. He can be used as a 5-tech in the 3-4, but he's no way a NT.

You should stick to quitting on your football team. It's the only thing you are good at.

He played everywhere on the line at Alabama so he has experience at NT. He has the size and the ability to play NT in the NFL.

[Quesadilla Joe]

Dareus can also play nose tackle, though this somewhat negates his ability to penetrate and make plays on the move

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2011...2011-nfl-draft

The Houston Texans need a nose tackle; what else is new? You could make the case that they have needed a true nose tackle since their inception, which is rather sad because they ran a 3-4 defense for the first four seasons. Now they’re at it again with newly hired defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and nose tackle is a priority, but this time there is a decent chance it might be a real priority.

Much has been made of what type of nose tackle will fill the bill. There is the obvious, short and squatty space-eater of a nose tackle. The Steelers’ Casey Hampton is the best example of this type. The purpose of this type is to take on double teams and is better against the run than rushing the passer. Wade Phillips has certainly used this type of player in Buffalo and Denver

Then there is the other option that Wade Phillips has most recently worked with--the smaller, penetrating nose tackle. This nose tackle is more like a three technique defensive tackle in the 4-3 system. He’s supposed to split double teams and get into the back field. While this puts more run stopping responsibility on linebackers, this type of nose tackle creates matchup nightmares for offensive lines. As readers of this blog know, a good example of this type of tackle is the Cowboys’ Jay Ratliff.

The fact that Wade Phillips can make either type of tackle work is one thing I really like about him as a defensive coordinator. That attribute shows the ingenuity and imagination that the Texans have never had from defensive leadership. Which type of NT will be better for Wade this time around? There could be a player that fulfills both types in this year’s draft. I make my case for Marcell Dareus after the jump.

Dareus possesses a rare blend of size, strength and speed that could make him ideal for the Texans’ nose tackle vacancy. According to Mike Mayock, Dareus had ankle issues all last season, yet he never complained or took time off. I think Wade Phillips could make Dareus a star, but it may be a moot point as Dareus may not make it to eleven. There are other options for the unique type of nose that Wade might choose, like Stephen Paea or Marvin Austin, and there are the typical noses like Phil Taylor or Kenrick Ellis. I think Dareus is far above all of them.

http://www.battleredblog.com/2011/2/...ct-nose-tackle

Heck Walter Football has him ranked ahead of Phil Taylor and listed as the best NT in the entire draft.

http://www.walterfootball.com/draft2011NT.php

He can play anywhere in the 3-4. I'm not saying that he would be better in a 4-3, I'm just saying he has the size, strength, and ability to play NT at high level too.

[The Franchise]

Walterfootball.com held a Reader Mock Draft where everyone voted on who each team should pick. Here's ours:

#21 - Kansas City Chiefs: Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor

Reader 2011 NFL Mock Draft Voting Results:
- Phil Taylor: 56.5%
- Gabe Carimi: 17.4%
- Nate Solder: 8.7%
- Akeem Ayers: 8.7%
- Derek Sherrod: 6.5%
- Torrey Smith: 2.7%


Reader 2011 NFL Mock Draft Member Comments:

Vardaan: Phil Taylor is the best fit for NT, which is a need for the Chiefs. They can build around Taylor and Hali (who fit the two most important positions in the 34) and have a defense for the future. I can see Taylor going as high as 11 and with the amazing tape, Taylor should be the pick here.

Blazedestin: While the Chiefs could use some additional explosiveness on their offense, their defense still could use some work. Glenn Dorsey's started to emerge as something like a viable 3-4 Defensive End, and while Tyson Jackson's still mediocre, there's not much at the nose. Phil Taylor is far and away the best nose tackle prospect in this draft class. The Chiefs will look to acquire a Wilfork like player here, and Phil Taylor fits the bill.

VikingSteve26: Stuck between Phil Taylor and Torrey Smith. I think I'll vote Phil Taylor, but don't rule out Torrey Smith... the Chiefs don't have another good receiver to complement Bowe.

StevenLourie: Mike Vrabel didn't have a sack last year. He's done. They need a rush linebacker opposite Tamba Hali, but it doesn't necessarily have to be an elite pass rushing linebacker. Hali had 14.5 sacks last year (and somehow didn't make the Pro Bowl) so that frees them up to add a more complete player across from him. Ayers actually reminds me of a younger Mike Vrabel, someone who can be solid #2 pass rusher, but helps you in other ways, such as in coverage and as a run stopper. I don't buy Phil Taylor here given his past. Scott Pioli likes cleaner players.

JoeLegend: I was torn between Nate Solder and Akeem Ayers. I went with Nate Solder you can plug him in at RT or put him in at LT and move Brandon Albert to RT anyway it improves the offensive line for a team that loves to run the ball.

I'm not sold on Phil Taylor being a 1st round talent 3-4 teams typically dont take NTs in the 1st.

RazorStar: I'd take Carimi here, word is the Chiefs are looking at offensive linemen, and with Carimi you plug him in virtually anywhere. The interior line is incredibly old, and Barry Richardson isn't really that great of a Right tackle, so Carimi could start right away at nearly any position. There are better nose tackles to be had in later rounds, wide receivers can be found much later, and I wouldn't be desperate for an outside pass rusher with Houston now off the board.

Tango: Weis is gone and the Chiefs have noone outside of Bowe. But there are no WR's worthy of this pick.

I hope Haley Solderfies the O-Line. So Nate Solder is the pick.

Finnegans Wake: Elite 3-4 NTs don't come along every year; the ones that are elite have typically been drafted R1 (Ngata, Wilfork, Hampton, Raji). Going back a ways, Ted Washington was a R1. Jamal Williams was a supplemental draft R2. Pat Williams is a 4-3 NT who could line up in the 3-4, and was UDFA.

If you want a dominant 3-4, it starts on the DL, and the keystone is that NT, period. Previously, I've stated that I look for guys who have the right frame and are able to lift 30 reps. To look at 2010 and 2011, Dan Williams and Terrence Cody were the top 2 purported 3-4 NTs; Williams (6'2", 327#) was the very definition of NT frame, but had a borderline 27 reps, so I didn't feel he was a R1 elite prospect -- maybe he turns into one, but I want more anchor. Cody, at 6' 1/2", 347# pounds (and up) had conditioning issues and weight issues, and only put the bar up 22 times. To me, DND; I don't think he was worth even a late R2. This year, Taylor's overcome the issues from earlier in his collegiate career and looks like he's gotten on the right path. He's 6'3", 331#, and repped 31 times. I think he has the potential to be the keystone as a 3-4 NT. Kenrick Ellis is 6'5", 346#, but has some questions about work ethic and consistency and only repped 27 times. To me, that makes him a developmental prospect at best, R3 and on. So that's a 2-year snapshot, top 2 NT candidates from each year, and only Taylor looks like a guy you could count on to be a NT.

Go back to that list of top NTs. Every one of those guys repped at least 30 times. It's a pretty clear demarcation. (And to answer Joe Legend, Ngata is most certainly the Ravens' NT. He happens to be flexible enough to play end in their 40 front, which makes him probably the best and most versatile nose playing today, but his primary role remains the nose.)

I'm going Taylor as a guy you start to rebuild a defense around.

MiamiDolphin4Life: I think Taylor Phils a huge need for the Chiefs. He's the pick

[The Franchise]

KC's Draft board according to Walterfootball.com.

Kansas City Chiefs: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

1. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
2. Justin Houston, DE/OLB, Georgia
3. Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor
4. Akeem Ayers, DE/OLB, UCLA
5. Mike Pouncey, G, Florida
6. Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona
7. Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
8. Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

The first deviation from my 2011 NFL Mock Draft. Horray!

I don't think Phil Taylor is atop Kansas City's board or anything, but I've continuously mocked him to this spot because Scott Pioli needs a Vince Wilfork. He regrets passing up on B.J. Raji in 2009, and I don't think he'll eschew Taylor.

[The Franchise]

Updated April 18th:

21. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
In 2009, Scott Pioli drafted for positional value when he selected Tyson Jackson. Last year, he went the "best player available" route with Eric Berry. Both draft strategies would come into play here with Gabe Carimi.

Kansas City has a gaping hole at offensive tackle. I'm not a big fan of Branden Albert, but the huge void is at right tackle, where Barry Richardson struggled last year.

Gabe Carimi, the top talent on the board, would be an instant upgrade on the right side, and could eventually transition to left tackle if Albert doesn't improve.

Other 2011 NFL Draft Possibilities:

1. Phil Taylor, NT - Pioli needs his Vince Wilfork. Unfortunately, Phil Taylor was diagnosed with an inoperable foot condition, which could cause him to drop out of the first round.

2. Brooks Reed or Akeem Ayers, DE/OLB - Kansas City needs help across from Tamba Hali.

55. Sam Acho, DE/OLB, Texas
The Chiefs have only one reliable pass-rusher. Adding a solid complement across from Tamba Hali would take Kansas City's defense to the next level.

86. Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana
A list of players who have lined up across from Dwayne Bowe this season: Chris Chambers, Terrance Copper and Verran Tucker. Bleh.

118. Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa
The Chiefs will owe Matt Cassel a ton of money in the near future if they decide to stick with him. They need to groom a young quarterback just in case Cassel's abysmal playoff performance wasn't a fluke.

135. Delone Carter, RB, Syracuse
Kansas City acquired this selection from Tampa Bay for Alex Magee.

Thomas Jones, 33 in August, is owed $3 million in 2011. He wasn't very effective this past season, so even though the Chiefs said they plan on bringing him back, that could be a smokescreen of some sort. If so, Delone Carter would be a very cheap alternative. Carter has drawn some comparisons to Maurice Jones-Drew.

140. Ian Williams, NT, Notre Dame
Scott Pioli needs his Vince Wilfork. If he doesn't take Phil Taylor at No. 21, he'll have to somehow secure a nose tackle in Rounds 2-5.

199. Jason Kelce, C, Cincinnati
ESPN's Bill Williamson reported that there's a 50-percent chance that Casey Wiegmann, 38 in July, will retire this offseason. The Chiefs need a successor and some insurance just in case Wiegmann hangs it up.