How does this look? (chiefs needs next year)

[cmh6476]

There's a guy trying to do a mock NFL draft for next season already over at FFtoday. He drafted a DT for the Chiefs in the first, something we probably don't need. So to help him out, I've kinda laid out our priorities as what i think this team needs going into next season.

Let me know if you feel different about any of this, or if there's any glaring holes you think I've left out! Since you have to register now to read threads over here, I'll just cut and paste em over there for ya!

Here's the thread:

http://www.fftodayforums.com/forum/i...owtopic=102614

Here's who he took with the 15th for the Chiefs:

15) Kansas City – DT Antajj Hawthorne, Wisconsin
Team needs – defense, WR
Commentary – Last season the Chiefs kept their entire defensive personnel and tried a new coordinator, and they imploded. It’s time to start over. The pick here and throughout the draft really just has to be the best defensive player available at any position. Hawthorne is probably the top DT available and may help free up Ryan Sims and Von Holiday up the middle

.


Here are just a few of my thoughts I laid out in that thread


1. MLB - Some would say shut down corner, but I think this team needs someone in the middle of the field to lead this team. Why'd they let Donnie Edwards walk I'll never know. But they need a strong, middle linebacker who can get to the QB, stop the run, and lead the defense.

Some have pointed out that this defense was better when Mike Maslowski was in the middle, and it was. But he's hurt, who knows how long he's gone. Plus, they can do better than Maz, and they need to. IMO, this is the most important area of need for the Chiefs!

2. CB - Eric Warfield had a farily solid season, but you may be able to attribute that to the fact that opposing offenses torched the other side all season long. Dexter McCleon sucked, William Bartee sucked, and the Chiefs were last in the league in passing yards allowed. You may be able to attribute that to lack of pass rush, but it didn't matter if we got to the QB or not, opposing receivers were open. I can't tell you how many long 3rd downs I saw converted this season. Corner and MLB are the two most pressing needs for the Chiefs!

3. OLB (weak side) - Scott Fujita has cemented his position at one outside slot, but Shawn Barber was awful on the other side this year. the Chiefs desperately need some playmakers at the linebacker position. I long for the days of DT when we actually had some pass rush from our linebackers. I have heard the Chiefs may let Johnny Morton, Jeroem Woods, and Shawn Barber go this offseason. And it would probably be for the better, freeing up some cap space and giving the Chiefs an opportunity to improve at positions hurting this team.

4. Wide Receiver - Have heard they will let Morton go. Eddie Kennison will be there, Marc Boerigter will be back, and the Chiefs like what they see in Chris Horn and Samie Parker, and Dante Hall will be there as well. But they really need a No. 1 receiver. This is probably the biggest need outside of anything on defense.

5. Punter - Yes, I am listing punter here. Not because there aren't other needs for the Chiefs, but if we imporve at the above positions, then this is the next place the Chiefs need to upgrade. Our punting has been terrible for a couple years now. Sure, they've had a killer offense and not had to worry about it much, but sooner or later it's gonna come back and bite em in the ass. We have to get a better punter.

6. Backup RB - Derrick Blaylock is a FA and may be given a starting opportunity somewhere else. Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson are the guys in KC, but they are going to need to look for someone else. You can no longer count on Priest for the entire season, and they are gonna have to find someone to fill Blaylock's shoes. Carl peterson has said though the Chiefs would re-sign Blaylock to a 1 year deal if no other team gives him a decent offer.

7. OG - Both the Chiefs starting guards made the ProBowl this year, but they need to look to the future. Will Shields is getting up there in age and they need to find someone to groom into the position behind Shields.

8. QBOTF - Trent Green will probably be around a few more years, but behind him are Todd Collins and Damon Huard. They are not the answer to the future for this organization. They may start looking now.

9. OT/ C - Again, this is the best line in the league, but like Shields, another ProBowler Willie Roaf is getting up there in age. John Wellbourne, Chris Bober, and Jordan lack played this year did well on the right side, but this line isn't going to last forever. And they could also look to Center, where they also need to start thinking about someone to replace Casey Weigmann. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this line as it is now, but they will have to start preparing for life without some of our every year Pro owlers.

10. DE - I know you got the Chiefs taking a DT in the first here, but like someone else said, that's probably their deepest position. They right now have a former first rounder in Ryan Sims, John Browning who they claimed the strongest link in the D-Line last year, Lionel Dalton who had a surprisingly decent season, and last year's 2nd rounder Junior Siavii. As for end, Jared Allen and Eric Hicks appear to have the starting positions locked up going into next season. But they may be looking to add depth here by going after another speed-rushing end.

11. Backup FB - I'm not sure if Omar Easy is the answer at FB for the Chiefs once Tony Richardson is gone.
------------------------------------------------

That's really about all I can think of. I may have missed something, but feel fairly solid about this analysis! :thumbsup:

[htismaqe]

OLB is a bigger need than MLB.

And there aren't any 1st-round quality MLB's anyway.

CB and DE are also needs worthy of a 1st-round pick.

MLB should be addressed in free agency, along with CB (in addition to the draft).

[KCTitus]

Heath Miller announced he's going to the Draft in April, and Gonzalez isnt getting any younger. I see KC going TE or FB with #1.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

OLB is a bigger need than MLB.

And there aren't any 1st-round quality MLB's anyway.

WTF?

How bout Derrick Johnson? I'd say he's plenty worthy of a 1st.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

WTF?

How bout Derrick Johnson? I'd say he's plenty worthy of a 1st.

Derrick Johnson is an OLB...

[HolmeZz]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

WTF?

How bout Derrick Johnson? I'd say he's plenty worthy of a 1st.

Yup, he's worth a first. He's also an OLB.

[cmh6476]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

OLB is a bigger need than MLB.

And there aren't any 1st-round quality MLB's anyway.

CB and DE are also needs worthy of a 1st-round pick.

MLB should be addressed in free agency, along with CB (in addition to the draft).

I didn't necessarliy lay this out with the idea this is what we are looking at via the draft only, and he uinderstands that.

I think MLB is more important of a position where the Chiefs need to succeed. Maybe it's Kawika Mitchell, if that's your thought. My thought is that we need a solid player with a nose for the football in the middle of the field to lead this defense.

I told the guy CP has stated they won't lay back like last season and pretty much not do anything. Looking at the picture as a whole, I think this is what the Chiefs have to look at with their approach to next season. If they nab a solid corner via free agency, then they won't look at that position in the draft necessarily. Same goes for any of the above positions. I'm just trying to give him a feel of the team's needs, and kinda letting him build his own presumptions from there.

With that said, you still think OLB is a bigger need than MLB?

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Derrick Johnson is an OLB...

My bad, I read that as LB's.............

I'll just

[Gaz]

I am not sure that I concur that OLB is more critical than MLB, but I do concur that there are no spongeworthy MLBs in the draft. So the net effect is the same.

A draft DE can come in and contribute immediately. If you are one of the “this is the last year of our window” folks, then you want an immediate impact player with your highest pick. Therefore, DE is the obvious choice for the 1st Round. Given the current NFL rules, pass defense MUST take place in the Enemy backfield.

OLB would be another possibility, but I doubt a rookie OLB will have the same impact as a rookie DE [see “window” caveat above]. If you think Barber will return and be effective, then OLB drops down the priority tree.

I agree that we need a CB & MLB in FA. I would draft a CB or OLB in the 2nd Round.

1st: DE or OLB
2nd: OLB or CB
FA: CB & MLB

xoxo~
Gaz
Expects some movement in the Chiefs bullpen this off-season.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

I didn't necessarliy lay this out with the idea this is what we are looking at via the draft only, and he uinderstands that.

I think MLB is more important of a position where the Chiefs need to succeed. Maybe it's Kawika Mitchell, if that's your thought. My thought is that we need a solid player with a nose for the football in the middle of the field to lead this defense.

I told the guy CP has stated they won't lay back like last season and pretty much not do anything. Looking at the picture as a whole, I think this is what the Chiefs have to look at with their approach to next season. If they nab a solid corner via free agency, then they won't look at that position in the draft necessarily. Same goes for any of the above positions. I'm just trying to give him a feel of the team's needs, and kinda letting him build his own presumptions from there.

With that said, you still think OLB is a bigger need than MLB?

To me, need is based on several factors, including how much we've already invested in the position in terms of the draft and the relative ages of players manning the position.

That's why I would NOT, under any circumstances, draft or acquire a defensive tackle this offseason. We may need improvement there, but we just can't afford to invest in the position again.

We've invested in Monty Beisel and Kawika Mitchell. We need to improve at the position, but right now, we have to count on that improvement coming from Mitchell himself.

I would rank our needs as follows

#1) CB - we need a starter AND a future - get AT LEAST 1 free agent, plus draft one

#2) OLB - lack of speed and tackling at this position is arguably as much of a problem as our CB's and lack of coverage - get at least 1, preferrably from the draft since there aren't alot of good free agents available

#3) WR - I think we need a vet here to fill Morton's spot, but not someone who will take snaps from Parker

#4) DE - Hicks has got to go, we need someone opposite Allen that brings the heat

#5) MLB - if we address the above issues, I'd address MLB either in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft, or in free agency.

[bringbackmarty]

I think we need one more high first round pick, and pick best available defensive for the first three rounds at least, unless we have a shot at williams.

[cmh6476]

Originally Posted by bringbackmarty

I think we need one more high first round pick, and pick best available defensive for the first three rounds at least, unless we have a shot at williams.

even if that means drafting another DT?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by bringbackmarty

I think we need one more high first round pick, and pick best available defensive for the first three rounds at least, unless we have a shot at williams.

If we pick Mike Williams, I'll be looking for another team to root for.

There's several good WR's in this draft, no reason to sink that low...

[Hoover]

Drafting another DT would be a huge mistake. I've posted many times the reason our defense sucks is because under DV the only high Defensive draft choices have been DTs

Saivii
Sims
Freeman
Downing

3 were our first picks of the draft and Freeman was in the second round after we had just drafted Sims.

Anyway.

I think we have to go out in Free Agency and see what we can get. The focus needs to be on CB, DE, OLB, MLB, and maybe a WR if the price is right. We have to try and fill holes via Free Agency because its our best shot at the Super Bowl.

In the draft we then should go with the best OLB, CB, or DE on the board. After our first three picks we better have taken a CB, LB and a DE otherwise we are just stupid.

On another note I'm a Larry Johnson fan and really hope he is our RBOTF, but if someone offers a first round pick, or a high 2nd and a 3rd, I make the move.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

If we pick Mike Williams, I'll be looking for another team to root for.

There's several good WR's in this draft, no reason to sink that low...

There is no reason for us to pick a WR in this draft it can wait.