Teicher: More time for teams in NFL draft may mean more maneuvering

[Tribal Warfare]

More time for teams in NFL draft may mean more maneuvering

By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star Having had a few hours to negotiate the move, the New York Jets last year packaged three draft picks to move up to the top of the third round and select Iowa running back Shonn Greene.

The trade paid off for the Jets. Greene had a strong rookie season and wound up as the league’s top postseason rusher. The Jets were so impressed with Greene they released veteran back Thomas Jones, who gained more than 1,400 yards last year. Jones ended up signing with the Chiefs.

That type of trade might be more common in this year’s draft. It’s a possible effect of the draft’s new format.
“I’m sure they’ll have a meeting that night, all the teams, and take a look at who’s available (in the second round),” former Oakland and Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said. “You might see more trades to start the second round. I think you’ll see a little more aggressiveness … at the start of day two and day three.”

This year, for the first time, the first round of the draft will take place in prime time. The draft begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
The second and third rounds will be on Friday evening, and the draft concludes with the final four rounds Saturday.
That means more free time for teams, maybe more than they know what to do with.

“I like it, but it’s a little bit confusing to me because for 17 or 18 years it’s been the same for me: You start on a certain day, you start at a certain time,” Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said.
The Chiefs, who have two second-round picks, could be one of that round’s major players. They have their own pick at No. 36 overall and Atlanta’s at No. 50. That choice was acquired in last year’s trade involving tight end Tony Gonzalez.

The Chiefs also have eight picks in the first five rounds, giving them the freedom to jump around in the draft.
“In terms of trades, we’re open for business,” Pioli said. “We could trade up, we could trade down.

“I love the concept of getting through 32 players, sitting back and having almost 20 hours to regroup and look at the board again and then go into a round where we’re going to have a pick at 36 overall and 50 overall. In talking to a lot of other people around the league, they like the idea because it’s going to be conducive to a lot more movement in the second round.”

Teams have always been free to make draft-day trades. Often, they’re limited by the time restraints of the draft clock. Teams get 10 minutes to make a pick in the first round, seven in the second and five in the other rounds.

“In that there is more time … why not pick up the phone and call somebody and ask them, are they willing to part with picks or part with players?” Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “I guess with all the time that we will have going from day one to day two to day three, it will allow for some phone calls to be made.

“But I think in the end, people are just going to pick players. Sometimes too much time can be a detriment to you, too. (You think), ‘Why would I want to get rid of this player?’ So you have more time to think about it, so it could also work against you having too much time.”

While now over three days, the draft won’t feel like the marathon that it used to. Formerly, the draft started early in the day on Saturday and didn’t break until late that night. Teams finished the draft in much the same manner the next day.

“It (was) a long day and a long night and people lose sight of that,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said. “Being there from 6, 7 in the morning until 1, 2 in the morning and having to get up the next morning early, you’re worn out. It (was) a grueling day. They’re just worn out mentally.

“The extra time … it’s important to have that break in the action. It benefits the teams from that standpoint because if they make a decision, it’s not because they were fatigued. They get more time to re-evaluate, to make calls, to check on players, to check with agents, to do some more due diligence, have a chance to talk with coaches and scouts again, redo their boards.”

The new format is generally drawing good reviews, but not every team is enthusiastic about it.

“Some of the better historically drafting teams are not wild about it because it gives some of the other teams a chance to go home and think about it as opposed to maybe being pressured into making mistakes,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said.

“Teams can think about it, reset their boards a little bit and perhaps not be impulsive. You get the chance when you go home to set (your board) to also target players you’ll like to go get. I think we might see some more trades.”

WHERE THE CHIEFS WILL CHOOSE
The Chiefs have eight picks in the 2010 draft — all in the first five rounds. They received the 18th pick in the second round from Atlanta, the 11th pick in the fifth round from Miami and the 13th pick in the fifth round from Carolina.

Round	Pick	Overall
1	5	5
2	4	36
2	18	50
3	4	68
4	4	102
5	5	136
5	11	142
5	13	144

[KCrockaholic]

It will be interesting to see who we traded Tony Gonzalez for...

[InChiefsHeaven]

I didn't realize that we had that many picks and all in the first 5 rounds...man, we really should get some damn value out of this draft...

[Pushead2]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

I didn't realize that we had that many picks and all in the first 5 rounds...man, we really should get some damn value out of this draft...

in theory!

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

I didn't realize that we had that many picks and all in the first 5 rounds...man, we really should get some damn value out of this draft...

Okay, don't take this the wrong way, because I don't want to be a jerk.... but HOW did you not realize this?

I understand when a typical fan doesn't realize this, but anyone on here should have seen this before now.

Again, I am really wondering how, not trying to be a smarta$$.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life

It will be interesting to see who we traded Tony Gonzalez for...

Honestly, chances are its not going to be a player thats as good as TG was.

Alot of fans need to understand he didnt want to be in KC anymore..just be thankful the Chiefs got something of value for him.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Okay, don't take this the wrong way, because I don't want to be a jerk.... but HOW did you not realize this?

I understand when a typical fan doesn't realize this, but anyone on here should have seen this before now.

Again, I am really wondering how, not trying to be a smarta$$.

You know, things in life have gone extremely fast for me of late. Hell, in my mind, the Chiefs just played their last game a week ago or so...

...this is probably the most out of it I've ever been, usually I'm pretty much on top of stuff...but somehow I have last years draft and this years draft mixed up.

I humbly beg forgiveness and promise to do better in the future. Meanwhile, life is kicking my ass lately!