raypec85
03-26-2005, 09:42 AM
http://chiefszone.cjonline.com/stories/032605/chi_surtain.shtml
Published Saturday, March 26, 2005
Dean: No question, Surtain is the Chiefs' best play
By Rick Dean
The Capital-Journal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Up until a week ago, when they had only two picks in the three-round first day of the NFL draft, the Chiefs' reluctance to trade a draft pick for a proven NFL cornerback was merely distressing.
But today, now that they have picks in each of the draft's first three rounds, Kansas City's failure to make a trade for Miami cornerback Patrick Surtain would be distressingly unacceptable.
The Chiefs this past week picked up their missing third-round draft pick -- the one they traded to Philadelphia last year in a draft-day deal for starting lineman John Welbourne -- when the NFL awarded a compensatory pick for last year's loss of tackle John Tait. When Tait received $14 million in guaranteed money from Chicago, the Chiefs declined to match the ransom figure and subsequently received the extra pick for losing their designated transition player.
The Welbourne draft-day trade was a good one after Tait's departure left a major void at right tackle. Using a draft pick in a relatively high round to acquire a player who could fill that hole immediately was a better talent acquisition than Kansas City usually makes in the third round.
It's hard to imagine now why Kansas City wouldn't do the same to fill an even more glaring need at cornerback in these days leading up to the April 23 draft.
The Dolphins are anxious to trade Surtain despite his standout history (Pro Bowls in 2002 and '03 and an alternate spot last year) and bright future (he'll be 29 in June). They aren't anxious to lose a player whose 25 interceptions during the past four seasons are the most by any NFL corner. But with Surtain's '05 contract accounting for $8.38 million against their cap, and with young Will Poole ready to join Sam Madison at the corners, Miami is shopping a quality player.
The Chiefs were cautious browsers early before deciding that Miami's asking price, a second-round draft pick, was too high for a team that at the time didn't have a third-round pick.
That was an acceptable decision when other quality free agents corners were in play. But then the Chiefs let Samari Rolle leave Kansas City unsigned and were late in inviting Fred Smoot for a visit. Now their best hope for adding a quality corner to the league's worst pass defense comes down to Surtain or Ty Law.
Law would be a great free agent pickup if someone could promise Carl Peterson that the 31-year-old Patriots standout will recover completely from his broken foot and again be the cover guy who deserved four Pro Bowl trips. Only a used car salesman would make that promise.
If the Chiefs wait until Law proves he's healthy, they will enter a high-stakes bidding war they can't afford.
Surtain is the better play -- right here, right now. He may well cost $12 million or more in guaranteed money on a new contract, but it's a price the Chiefs have to pay to play in coach Dick Vermeil's last season.
Published Saturday, March 26, 2005
Dean: No question, Surtain is the Chiefs' best play
By Rick Dean
The Capital-Journal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Up until a week ago, when they had only two picks in the three-round first day of the NFL draft, the Chiefs' reluctance to trade a draft pick for a proven NFL cornerback was merely distressing.
But today, now that they have picks in each of the draft's first three rounds, Kansas City's failure to make a trade for Miami cornerback Patrick Surtain would be distressingly unacceptable.
The Chiefs this past week picked up their missing third-round draft pick -- the one they traded to Philadelphia last year in a draft-day deal for starting lineman John Welbourne -- when the NFL awarded a compensatory pick for last year's loss of tackle John Tait. When Tait received $14 million in guaranteed money from Chicago, the Chiefs declined to match the ransom figure and subsequently received the extra pick for losing their designated transition player.
The Welbourne draft-day trade was a good one after Tait's departure left a major void at right tackle. Using a draft pick in a relatively high round to acquire a player who could fill that hole immediately was a better talent acquisition than Kansas City usually makes in the third round.
It's hard to imagine now why Kansas City wouldn't do the same to fill an even more glaring need at cornerback in these days leading up to the April 23 draft.
The Dolphins are anxious to trade Surtain despite his standout history (Pro Bowls in 2002 and '03 and an alternate spot last year) and bright future (he'll be 29 in June). They aren't anxious to lose a player whose 25 interceptions during the past four seasons are the most by any NFL corner. But with Surtain's '05 contract accounting for $8.38 million against their cap, and with young Will Poole ready to join Sam Madison at the corners, Miami is shopping a quality player.
The Chiefs were cautious browsers early before deciding that Miami's asking price, a second-round draft pick, was too high for a team that at the time didn't have a third-round pick.
That was an acceptable decision when other quality free agents corners were in play. But then the Chiefs let Samari Rolle leave Kansas City unsigned and were late in inviting Fred Smoot for a visit. Now their best hope for adding a quality corner to the league's worst pass defense comes down to Surtain or Ty Law.
Law would be a great free agent pickup if someone could promise Carl Peterson that the 31-year-old Patriots standout will recover completely from his broken foot and again be the cover guy who deserved four Pro Bowl trips. Only a used car salesman would make that promise.
If the Chiefs wait until Law proves he's healthy, they will enter a high-stakes bidding war they can't afford.
Surtain is the better play -- right here, right now. He may well cost $12 million or more in guaranteed money on a new contract, but it's a price the Chiefs have to pay to play in coach Dick Vermeil's last season.