KingPriest2
05-25-2006, 11:18 AM
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5630054
Kansas City Chiefs
Pick Player Player Rankings Best Player Available
20 DE Tamba Hali 31, 35, 37, 47 OT Winston Justice (3), DB Jimmy Williams
54 DB Bernard Pollard 92, 110, 134, UR OT Eric Winston, DB Richard Marshall, DB Ashton Youboty, TE Leonard Pope
85 QB Brodie Croyle 73, 78, 147, UR DT Gabe Watson, G Max Jean-Gilles, DB Ko Simpson, DB Darnell Bing
154 DB Marcus Maxey 68, 128, 131, UR DT Babatunde Oshinowo (3), DE Mark Anderson
186 G 'Tre Stallings UR, UR, UR, UR DT Rod Wright (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall
190 WR Jeff Webb 165, 178, UR, UR DT Rod Wright (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall
228 DB Jarrod Page 188, 224, UR, UR DB Dee Webb (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall
The Chiefs have been drafting defense for years now, hoping that they could make the unit competitive before midnight struck on the high-octane offense, and they pursued that strategy again, going defense with three of their first four picks. With the advanced age of many of the offensive centerpieces — Willie Roaf is 36, Will Shields 34, Trent Green 35, and Eddie Kennison 33 — the drafting strategy was a questionable one.
The Kansas City rushing attack is the league's best because the team was willing to take Larry Johnson even with Priest Holmes on the roster, and this year a similar best player available approach could have netted much needed young linemen like Winston Justice, Eric Winston or Max Jean-Gilles. With Kansas City's short-term approach to drafting, it's likely that the defense will come around just as the offense falls apart.
The Chiefs may have reached for Tamba Hali in the draft. (Chris Oberholtz, The Kansas City Star / Associated Press)
Tamba Hali, like every other Penn State prospect, saw his stock slip after a poor Pro Day. Hali is a high effort player who will raise the intensity level on the Chiefs line, but the team probably could have traded down at least once and still landed him at the bottom of the round. Hali has a high floor for a late first-round prospect — he can defend the run and rush the passer, and he plays with great consistency — and the Chiefs need to add as many solid players as possible to their front seven, so this pick will probably look better in November and December than it does now. Bernard Pollard came out early for the draft after having some problems at Purdue during the 2005 season, and while he has great upside, the boards felt he was too risky to merit a second-round pick.
The Chiefs finally got around to addressing their offense with third-round selection Brodie Croyle. The team has been without a viable backup quarterback for years now, but opinions are split on how the Alabama star will fare at the next level.
Our college quarterback projection system is skeptical of any player with an inadequate completion percentage, and Croyle's was under 60 percent his senior season. Other scouts look at his slight frame and his litany of injuries and wonder if his body can hold up in the NFL.
The Chiefs did a good job of selecting players at value in the later rounds. Jeff Webb and Jarrod Page were taken roughly when they were projected to come off the board, and Miami corner Marcus Maxey was considered a steal by three of the boards. Maxey didn't start until his senior season, but he projects very well into the Cover 2 defense that new coach Herm Edwards figures to employ.
Recent free agent moves
Peripatetic offensive lineman Ian Allen signed with the Chiefs on May 11; Allen is playing for his fourth team in four years. Allen started 11 games for the Giants in 2003 but was terrible; since then, the Eagles and Cardinals have kept him on the roster in case of emergency. Allen was originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Chiefs in 2001 and had an off-season stint with the team in 2002. If history is any indicator, he'll be released in August, play a few games for the Jets, and return to Kansas City in 2007 ... Backup defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson signed a one-year deal to remain with the team. Wilkerson is a rotation lineman who helps out as a run-down end and third down tackle.
Undrafted free agents of note
The Chiefs were busy after the drafting, signing 16 rookie free agents. William Kershaw (Maryland) has the run-stopping ability to develop into a good Sam linebacker, but he's a poor decision maker on and off the field. Kershaw was involved in a barroom brawl in college, so he'll fit right in with the Chiefs ... Derek Morris (North Carolina State) is a flabby 330-pound guard who can play right tackle in a pinch. The Chiefs have a great track record at turning unheralded youngsters like Brian Waters and Casey Weigmann into great linemen
Kansas City Chiefs
Pick Player Player Rankings Best Player Available
20 DE Tamba Hali 31, 35, 37, 47 OT Winston Justice (3), DB Jimmy Williams
54 DB Bernard Pollard 92, 110, 134, UR OT Eric Winston, DB Richard Marshall, DB Ashton Youboty, TE Leonard Pope
85 QB Brodie Croyle 73, 78, 147, UR DT Gabe Watson, G Max Jean-Gilles, DB Ko Simpson, DB Darnell Bing
154 DB Marcus Maxey 68, 128, 131, UR DT Babatunde Oshinowo (3), DE Mark Anderson
186 G 'Tre Stallings UR, UR, UR, UR DT Rod Wright (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall
190 WR Jeff Webb 165, 178, UR, UR DT Rod Wright (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall
228 DB Jarrod Page 188, 224, UR, UR DB Dee Webb (2), DE Stanley McClover, RB Andre Hall
The Chiefs have been drafting defense for years now, hoping that they could make the unit competitive before midnight struck on the high-octane offense, and they pursued that strategy again, going defense with three of their first four picks. With the advanced age of many of the offensive centerpieces — Willie Roaf is 36, Will Shields 34, Trent Green 35, and Eddie Kennison 33 — the drafting strategy was a questionable one.
The Kansas City rushing attack is the league's best because the team was willing to take Larry Johnson even with Priest Holmes on the roster, and this year a similar best player available approach could have netted much needed young linemen like Winston Justice, Eric Winston or Max Jean-Gilles. With Kansas City's short-term approach to drafting, it's likely that the defense will come around just as the offense falls apart.
The Chiefs may have reached for Tamba Hali in the draft. (Chris Oberholtz, The Kansas City Star / Associated Press)
Tamba Hali, like every other Penn State prospect, saw his stock slip after a poor Pro Day. Hali is a high effort player who will raise the intensity level on the Chiefs line, but the team probably could have traded down at least once and still landed him at the bottom of the round. Hali has a high floor for a late first-round prospect — he can defend the run and rush the passer, and he plays with great consistency — and the Chiefs need to add as many solid players as possible to their front seven, so this pick will probably look better in November and December than it does now. Bernard Pollard came out early for the draft after having some problems at Purdue during the 2005 season, and while he has great upside, the boards felt he was too risky to merit a second-round pick.
The Chiefs finally got around to addressing their offense with third-round selection Brodie Croyle. The team has been without a viable backup quarterback for years now, but opinions are split on how the Alabama star will fare at the next level.
Our college quarterback projection system is skeptical of any player with an inadequate completion percentage, and Croyle's was under 60 percent his senior season. Other scouts look at his slight frame and his litany of injuries and wonder if his body can hold up in the NFL.
The Chiefs did a good job of selecting players at value in the later rounds. Jeff Webb and Jarrod Page were taken roughly when they were projected to come off the board, and Miami corner Marcus Maxey was considered a steal by three of the boards. Maxey didn't start until his senior season, but he projects very well into the Cover 2 defense that new coach Herm Edwards figures to employ.
Recent free agent moves
Peripatetic offensive lineman Ian Allen signed with the Chiefs on May 11; Allen is playing for his fourth team in four years. Allen started 11 games for the Giants in 2003 but was terrible; since then, the Eagles and Cardinals have kept him on the roster in case of emergency. Allen was originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Chiefs in 2001 and had an off-season stint with the team in 2002. If history is any indicator, he'll be released in August, play a few games for the Jets, and return to Kansas City in 2007 ... Backup defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson signed a one-year deal to remain with the team. Wilkerson is a rotation lineman who helps out as a run-down end and third down tackle.
Undrafted free agents of note
The Chiefs were busy after the drafting, signing 16 rookie free agents. William Kershaw (Maryland) has the run-stopping ability to develop into a good Sam linebacker, but he's a poor decision maker on and off the field. Kershaw was involved in a barroom brawl in college, so he'll fit right in with the Chiefs ... Derek Morris (North Carolina State) is a flabby 330-pound guard who can play right tackle in a pinch. The Chiefs have a great track record at turning unheralded youngsters like Brian Waters and Casey Weigmann into great linemen