Mock Draft (2/6/12)
 

I'm just going to get ridiculous here and play the game I want to play.

I am not going to be committing to need as much as might be demanded. I'm just going to give you guys a little bit of a look as to some alternate ideas the Chiefs could embrace.

Assumptions:

1. ILB Jovan Belcher is tendered.

4. WR Dwayne Bowe is franchised.

5. The Chiefs are outbid on Brandon Carr and Wallace Gilberry, losing both.

6. FB Le'Ron McClain, TE Leonard Pope, ILB Brandon Siler, OLB Andy Studebaker, CB Travis Daniels, and S Jon McGraw are all signed to one-year deals.

7. RB Thomas Jones, WR Jerheme Urban, OT Barry Richardson, C Casey Wiegmann, NT Kelly Gregg are all parted with.

On with the show.

1. CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/892653/WR1.PNG

Losing Brandon Carr? Fear not. Well... fear a little. You're losing a starting caliber, big-bodied corner who plays the angles so well, he's in the rare echelon of corners that quarterbacks simply don't test. The problem is, he's going to cost $50 million when you've already spent that on your other corner. Resigning Carr would be good for the on-field product, but potentially ugly for the cap situation.

So, let's go with somebody bigger than Carr, and faster than Carr. Somebody that will be able to play that incredibly valuable role that Carr plays: the ability to be left out on the island against some of the most physically intimidating receivers the NFL has to offer.

If we let Carr go, Kirkpatrick is our best pick. No QBs justify the #11/#12 overall, and all the other talent play the devalued positions of right tackle, guard, or running back. Let's stay with the tried and true pattern of spending the best picks on the best players at the best positions, and continue this rebuild at the fastest possible speed.

2. DE/DT Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images...jpg?1326836606

This is a pretty narrow draft if you're looking for somebody to create havoc in your opponent's backfield from the middle of the defensive line. Ever Brockers and Still, the two best defensive tackles in the 2012 draft class, aren't sack artists.

Wolfe is. With Dorsey likely in the last year of his contract, and Allen Bailey on deck to fill his spot, the Chiefs will need to continue beefing up their defensive line rotation to wear down offensive lines over the course of the season.

And unlike Dorsey (and Jackson), Wolfe is a tireless machine who lives in the backfield. He totaled 9.5 sacks last season. No other tackle comes close. If he somehow slips down into the second round, this is a pick we'd be smart to make.

3. OT Mitchell Schwartz, California

http://calbearsonline.com/cal_bears_...-1113_1338.jpg

A team captain, Schwartz is the kind of offensive lineman that Pioli drools over. He is huge with fantastic athleticism. I thought this guy looked great all season for Cal, but in that mid-round overachiever way. His performance at the Senior Bowl was aces, however, opening up great lanes and stoning at both tackle positions. A born and bred right tackle.

4. RB Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-joVOL6u_Q5...%252C+2010.jpg

We all saw Pead spring out at the Senior Bowl. Such great athleticism and ability to blast through holes. Jamaal Charles is a brilliant runner, but we can't rely on him coming off his horrific injury. At the very least, Pead offers this team yet another playmaker who will try harder than everybody else on the field.

5. RB Tauren Poole, Tennessee

http://media.govolsxtra.com/media/im...14290_t607.jpg

The bruiser this team needs, Poole boasts good size and great vision. Thomas Jones is out the door and Battle has no contract. Poole is tailor-made for the zone blocking system, and size-wise is a perfect compliment for Charles, Pead, and McCluster.

6. FS Rashard Hall, Clemson

http://media.thestate.com/smedia/200...filiate.74.JPG

Hall is a really special athlete by late-round standards, and his highlight reels have all kinds of high-flying acrobatics as he makes countless plays on the ball. Hall is a ball hawk that this team sorely needs to groom behind Kendrick Lewis and push him for that starting position. Hall's weakness is between the ears, primarily as he struggles with discipline and keeping his assignments. I am taking the assumption at this point that Hall can be coached up.

7. C/OG Adam Gettis, Iowa

http://www.fanaticalfootballfiend.co...567197.jpg?663

A perfect Pioli offensive lineman prospect. He comes from a school that loves offensive line, and Pioli's no doubt been spying him for months as he plays a couple spots down from Riley Reiff. Gettis (the guy opening the hole above on the left) is super athletic, and can pull as well as most of the prospects coming out in this draft. It's a perfect fit for Kansas City.

The problem is that he's only 280 lbs. You can start him on the interior line depth chart behind Darryl Harris as Asamoah, Hudson, and Lilja man the posts. But he's going to take a year or so to get up to the size he needs to be at. If you can get him there, he already has the skillset he needs to be successful.

Depth chart:

QB: Cassel, Stanzi
RB: Charles, Pead, McCluster, Poole
FB: McClain

WR: Bowe, Breaston, Baldwin, Copper, McCluster
TE: Moeaki, Pope

LT: Albert, Schwartz
LG: Lilja, Harris
C: Hudson, Gettis
RG: Asamoah, Harris
RT: Schwartz, Maneri

DE: Dorsey, Bailey
NT: Gordon, Powe
DE: Jackson, Wolfe

OLB: Hali, Sheffield
ILB: Belcher, Siler
ILB: Johnson, Williams
OLB: Houston, Studebaker

CB: Flowers, Kirkpatrick, Arenas, Daniels, Brown
S: Berry, Lewis, McGraw, Hall

K: Succop
P: Colquitt
LS: Gafford
KR/PR: Arenas

Re-signing McClain and drafting back to back RBs in the 4th and 5th. Seems like solid logic to go along with the 2nd round DE.

At least your are fairly sure that most of those picks could happen, since they are pretty much all reaches, minus Pead dropping to 4 and Rashard Hall who is going back to school.

Kickpatrick is a reach in the 1st?

Schwartz in the 3rd?

Poole in the 5th?

Those are reaches? Really?

The Matt Cassel Project: Have 5 RBs on your roster and run the ball 60 times a game.

Say what you will but we are THIN THIN THIN at the running back position.

Draft 1 midround RB is not enough. Charles is not a 20 carries/game guy.

I would take a RB in the 2-3 round range. McClain should be getting the short yardage work. With Charles, McCluster, McClain and a rookie......we're good at RB.

Until there's another injury.

Not to be overly critical, but you have OG Lilga "parted with" in the OP and listed as a starter in #2. Signing some young, under the radar free agents would help with depth. I like TE Kellen Davis (Bears), OG Jeremy Zuttah (Bucs), and OT Anthony Collins (Bengals) for offense. Since this is all speculation, speculating on some free agent signings not named Manning or Orton would would be a reasonable addition to your off-season blueprint.

Nah, we need 2 more RBs. 4 just wont do. No reason to use one of those picks on a TE when Pope is good for another year to start after Moeaki goes down with an injury.

Fixed. I copy-and-paste my assumptions from other mocks I've done and tweak them, so I missed that.

I'd say Kirkpatrick, who was viewed as a top 20 pick before his stock started dropping would be a reach at 11/12.

I'd say Schwartz who isn't on anyone's top 100, from what I can tell, would be a reach in the 3rd just because of 1 week at the Senior Bowl.

Poole is probably the closest thing out of your draft that wouldn't be a reach. But he's still a 5-6th projection that hasn't done anything to improve that.

College TE Steve Maneri (6'6", 290#s) as the only OT backup leaves the position pretty thin. I'd make him the blocking TE anyway. Resembles the Giants Jake Ballard more than an OT. Add David Mims and maybe free agent pickup Anthony Collins to the OT depth chart and you get some cover if Albert leaves next season. I only see 48 names on the depth chart so more players can be added.

I hate that in this scenario we have to use our 1st on a CB and still downgrading at that spot. (because there's no way he comes in at Brandon's level)

Would be ultimate fair on the GM's part that we get outbid when we're 30 mil below the cap.

Unacceptable.

Direckshun, why do all your mocks assume that we won't re-sign Carr? Just for once, to play devil's advocate, couldn't you make a mock that assumed we DO sign Brandon Carr?

Because it's harder. I enjoy the challenge, however slight.

Also, I am not optimistic that we do resign him.

To be fair, in this scenario, there is no better value.

Everything else is either a major reach or a right tackle, guard, or running back.

Dre Kirkpatrick is a late 1st early 2nd round CB. He's not crazy good, and he got caught pokin' da smot.

I am. There's money enough for him. His friends are here. Wants to be here. Also, as a professional, KC is all he knows.

This is the advantage of building a team through the draft. The young influential players are likely to build strong relationships with their other young teammates, and also, the known is better than the unknown. Carr knows he can succeed here for sure. Leaving is Brandon Carr's last option if the Chiefs don't want him, or aren't willing to give him fair money. Notice I didn't say outstanding, Carr will come for fair, which is in Flowers ballpark. Carr may take a bit less to stay though, given his inclination to stay.

This mock sucks.

I really don't agree. He's got great size, near-elite speed, and good ballskills.

The pot thing doesn't scare me off any more than it did with Justin Houston.

Great, so we'll be paying our starting corners $95 million instead of $100 million.

It just doesn't sound like a Pioli deal.

This scenario is our worst possible thing that could happen IMO. We spend our 1st round draft pick to make out team exactly the same as it was before with Carr. So in a sense, we just forfeit our 1st round pick. :shake:

Hell, I'll take this guy in the 3rd round :)

While I understand what you're saying, Kirkpatrick projects to essentially be Brandon Carr, for at least $30-35 million cheaper.

Money that could be, ostensibly, spent on something awesome like a potential franchise nose or quarterback.

AMEN.

Not per year. And we already have 30-35 million to play with.

Gettis in the 7th is precisely what this team needs to be doing with the OL in the draft.

Gettis is another high floor/low ceiling guy - certainly not as good as Marshall Yanda but in that mold.

Not sure he's center material though.

Direckshun:

Rashard Hall just had knee surgery and will be returning to Clemson for the 2012 season.

http://www.clemsontigers.com/sports/...012612aab.html

Yeah, that was brought to my attention earlier in the thread. Thanks.

The spirit of the selection still counts, I suppose.

Please assume we re-sign Carr.

2 RBs? Really?

Realistically in the draft we should be looking for NT, another back to go with Charles, another TE in case for Moeaki and to create mismatches, RT, OC or OG, safety depth.

I don't think Kirkpatrick, even with his problems, is going to last beyond the Cowboys. Their need is just so pressing. He won't be around in later rounds.

Whether I assume it or not makes no difference on whether we do.

And if we don't, which I would say is more realistic, I'll at least be a little better versed on the corners than most who will only check them out once Carr signs with another team.

Because you are the only one who knows who Kirkpatrick is. ROFL

I'd rather get familiar with the first five rounds worth of talent at the CB position now rather than scramble to learn it in a couple of weeks once Carr signs elsewhere.

Let me guess...

You are thinking about Kirkpatrick, Jenkins, Gilmore, Minnifield, Boykin, "Tru" Johnson, Prater, Bentley...

Yup.

Well, kinda. Jenkins is a red flag machine.

I'm also checking out Dennard, Hayward, this incredible Norman kid out of Coastal Carolina who I never watched play, Judie, and Jackson out of Cal-Poly.

I will be blaming you.