The Chiefs @ 16...
 

Assume Pioli is able to work out a trade down for a third round pick.

May not sound like much compared to last year, but last year's 3rd rounder that we received was TWICE the value of what the draft value chart assumes it would be.

So I take the approach that if we score a trade down, it will be for something more realistic. I don't think anybody would break the bank, but we're always wrong, aren't we? So I'm assuming somebody trades up from something like #16 (the Jets) to get to our pick. That nets us a second third rounder, much like 2011.

(If we scored a second rounder, it would drop us something like to the 20th to 22nd spot, depending on the team.)

With that in mind:

1. Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
2. St. Louis Rams: OT Matt Kalil, USC
3. Minnesota Vikings: CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
4. Cleveland Browns: QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
5. Tampa Bay Bucs: WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
6. Washington Redskins: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Quentin Coples, North Carolina
8. Miami Dolphins: OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
9. Carolina Panthers: CB Alonzo Dennard, Nebraska
10. Buffalo Bills: OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford
11. Seattle Seahawks: RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
12. New York Jets: WR Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina
13. Arizona Cardinals: OT Riley Reiff, Iowa
14. Dallas Cowboys: OG David DeCastro, Stanford
15. Philadelphia Eagles: ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
16. Kansas City Chiefs:

At this point, this is my tentative big board:

1. DE/DT Devon Still, Penn State
2. CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
3. CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
4. ILB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
5. DE/OLB Nick Perry, USC
6. WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
7. C Peter Konz, Wisconsin
8. DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
9. WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
10. NT Dontari Poe, Memphis

I think what this proves, above all else, is that a simple trade down of about four spots drastically improves the Chiefs' options and value. In the middle of the round, the Chiefs can go in any number of exciting, valuable directions.

First off, the Chiefs aren't going to take any problem children after dealing with Baldwin this past season. So that leaves out both of the crazy corners at the top of the board. They're also not going to take players that don't fit our defense, or play a position we're basically 100% set at for 2012, which excludes Devon Still.

After that, it's all fair game. This is where it gets fun.

They COULD opt to go with Hightower, which would give the Chiefs one of the most lethal LB corps in the league.

They COULD opt to continue bolstering their receiving corps. Bowe, Breaston, and Baldwin are a good trio of receivers, but none of them provide the one-dimensional deep threat of Kendall Wright as of yet. (Michael Floyd is a solid receiver, but he doesn't really provide us anything we don't already have.)

They COULD bolster their passrushing corps as well. Hali and Houston are great but it's extremely hard to pass on insane talent like Perry or Mercilus. Perry in particular.

They COULD solidify their center position for the next 12 years with Konz, sliding Hudson over to guard and, assuming they draft a right tackle later on, give them a fantastic offensive line.

And of course, they could make the perhaps-necessary reach for a potentially elite, 350 lbs nose tackle to maybe take this defense to the next level.

If it were up to me, I'd take Poe or Perry, with my ultimate preference being Perry. Perry is just unbelievably talented and fast for his size, and if we are truly ready to make a Super Bowl run here in a year or two, we're ****ed if Hali or Houston go down. Perry provides us a third threat and gives Crennel the ability to cook up all kinds of crazy packages. Poe may be a reach, and I reserve the right to demote him if he sucks at the Combine. But if he measures out, he could at the very least finish off this defense.

I think Pioli would prefer Konz. He said a couple weeks ago that the offensive line needed an upgrade, and there are no tackles worthy of a 1st midrounder left. Pioli also attempted to trade up for Mike Pouncey last year.

The Kansas City Chiefs draft C Peter Konz, Wisoncin.

Agreed. If RG3 or Richardson aren't available, we might as well trade down a few spots and get an extra draft pick. But I think that the #16 pick is still a little too high to take a center. You could probably trade down again, in the mid 20's, and still have a shot at Konz.

And I won't be disappointed if we end up drafting a pass rusher with our first pick. You can never have too many. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I like it.

Chiefs don't need a passrusher we have Sheffield and Gabe Miller coming back from injury.

Hahaaaa... I remember in the Vermeil days people made absurd assumptions about players on the defensive roster. It must have been some kind of coping mechanism so they could live with the enormous strain of suck that defense had. "We don't need another defensive end! We have Duane Clemons!"

Not that our current passrushers suck at all... I'm just reminding people to help them gain closure in their lives.

I am kinda disappointed we didn't see anything from Sheffield.

I know Hali plays virtually every snap, but... damn.

Truth.

He started one game this year, even. Did special teams. HAD to have filled in at some point. His grand total at the end of the year was 9 ****ing tackles.

Whatever. He'll be back with a full offseason in case he was just getting used to coming back from the injury still. I hope he does something with his chance and makes the roster, but I'm not holding my breath.

Not a big fan of non LT's in the first round...especially center, and with this awesome O-Line FA class, I think we will be able to find a guard and move Hudson to center.

Though there isn't much value to us here, so I probably wouldn't complain as long as its a need. I would probably take Hightower here. If Carr walks, then either Jenkins or Kirkpatrick... I will say this, I think Jenkins is the better cover corner but has a worse track record with the law. And he's kind of short, whereas Kirkpatrick would be a perfect compliment to Flowers

this is exactly what i hope happens, and once we've picked up the extra value of a pick I'm fine with drafting pretty much anyone...i might even lean konz at that point

I think I would prefer to trade back again and grab Hightower in the process. I realize hes an ILB in the 34 but he has a high football IQ, is a high motor guy and always seems to be in the right place. If we were to grab Soliai in FA and Hightower, is there any question that we are a top 5 defense at that point?

I'm actually fine with this scenario.

If Tannehill isn't around, or we aren't trading up to get Luck or RGIII, trade down and take Konz.

Or if you are gonna be a free agent spender, trade back and take Hightower. Put Hudson at C, bring in a Carl Nicks, get the best RT in the draft in the second round.

IMHO, this years draft isn't too deep.

I think DeCastro has the ability to be a pro bowl quality guard for the next 10 years.

Is Konz as good of a center as DeCastro is guard? Is that dropoff worth a 3rd round pick?

This draft is deep in true fan players. NOt alot of top notch playmakers.

My dream scenario (if we aren't making a move for qb) is to sign Soliai away from Miami or Piohua from NY to fill NT and to fill either RT/C in free agency as well.

Move down in the draft adding a future first rather than a pick in the 12 class.

Take the best player available.

Konz
Reiff
Poe
Webster
DeCastro

One of those guys will be there at 20.

Is a drop of 8/9 spots going to get us a future 1st?

According to the old chart, pick 11 is worth 1,250 points and pick 20 is worth 850.

Pick 50 is worth 400 points, but if you take a pick in the '13 draft you usually command a full round premium.

That's all going off the old value chart, with high picks getting dumb money...the value of the pick would have to be more now that the rules have changed.