Originally Posted by Direckshun
For our first rounder:
The Chiefs have several options here that cross their mind.
They have the next Jamaal Charles. They have a physically-handcrafted-by-the-gods WR on the board. They have not one but FIVE tackles, two of which have LT upside in case Eric Fisher falters. They have a utility offensive lineman who can play every position. They have a passrusher with ridiculous potential. And they have a gargantuan, powerful nose tackle.
Like virtually every NFL team that's ever drafted (no matter what they say), I don't draft BPA blindly, at least in the first round. If I did, we'd have Jamaal Charles and Melvin Gordon in the backfield in Kansas City.
Instead, I draft for the player that will help the Chiefs the most in the short- and long-term. And that cancels out the RB, the OLB, and the NT.
And that leaves the OL options and DGB. (I am not an Armstead fan, and this is too early for any of the remaining QBs, CBs, ILBs, or Maxx Williams.)
DGB will not be the Chiefs selection in this mock. I am not convinced he has what it takes to succeed in the NFL, and even though Kelvin Benjamin is the guy ringing in everybody's ears right now, DGB has far more in common with the dumpster fire that was Johnny Baldwin. It's possible that DGB gets drafted in the 1st round in the ACTUAL NFL draft, given his promise, but it's unlikely he becomes the 1,000 yard receiver his natural abilities suggest. It's far more likely he's going to be dead weight.
That does leave us with the OL options, all of which I grade roughly equally. I won't go through each of them, because you guys hate that for some reason. So I'll just review what the Chiefs need.
At LT, they have Eric Fisher. Fisher has every physical and mental tool to be an effective LT in the NFL. He's struggled greatly due to a slower-than-hoped learning curve and constant (minor) health issues, which he's now recovered from. He's also the 1st overall pick from 2013, so he's going to have an incredible long leash. I still believe in Eric Fisher, probably foolishly, and I don't see an immediate need to draft a potential LT to man his spot should he fail in 2015.
At RT, they have Derek Sherrod, Donald Stephenson, and Jeff Allen. None of these guys are top-half RT material, but all would provide roughly the quality Ryan Harris did last year. Which is to say, not great.
At guard, we now have four starting-caliber guards in Grubbs, Fanaika, Allen, and Fulton. They are not world beaters, but the position isn't the dumpster fire it was after Jeff Allen went down in 2015. I believe Grubbs and Fanaika will be our starters, with Fulton at swing guard.
Center is incredibly hard to project, because nobody knows what to make of Eric Kush, who has played fairly well in preseason and against the Chargers a year ago.
The Chiefs needs at OL are surefire starters at C and RT. So why not get a guy that can play both positions as well as any prospect the 2015 NFL Draft has to offer?
The Chiefs select OL Cameron Erving, from Florida State University.
Erving played ONE season at center at FSU, and already became the best the nation has to offer. Keeping him there to develop offers embarrassingly high upside.
Unless of course the staff falls in love with Kush, and Allen, Stephenson, and Sherrod continue bringing nothing to the table at RT. In which case, Erving was an excellent left tackle for the Seminoles -- and yes, he does offer LT versatility, as well as guard versatility. If you're trying to figure out the Rubik's Cube of the Chiefs offensive line, it helps to have a block that could be any color you want.
Erving has gotten extremely strong the past year, and is an exceptional athlete at pulling out into space. Erving's biggest issues are all technique-related (particularly his kickslide), making him a perfect fit under Andy Reid's tutelage. Dorsey is sure to love his 34"+ arms, which are unheard of at center. Florida State's program has an excellent track record with their centers, anyway -- the Chiefs just let an FSU center walk into free agency and get paid over $9m/year.
The Cowboys and the 49ers have shown the value of stocking your OL with first round picks who end up panning out. While that is not my preferred approach for building a roster, the upside is that it makes life easier on great RBs, and allows more routes to open up downfield in the passing game.
Whether you like it or not, and there is no doubt 80% of you will hate this pick, the Chiefs... have won themselves the draft. I'm just waiting for all of you to catch up.
The Browns are on the clock.
|