Nicholas Athan's final mock draft

[Hammock Parties]

http://kan.scout.com/2/749474.html

If you didn't appreciate my last Mock Draft, which included a trade of Jared Allen for three draft picks, what do you think now? Yes, I chose the wrong trade partner, but in the end the Chiefs stole three picks from Minnesota and because of it, will be the team to watch this weekend.

Round #1 (8th Pick from Baltimore)

G Branden Albert (Virginia) – Next to defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey from LSU, Albert has been KC’s top target since early March. The Chiefs had hoped to take his teammate, defensive end Chris Long, but he goes to the Raiders.

The Falcons shock the world by taking Vernon Gholston, making a Chiefs trade with Baltimore possible. The Ravens take Matt Ryan with the fifth overall pick, sending the Chiefs their 8th pick and their second-rounder. The Chiefs then pick a player they believe can play left tackle for the next 10 years.

Round #1 (17th Pick from Minnesota)

DE Derrick Harvey (Florida) – With Allen gone, the Chiefs have nobody on the roster to rush the passer from the right side. With Turk McBride coming into his second year and Tamba Hali his third, KC’s defensive end group needs a boost. Harvey, like Albert, is one of the fastest risers in this draft. A year ago both were considered mid-second-round picks, but now they’re teammates drafted in round one.

Round #2 (35th Pick)

OT Sam Baker (USC) - The best tackle on the board at this point. Kansas City can put him at right tackle to complement Albert. This pick removes the under construction sign for KC’s offensive line. Rudy Niswanger will start at center, Brian Waters will stay at left guard, and Damion McIntosh moves from left tackle to right guard.

Round #2 (38th Pick from Ravens)

CB Tyvon Branch (Connecticut) – This is a need pick for Kansas City. They considered Mike Jenkins and Aqib Talib with the 17th pick, but passed on both. This is the best corner left, and an important pick for the Chiefs, because they need two starting corners from this draft. Branch is just a shade under six foot but he’s fast, can play the cover two, and should be a solid addition to the starting lineup in 2008.

Round #3 (66th Pick)

QB Brian Brohm (Louisville) – Brohm slides down the board and the Chiefs end up with the fourth-rated quarterback in the draft class, as they did in 2006 when they selected Brodie Croyle. Let the battle begin. Brohm will have a lot to prove being taken this late in the draft. I’m sure he regrets coming back for his senior season, but it’s always good when a quarterback has a chip on his shoulder.

Round #3 (73rd Pick from Minnesota)

G John Greco (Toledo) - Greco has been climbing up draft boards, but he’ll be around for the Chiefs to spend one of Minnesota’s picks on. He’ll be the heir apparent for McIntosh or Waters on the interior line.

Round #3 (82nd Pick from Minnesota)

WR Jordy Nelson (Kansas State) - The Chiefs have had their eye on Nelson for two years. He’s the reincarnation of former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Steve Largent. His deceptive speed, great hands and ability to catch the ball in traffic will make him a popular target for Brodie Croyle. He’ll challenge Devard Darling for the number two spot.

Round #4 (105th Pick)

DE Lawrence Jackson (USC) - He has skills as a pass rusher but needs to work on his first step. He plays with excellent leverage, however, because of his size. Give Jackson a year with Tim Krumrie and he could be a solid rotational player along with Turk McBride.

Round #5 (136th Pick from Miami)

MLB Ezra Butler-Beaton (UNLV) –The Chiefs need to upgrade the speed in the linebacker corps. Donnie Edwards isn’t getting any younger, so Butler-Beaton could compete for a starting job by 2009. Sandwiched between Derrick Johnson and DeMorrio Williams, Butler-Beaton would round out an athletic set of linebackers.

Round #5 (140th Pick)

C Cody Wallace (Texas A&M) – With Notre Dame’s John Sullivan gone, Wallace is the next best thing. He’s strong, smart and was a pillar on the Aggies’ offensive line. He’ll need at least a year before he’s NFL-ready, but this pick gives the Chiefs options in the event Niswanger isn’t ready to start the season or struggles.

Round #6 (170th Pick)

RB Tim Hightower (Richmond) - He can catch the ball out of the backfield and has a low center of gravity. Hightower could become a starter when Larry Johnson declines. He’s rated high on a few draft boards, but for the most part he’s gone under the radar.

Round #6 (187th Pick from Tampa Bay)

CB Jonathan Zenon (LSU) – He comes from a great program and an aggressive defense. Others weren’t all that enamored with his play last season, but he’s a system guy and that’s what Kansas City needs playing the Cover 2. They need a player who is quick to the ball and can keep the play in front of him. Can he jump to starter? Probably not, but the Chiefs could squeeze one more season out of Patrick Surtain if Zenon has trouble adjusting to the NFL.

Round #6 (194th Pick from New York Giants)

OT Mike Fladell (Rutgers) – After trading safety Greg Wesley to the New York Giants, Kansas City uses the extra pick in this round to draft another project. Fladell, who most have never heard of, is a massive man standing at 6-foot-8, but needs a lot of seasoning, making him the perfect fit for the Chiefs.

Round #7 (210th Pick)

WR Adarius Bowman (Oklahoma State) – Bowman was a third or fourth-round guy in the eyes of most NFL scouts early on, but he was flat out awful at the Senior Bowl and everyone now questions his work ethic. He won’t have that problem in Kansas City with Eric Price as his position coach. It’s doubtful that he slips this far, but if he does the Chiefs would be wise to snag him. If he’s not around, Kansas City could take Kansas wide receiver Marcus Henry or Missouri’s Tony Franklin.

Round #7 (239th Pick from New York Giants)

K Brandon Coutu (Georgia) – It's fitting this pick is used on a kicker since it was gained by trading Lawrence Tynes last year. Coutu is not the highest rated kicker in this draft, but at the Senior bowl he showed a strong leg despite the cold and windy conditions. The Chiefs passed on Mason Crosby last year and it backfired. Coutu might be the answer.