Teicher:Chiefs should have a short list of top draft pick candidates

[Mecca]

Who knew Mike Mayock was a true fan...


http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...y/1028585.html


Chiefs should have a short list of top draft pick candidates
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star


Hundreds of players are available in this year’s NFL draft, but the Chiefs will have to investigate only a fraction of them when it comes to their first pick.

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said only about 10 players are worthy of the Chiefs’ consideration with their top pick, which is third overall.

“There’s probably a total of 10 guys they’ll have to look at and evaluate and then say, ‘OK, here’s our list one, two and three,’ ” Mayock said. “They know they’re getting one of those guys.”

Mayock’s list is heavy on offensive players, which is unfortunate for a team that needs plenty of help on its defensive front seven. It includes quarterbacks Matt Stafford of Georgia and Mark Sanchez of Southern California, wide receivers Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech and Jeremy Maclin of Missouri, running backs Knowshon Moreno of Georgia and Chris Wells of Ohio State and offensive tackles Eugene Monroe of Virginia and Jason Smith of Baylor.

The only defensive players are Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry and Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo.

While the Chiefs are closer to being competitive on offense than defense, they have few positions where they couldn’t use some help. Perhaps the only one is cornerback, where rookies Brandon Carr and Brandon Flowers moved into the lineup last season and looked like part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

Picking third, their highest position since taking Neil Smith with the second pick in 1988, would allow the Chiefs a chance at a long-elusive franchise quarterback. Stafford will likely be selected by Detroit with the first pick, but Sanchez could well be available to the Chiefs.

“The potential franchise quarterback is the most important position on your team,” Mayock said. “If I’m building a franchise, the first thing I’m going to do is (investigate) the quarterback position. This year, the guys you better evaluate are Stafford and Sanchez. I’m not trying to tell you they should take them at (No.) 3. I’m saying they had better understand what they are.

“I wish Sanchez went back (to USC) for another year. He needed another year. He’s a kid that only started 16 games, but he’s got the ability and the toughness and the arm strength and can learn the pro game and be a starter.”

Moreno and Wells are the best of the running backs, and the Chiefs could be in the market for a featured back if they dispose of Larry Johnson, who is unhappy in Kansas City and wants out.

The Chiefs drafted Branden Albert in the first round last year, and he looks like their left tackle for several seasons. That’s why the Chiefs probably wouldn’t seriously consider Monroe or Smith, but it’s not impossible because they could use an upgrade on the right side of their line.

With so many other needs, wide receiver probably won’t be a priority. But faced with the opportunity of grabbing a playmaker like Crabtree or Maclin, could the Chiefs turn it down?

Of all the players on Mayock’s list, Curry might make the most sense for the Chiefs. They didn’t get any reliable play from their linebackers last season and lacked a playmaker after trading Jared Allen.

“I’m a big believer that Aaron Curry might be the safest pick in the entire draft,” Mayock said. “I hate to say that, but when you’re sitting at (No.) 3, the thing you can’t afford to do is make a mistake. Worst-case scenario: He’s got to be a good football player. Aaron Curry is that kind of guy.

“He played (strong side) linebacker in college. He dominated the tight end. But I could very easily see him converting to a 3-4 outside linebacker because he can rush the passer well, he drops in coverage well. He’s a fifth-year kid. He’s mature. I just think he’s the safest guy out there.”

Boy that's how I'd wanna make my picks based on the fear of a bust so I reach for a devalued position brilliant!

[CrazyHorse]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Its funny people are saying we are only drafting a QB because of the positional value, even though DE is just as valuable and a bigger need, yet we aren't talking about drafting one. Oh wait, thats because there are two QB's worth the #3 pick and zero DE's.

To say there are 2 QBs worth the #3 pick is very subjective.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by arc

To be honest, I had never heard of him until after the regular season was over. I don't remember him being on anyone's radar until then, either. I watched his bowl game because of some of the pub he was getting in mocks in December and was unimpressed (they were playing an option team, though).

I live on the west coast, so Wake Forest isn't on much, so that might have been it.

All the Mocks had Curry going somewhere between 12-20 until Mayock sucked his cock on NFL Network then he was in the top 5...

No joke.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by CrazyHorse

To say there are 2 QBs worth the #3 pick is very subjective.

Either that, or very obvious.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Mecca

You know Bill Parcells drafted Drew Bledsoe with the #1 pick......oh snap!

Great point. That was the first or second year of free agency. Most would agree that things have changed with the evolution of free agency.

Look at his resurection projects since then.

Heck, look at the Dallas Cowboys. He had Quincy Carter starting for crying out loud. He didn't trade for Bledsoe until 2005.

Look at the Jets. He brought in Testeverde.

Look at the Phins, he brought in Pennington.

But, yes, four teams, and 15 years ago, Bill Parcells drafted Bledsoe.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Focus on Brady in the 6th and Cassel in the 7th.

Yep, four teams, and 15 years ago, Parcells spent a first round pick on a QB to build around.

NFL has changed a little since then.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Yep, four teams, and 15 years ago, Parcells spent a first round pick on a QB to build around.

NFL has changed a little since then.

This sounds an awful lot like the Carl Peterson way of doing business, do you realize that?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Did we hire Bill Parcells and I missed it?

Who gives a flying **** who Bill Parcells drafted, and when?

It has no bearing on what Pioli will do in April.

NONE.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Yep, four teams, and 15 years ago, Parcells spent a first round pick on a QB to build around.

NFL has changed a little since then.

He drafted Chad Pennington in the first round too.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Did we hire Bill Parcells and I missed it?

Who gives a flying **** who Bill Parcells drafted, and when?

It has no bearing on what Pioli will do in April.

NONE.

It had a ton of bearing in Atlanta last year.

Oh, wait.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Great point. That was the first or second year of free agency. Most would agree that things have changed with the evolution of free agency.

Look at his resurection projects since then.

Heck, look at the Dallas Cowboys. He had Quincy Carter starting for crying out loud. He didn't trade for Bledsoe until 2005.

Look at the Jets. He brought in Testeverde.

Look at the Phins, he brought in Pennington.

But, yes, four teams, and 15 years ago, Bill Parcells drafted Bledsoe.

I wonder if he had a do over on last years draft if he would stay with the safe pick in Long in the first round and the gamble with Henne in the 2nd round, or if he would rather the fish had Ryan for the next 12-15 seasons instead?

Be interesting to see how that all plays out over the years. My guess is the fish are going to wish Parcells would have went the other way. And that may be his advise to Pioli as well, provided Poili asks him for any.

[Saccopoo]

I would love to have one of our resident draftnik gurus explain to me why Jenkins, as a cornerback, presents better value than everyone out there other than Stafford or Sanchez. Cornerbacks are only successful approximately 30% of the time and given enough time a good quarterback is going to beat a great cornerback almost everytime - rules favor the offense. And seeing as how the rules are now being called in favor of the receiver in terms of pass interference, why would a cornerback such as Jenkins be perceived to have more value than a linebacker such as Curry. Seems to me that if both players are of equal talent level, the linebacker would have a better chance to have a positive impact on the game versus the cornerback. (Especially a strong side backer that can be effective in both passing and run situations - I think that you people busting on a strong side backer as a position of lesser value are incorrect in that assumption because of their ability to be an effective three down player. As well, it seems some are leg humping the magical 15 sack linebacker as a high draft value pick, but it would seem to me that that guy would be easier to find than a three down backer who can effectively play side line to side line and help in every aspect of the game. There are Elvis Dumervils in about every draft - if we need one of those, couldn't we just pick up a Larry English or Connor Barwin type player in round two, three or four?)

Whose the best cornerback in the game? Bailey would be my guess, and has been so for the past decade. He's even been listed numerous times in the top five of NFL Best Overall Player lists. However, how many Super Bowls has he been in? How many playoff games has he won?

I'm just curious as to why some of our so called experts are justifying a cornerback as a correct value pick in terms of the Chiefs picking third overall, especially when comparing him to Curry.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Here's what we know about Pioli, regarding his NE years.

Why were they firing low-round selections on QB's early in his tenure there? Oh yeah, because Drew Bledsoe, the #1 overall selection was starting.

After catching lightning in a bottle with Brady, there was, once again, no need to take a QB high.

What we do know, however, is that even though the team had great talent at the position, Bledsoe and then Brady, Pioli kept drafting QB's. That's how he acquired Cassel.

End result: we know Pioli values the position. Greatly.

Thank goodness. Expect the Chiefs to draft one with the #3 overall selection, since there are two worthy prospects on the board.

Stafford is more worthy than Sanchez..........I wouldnt take a QB when his college coach is even saying that he's not ready. After one year starting those odds of him succeeding are horrible and the fact that we're picking #3 makes the Sanchez pick look foolish.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Stafford is more worthy than Sanchez..........I wouldnt take a QB when his college coach is even saying that he's not ready. After one year starting those odds of him succeeding are horrible and the fact that we're picking #3 makes the Sanchez pick look foolish.

Yeah, Peter Carroll was butthurt because his sure thing championship next year went poof.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Coogs

I wonder if he had a do over on last years draft if he would stay with the safe pick in Long in the first round and the gamble with Henne in the 2nd round, or if he would rather the fish had Ryan for the next 12-15 seasons instead?

Be interesting to see how that all plays out over the years. My guess is the fish are going to wish Parcells would have went the other way. And that may be his advise to Pioli as well, provided Poili asks him for any.

A QB (right handed) can't succeed without a good LT

[RustShack]

The Falcons got a GM from the Pats last year and they went with a QB #3 overall.