For those that want to draft a WR in the first round....

[chop]

Doesn't look like it will happen.

http://www.kansascity.com/160/story/69032.html

Chiefs won’t get grabby

Team doesn’t place a high priority on wide receivers in the upcoming NFL draft.

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star


Herm Edwards was talking recently about the players who will catch passes for the Chiefs next season. He took care to mention two young wide receivers, Jeff Webb and Chris Hannon, even though they had three receptions between them as rookies last season.
“We’ve got two young guys, and I want to see whether they can play or not,” Edwards said. “I know one thing: We don’t cover them in practice very well.”
Is it just draft talk, designed to convince the NFL’s 31 other teams the Chiefs have no intention of selecting a receiver in the upcoming player lottery?
Perhaps. But know two things. First, Edwards isn’t big, even in the days leading to the draft, on talking up prospects he doesn’t have expectations for.
The other is that the Chiefs don’t view improving the position as a top priority, certainly not as much as their fans do. They made no move in free-agency to sign a wide receiver.
The only top wide receiver known to be visiting with the Chiefs next week, when they intend to bring up to 30 draft prospects to Arrowhead Stadium, is Robert Meachem of Tennessee.
Among the top receivers not scheduled to visit are Sidney Rice of South Carolina, Steve Smith of USC, Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis of LSU, Paul Williams of Fresno State and Yamon Figurs of Kansas State.
While this is insignificant taken alone, it is another indication the Chiefs believe they have bigger positional priorities in the draft, such as cornerback and defensive tackle.
The Chiefs could use another wide receiver and will probably select at least one. They may be content to wait until later in the draft to do it.
“When you draft a receiver in the first round, a lot of times it’s buyer beware,” Edwards said. “For some reason, it takes them a while. Most rookie receivers don’t come in and light it up their first year. They struggle. The dynamics have changed for those guys from college to the NFL. You have to understand that when you draft a receiver in the first round. A lot of them don’t play their first year and even when they play, they don’t live up to expectations.
“You can find guys to help you at wide receiver later in the draft, definitely.”
Unless a draft pick pushes his way into the playing rotation, starters Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker along with Webb and Hannon will be the top wide receivers next season.
The Chiefs are trying to trade Dante Hall, who hasn’t given them what they hoped as either a slot receiver or kick returner in recent seasons. He may be released if he isn’t traded.
The Chiefs are counting on dramatic improvement from Webb, a sixth-round pick last year, and Hannon, who wasn’t drafted. Webb is bigger and more physical, and Hannon is faster but must get stronger.
“They’ve got some talent,” Edwards said. “They have enough that they’ve earned the opportunity to try to play. That’s what we’ve emphasized. We’re trying to create competition.
“It’s just a matter of getting to the details of what we’re trying to do. Now they know what we want from them. They’re not just trying to figure out what to do. ”
To Webb and Hannon, it’s a gift that the Chiefs haven’t added a wide receiver, at least so far.
“That’s the coach’s decision,” Webb said. “I don’t know what they’re thinking. All I can do is work on Jeff Webb and try to be a good player.
“Hannon and I are doing our jobs right now. We’re working extra hours when it comes time to lift weights and (spending) extra hours out on the practice field with Brodie (Croyle).”
Kennison has been a regular at the offseason workouts since they began almost two weeks ago. He recently turned 34, an advanced age for a wide receiver.
But Kennison keeps himself in good physical condition. His streak of two straight 1,000-yard seasons was ended last year, but that had more to do with problems elsewhere in the Chiefs’ passing game than with any drop-off in Kennison’s play.
“I’m not going to let anybody else determine when I retire from this game,” he said. “I want to retire when I’m ready. And I’m not ready.
“I’m better at taking care of myself: diet, exercise, doing the things that are right all the time. I’m not a guy that hangs out in the nightspots. I’m not a drinker. I keep finding ways to do things better. The workouts continue to get better for me. It makes things easier. That’s my whole deal.”

[LiL stumppy]

Originally Posted by milkman

I'm glad you aren't the GM.

We have far too many holes to fill to be concerning ourselves with targeting one player, or one position, to simply throw away draft picks to get that player or fill that position..

Like I said earlier, anyone past the second round is going to be a prospect. There getting picked in the third round for a reason. Most of them wont come in and start righ away,so why try? Why not get a few proven players, instead of one good 2 good players and a bunch players that may pan out,but probably wont.

[Mecca]

The fact that the Chiefs suck in the 2nd and 3rd round doesn't mean you should be just giving those picks away.........that's a reason this team is like it is.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by crazycoffey

didn't he do pretty well last year, standing in for Hall, the very first time he returned one pretty far..... fifty yards.

I guess I didn't know he was a bust too, damn. Well go for Ginn than Carl/mecca.....

I'm not saying that Webb won't be able to do the job.
I'm saying that I am not ready to simply hand a late round project pick a job without providing competition for the position.

Kid has to earn the spot.

If he doesn't pan out, he can't be considered a bust.

He was a late round project pick with no real expectations, only hope.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by LiL stumpy

Like I said earlier, anyone past the second round is going to be a prospect. There getting picked in the third round for a reason. Most of them wont come in and start righ away,so why try? Why not get a few proven players, instead of one good 2 good players and a bunch players that may pan out,but probably wont.

Why try?

Because proven players often never play at the same level for their new teams.

Because this team isn't anywhere close to actual contender status.

Take a look at the teams that have won SBs in the past.

They are teams that built through the draft.
They stockpiled picks, and grew their own talent.

They didn't start targeting certain players and positions until they had a solid core group of players to work with and build around.

The Chiefs need to find away to acquire more picks, not throw picks away to target a position.

They just aren't good enough for that.

Targeting a specific player or position and giving up picks for that is a sure way to continued mediocrity and prettender status.