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!

[Brock]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Of course, that is why you have to look at their entire careers. And, we all agree that these are 'disciples' of Bill Parcells. And, we saw just last year how he drafted an OT first overall.

Do you think Parcells would rethink that decision at this point?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

I am in ACC/SEC country. I have seen him quite a bit. I also saw Crabtree quite a bit. I imagine that I have seen these two more than most of the 'Sanchez' fanclub have seen him play.

Yeah, because USC is only on TV every week...



You really should change your username, it's false advertising.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Brock

When was the last time anyone took a linebacker in the top 3? Why do you think that is?

Because franchises get sucked into positional value thought processes.

They reach for a higher valued position when a better prospect is sitting in front of them.

Typically, when a player is selected above their 'positional' value, they are RARELY a bust.

Yet, we see QB busts all the time. Hmmm.

[Mecca]

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

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Because franchises get sucked into positional value thought processes.

They reach for a higher valued position when a better prospect is sitting in front of them.

Typically, when a player is selected above their 'positional' value, they are RARELY a bust.

Yet, we see QB busts all the time. Hmmm.

How many of those QB's played in a spread offense vs. a pro style offense?

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Mecca

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

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

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Yeah, because USC is only on TV every week...



You really should change your username, it's false advertising.

I was not referring to you specifically. There are a ton of guys that buy into the hype after the college season is over, having never watched more than a handful of plays from any of these guys.

I appologize if you took that directly towards you.

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by Mecca

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

Wasn't Chad Pennington another first round pick for him too?

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Wasn't Chad Pennington another first round pick for him too?

I'm not sure if he was there when they had the 4 1st rounders it was him or Al Groh.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Because franchises get sucked into positional value thought processes.

They reach for a higher valued position when a better prospect is sitting in front of them.

Typically, when a player is selected above their 'positional' value, they are RARELY a bust.

Yet, we see QB busts all the time. Hmmm.

I nominate this as "Dumbass post of the Day."

[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.

[OnTheWarpath15]

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.

Whoops.

[Mecca]

If he really thinks positional value doesn't matter he's just not being logical or he's not smart one or the other..

There's a reason a LB hasn't been a top 5 pick in 9 years....

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I'm curious as to who likes Curry because he's high on mocks, and who's actually seen him play.

Wake Forest isn't exactly a team that gets a lot of TV time.

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.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Wasn't Chad Pennington another first round pick for him too?

I think Bellichick and Pioli had already moved on to the Pats for the 2000 draft.