My 2006 Mock Fixes the Defense

[Mr. Kotter]

The 2006 NFL Draft is here--finally. Next weekend, the Chiefs will launch the Herman Edwards era with, perhaps, the most important draft they have faced in several years. Every draft is important, but with an aging squad the Chief’s choices next weekend could be the difference between a long rebuilding process and a quick reloading and turn-around.


The Chiefs needs appear to be pretty clear: defensive line, defensive backfield, and wide receiver are the priorities, while depth on the offensive line and Quarterback-of-the-future (QBOTF) should also bear careful consideration. As they send several veterans to their retirements in the next year or two, there are replacements to be groomed in addition to the obvious upgrades they need at several positions.

The future direction of this franchise may very well be determined by the draft choices the Chiefs make next weekend. Edwards has a reputation for being a good judge of talent and had a couple of impressive drafts while head coach of the Jets. Ideally, the Chiefs would like to draft three solid defensive players on the first day. However, the lack of depth in this draft may mean they only get two players who can make contributions early in their careers. The Edwards Era in Chief history would get a major lift with a good draft. Here is hoping it’s a good one!

My two cents if I were in the war room, as if Herm or any of you really care…




My 2006 Mock Draft in brief:
1. Tamba Hali, DE Penn State
1.a. ALTERNATE PLAN: (Based on Availability: Antonio Cromartie or Ty Hill, if you insist on a CB)
2. Darnell Bing, S USC
3. Dusty Dvorcek, DT Oklahoma
3b. TRADE-DOWN compensation: Jason Avant, WR Michigan
5. Rashad Butler, OT Miami-FL
6. Rashaan Powers-Neal FB Notre Dame
7. Brad Smith, QB Missouri




Day One:

First Round:
TRADE DOWN (unless Bunkley or Ngata fall)

Tamba Hali, DE (Penn State) Hali is a fierce, high motor threat to rush the QB. He’s a bit undersized, but tough against the run. A poor man’s Dwight Freeney? (Back-up plan: Kamerion Wimbley)

OR, Antonio Cromartie or Ty Hill (Based on Availability: if you insist on a CB...but then you lose Avant, whom I really, really like despite the concerns of some about his speed.)

By trading down in the first round with the Giants, Bears, or Panthers, the Chiefs should be able to acquire a third or fourth round draft pick. That would recoup the draft pick they lost in signing Edwards.

If either Cromartie or Huff are still available when the Chiefs pick at 20, they would be hard for the Chiefs to pass on—and if they are available the Chiefs should grab them. If they can trade down for Ty Hill, I'd be okay with that too. I'm not confident in either of those scenarios, though. However, there should be good value at S and CB in the second round. The thinking here is to wait until the second round to fill a slot in the defensive backfield (maybe even wait until the third, hoping for Cedric Griffin, DeMario Minter, or Alan Zemaitis)

Other possible first round picks: Kamerion Wimbley (DE, FSU) Ty Hill (CB, Clemson), Jonathon Joseph (CB, Virginia Tech), Jason Allen (S, Tennessee), or Richard Marshall (CB, Fresno State.)

2nd Round:
54. Darnell Bing, S (USC) Bing is an instinctive, tough, and hard-hitting head-hunter. Though he is not as fast as some other safeties, he’s an experienced playmaker. A young Sammy Knight? (Backup plan: Pat Watkins)

Huff, Allen, and Whitner will be gone. Is Bing fast enough to play FS for a while? Maybe. But he could end up at SS, or even OLB. Bullocks might be available, and is faster. My gut says Bing will have a better NFL career.

Other possible second round picks: Mathias Kiwanuka (DE, Boston College) or Ko Simpson (S, South Carolina) could fall; otherwise Rodrique Wright (DT, Texas) or John McCargo (DT, Virginia Tech) should be able to step in at DT. I’ve also grown fond of Pat Watkins (CB/FS, FSU), Roman Harper (S, Alabama), or Daryl Tapp (DE, Virginia Tech).

Third Round:
85. Dusty Dvoracek, (DT, Oklahoma) Instinctive and intense football player, with a motor that never stops. In a word, tenacious. He’s had off-field issues, but he’s an on-field presence our D could use. (Back-up plan: Jonathon Lewis)

Unless Wright, Lewis, Wroten, or McCargo fall, Dvoracek is an easy choice here if the Chiefs are serious about fixing their defensive line. Dvorcek, alongside Hali and Jared Allen, could transform a weakness into a strength, and one of the best young defensive lines in the league.

3rd Round pick, from first round “trade-down:”

Jason Avant, (WR Michigan) A big, athletic, and polished WR who would be a good compliment to Sami Parker, as a possession receiver. (Back-up plan: Devin Aramashodo)

Other possible third round picks: Jonathan Scott (OT, Texas), Greg Lee (WR, Pittsburg), Hank Baskett (WR, New Mexico), Guy Whimper (OT, E. Carolina), Mark Setterstrom (OG, Minnesota).



Day Two:

Fifth Round:
Rashad Butler, (OT, Miami-FL) A great athlete who is quick and has great footwork. Explosive for his size. A project. Needs to add some weight, but can become an LT in the NFL. A Skinny Willie Roaf? (Back-up plan, Whimper, or Setterstrom—if they drop; as OL prospects do)

If Svitek, Sampson, Black, or Parquet don’t work out, here’s our next offensive linemen experiment.

Sixth Round:
Rashaan Powers-Neal, (FB, Notre Dame) Versatile athlete who can run and catch, but he is also a good blocker. TRich’s heir apparent?

Versatility is the key for FBs in the NFL today. And this kid is already a decent blocker on top of it.

Seventh Round:
Brad Smith, (QB, Missouri) A project and potential back-up QB? If nothing else, maybe he becomes an Antwan Randle-El type player for the Chiefs...



FLAME AWAY......heh