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April 23, 2008
Draft day from Chiefs perspective
Taking at look at the draft from another team's perspective:
Last night's Kansas City-Minnesota trade was huge and could end up making the Chiefs a big winner Saturday in the draft.
Kansas City already had the No. 5 overall pick and acquired the No. 17 plus two third-rounders from the Vikings in exchange for franchise free agent defensive end Jared Allen.
The trade combined with possible shifts in the first four picks in the draft could leave Kansas City with excellent players to fill need positions.
There now appears to be a possibility that the Chiefs could get Virginia defensive end Chris Long with the fifth pick, which would be a huge value there and would provide an instant replacement for Allen.
It has looked in recent weeks like Kansas City was going to have to reach for an offensive lineman at No. 5. Based on recent developments, however, here's a very possible way KC could get Long:
1. Miami -- Has already signed Michigan OT Jake Long
2. St. Louis -- The Rams are deciding between Chris Long, Glenn Dorsey and trading down. It's a close call, but let's pencil in Dorsey here.
3. Atlanta -- The Falcons want Dorsey, but if he's gone likely would go for Boston College QB Matt Ryan, which should please owner Arthur Blank and truly turn the page from the Michael Vick era into a fresh new future.
4. Oakland -- It seems almost storybook that the Raiders would pick the son of former great Howie Long. But word is that may not happen. Raiders could go with RB Darren McFadden or DE Vernon Gholston. Both have the speed, speed, speed that owner Al Davis likes. Give 'em Gholston.
5. Kansas City -- In this scenario, Chris Long falls right in their laps and they don't have to reach for an OL like Virginia's Brendan Albert or Boise State's Ryan Clady.
Now, here's where it continues to look good for the Chiefs. With the 17th pick, there's a good chance they could get the left tackle they need in Vandy's Chris Williams. The Texans, picking one spot behind at 18, would be very disappointment because they like Williams, too.
Then, with an early second-round pick and three -- count 'em, three! -- third-rounders, the Chiefs would be in position to move up into the late first round to pick a quarterback to fill that need.
For Chiefs fans, Saturday and Sunday should be extremely fun. They've now got six of the first 82 picks and the opportunity to transform their franchise.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on April 23, 2008 at 10:25 AM | Permalink
Comments
I wish the Panthers could make a big move. We see it every year but not from Carolina teams. Browns did it last year, the Celtics did it last year. And the Bobcats and Panthers just pick mediocre middle round picks that never take us anywhere
Posted by: Fan | Apr 23, 2008 10:49:29 AM
How about a Panthers Mock. 1.Ryan Clady/JeffOtah ( whoever is available) I would prefer Clady 2. Reggie Smith (safety) 3. Cory Boyd (RB) some people think he will go in the second round but lets see. 3. Chris Ellis (DE)4. Marcus Harrison (DT).
Tell me what you think guys. I'm not the best judge of talent but maybe this year I will get some right. Last year I missed all picks but hey this is just for fun. I just want them to pick players who will help them win. I'll come up with 5th,6th and 7th tonight.
Posted by: jimmy | Apr 23, 2008 10:56:05 AM
Hey fan...I remember we once made a BIG deal for a guy named Sean Gilbert. I bet you were REALLY excited about that deal.
And Jim, Cory Boyd won't go in the 2nd round unless you're counting from the back of the draft.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 23, 2008 12:03:48 PM
As long as we stay away from Harvey I'm happy. The guy has bust written all over him.
I never understood the excitment with a lots of lifts. If the guy are great on that it only means he already has already the strength he is going to get. On the other hand if a guy looks great on the (collage)field but suck at lifting that sounds like huge upside to me once he gets pro trainers.
Or am I missing something?
Posted by: Thorrez | Apr 23, 2008 12:15:24 PM
Procton, I think Boyd is rising after his forty times (4.52). But I think the Panthers pick him because he is a bruiser. What do you think the Panthers are going to do? You seem pretty knowledgeable I have read several of your posts so what is your 4 round picks? I think the Panthers may even be able to drop down in the first and still get Otah if Clady is gone.
Posted by: jimmy | Apr 23, 2008 12:26:14 PM
It will be interesting to see whether the NFL allows the Rams to negotiate with a potential #2 pick between now and Friday. They put the kibosh on it as of last night, but I could easily see them allowing it given the Long/Miami situation. Could be some rare clarity at the top of the draft.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 23, 2008 12:27:55 PM
Jimmy, it makes no sense to project picks, particularly for just one team, given all the different scenarios that can happen. I really don't think any of the players that fall right at our spot in the first, particularly, meet our needs, so I'd really like to trade up to get Clady, Sedrick Ellis, or Dorsey or trade down if we're going with a lower-tier tackle or either of the DEs. Suffice it to say, though, I'd be OK seeing any of these scenarios.
1-OT (Clady...really don't like Otah, Albert, or Williams at that spot)/DT (trade up for Ellis/Dorsey)/DE (trade down for Harvey or Merling)
2-OT (Baker)/DT (Laws)/DE (Lawrence Jackson, Campbell, Groves)/RB (Felix Jones/Jamaal Charles/Chris Johnson/Ray Rice)
3-DT (Red Bryant/Pat Sims), RB (Matt Forte, Kevin Smith, Tashard Choice, Chauncey Washington), DE (Jason Jones/Chris Ellis)
As you can tell, I think we have 4 pretty obvious positions of need, but there are a lot of guys who could play safety throughout the draft that I wouldn't mind either (Steltz!, DaJuan Morgan, DeCoud, Demps, Jamar Adams, Zbikowski, Hefney, Silva.) Also, I think it's important to grab a mid- to late-round FB, of which there are several good ones (Peyton Hillis, Brandon McAnderson, Schmitt, Jacob Hester.) I like all three of our QBs, but if a guy like Henne, Booty, Ainge, Matt Flynn, or Brennan falls a round or more below where they've got him projected starting in the 4th, I'd say they should snap him up.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 23, 2008 12:45:49 PM
Why not think about O'Connell as a QB option? 6'5 225lbs. and good feet could possibly be a sleeper. Scout.com seems to like him a lot. They compared him to Tom Brady!
Posted by: Ben | Apr 23, 2008 1:59:02 PM
I think it as wide open as it has been in a long time for the Panthers and draft possibilities. I would love to land another tackle early to solidify the line, but Wharton was much improved at T in the second half of last season, and moving the line around yet again sounds like a huge gamble to me. With two young players at DE why would we draft another early only to bury those two on the depth chart? Safety, in the Fox system, doesn't call for a true ball-hawk, so that position is serviceable for yet another year. I think we go RB early and grab Stewart, or Mendenhall, if for some unforeseen reason Stewart is off the board. Then I think DT or OT in rounds 2 and three in some combination and the second of our third round picks could go any direction. If Matt Ryan were to fall, which there is no way he does, the Panthers definitely grab him. My guess is that he is gone to Atlanta so they can put a face on that franchise again and move on. The only true spots were depth is low is RB and DT and with Lewis starting now, there is no way they draft a backup DT in the first round. So I put my money on a RB to split the carries with DeAngelo.
Posted by: mountaineerdynAsty | Apr 23, 2008 2:14:36 PM
I meant if Ryan were to slip to us in the first. No way he lasts past then, sorry for the confusion.
Posted by: mountaineerdynAsty | Apr 23, 2008 2:16:03 PM
Colt Brennam = David Carr Jr.
Posted by: rhackney | Apr 23, 2008 2:45:16 PM
*Brennan
Posted by: rhackney | Apr 23, 2008 2:52:37 PM
1st pick: Chris Williams (should be LT first)
2nd pick: Trevor Laws (either DT/RB in round 2)
3rd pick: Matt Forte (I also like Ray Rice)
4th pick: the draft is wide open after choosing LT/RB/DT with the first 3 picks
Posted by: wolfpackjj78 | Apr 23, 2008 3:36:30 PM
Procton,
I like your names and agree completely with out first round selection. If either Ellis or Dorsey (doubtful on Dorsey since Atlanta really wants him) were to fall a few picks it would be worth it to trade up a few spots. I would love a stud DT and actually think that is a weaker spot than DE for us. If we don't move up, it doesn't make sense to me to stay at 13 and pick Harvey so we should try and trade down. However, assume we cant trade down and Clady, Dorsey and Ellis are gone, who do we pick? On a side note, I know Denver really needs a T, do they prefer Clady or Williams?
Posted by: Mason | Apr 23, 2008 4:38:21 PM
Right, rh, because Brennan is going to be a #1 pick and all.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 23, 2008 4:38:38 PM
In that case, I think you'd have to clench your teeth and pick Derrick Harvey. We've never been able to refine Peppers' TALENT into good football TECHNIQUE, so I don't see how we could do the same with Harvey, who is severely lacking in the area, but I guess I'd think about Albert, who I just THINK won't be a great tackle, rather than Williams/Otah/Cherilus, who I've SEEN be very mediocre at tackle. Also, we could think about letting Albert play guard for now with Gross and Wharton in the same place as last year. But I think Harvey would probably be the first option, because I really like Sam Baker as a great value pick in the 2nd if we haven't gotten our tackle yet.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 23, 2008 4:45:53 PM
I like Harvey at 13. Look at our pass rush last year. Another benefit with him as a legit pass rusher, is will lead to a big year from Peppers as OL will have to contend with two speed rushers at a time. Don't like RB in 1st round. Historically, many more busts than boomers. After Long and Clady, don't see a lot of difference in the next 4 OT's so could get one in 2nd or even 3rd. Love Trevor Laws in 2nd at DT if he's there at 43. Like Morgan at S, Kevin Smith (think he could be a steal in round 3 or Choice or Boyd in rounds 3-5. A few late round sleepers----Bobbie Williams, safety from Bethune-Cookman and Angelo Craig DE/OLB from Cincinatti, BenJarvus Green-Ellis RB from Ole Miss, and Pierre Garcon WR from Mount Union.
It's getting fun now.............
Posted by: magicman | Apr 23, 2008 4:54:04 PM
Honestly, I'm hoping for a trade up with New England, who would rather trade down a few spots, and picking up Clady at 7th. I don't really believe that's a reach, not when there are several teams ahead of us that would pick him before we do.
However, that would mean we may have to sacrifice a 3rd and 5th/6th round pick to get him. Is he worth it? Honestly, if we grab Clady, spend our second round pick on a DT/DE, and grab one of the later RBs, I think we'll be in good shape from there.
Posted by: aceofsween | Apr 23, 2008 4:57:54 PM
I'll tell you who I like for Carolina:
Rd.1- Rashard Mendenhall, RB (Ill.)
Rd.2- Sam Baker, OT (USC)
Rd.3- Tyrell Johnson, S (Ark. St.)
Rd.3- Marcus Harrison, DT (Arkansas)
Rd.4- Josh Johnson, QB (U. San Diego)
Rd.5- Chris Ellis, DE (VT)
Rd.6- Vince Hall, ILB (VT)
Rd.7- Mario Urrutia, WR (Louisville)
It fills in all of Carolina's holes, and they are all potential starters at the pro level.
Posted by: Jared | Apr 23, 2008 5:13:35 PM
I wish we could somehow get Clady and Balmer. Any scenarios out there on how we could get that accomplished?
Posted by: Ben | Apr 23, 2008 5:13:53 PM
Josh Johnson could be a steal in this draft
I like him at rd 4
Posted by: Chris | Apr 23, 2008 5:39:33 PM
Josh Johnson could be a steal in this draft
I like him at rd 4
Posted by: Chris | Apr 23, 2008 5:40:26 PM
Procton,
I'd only want Albert if we let him play his natural position of guard. If we put him at left guard, he might just be good enough to keep Wharton out there. I'd much rather get a guy like Clady who can be The Guy on the left side for a decade. That said, I'm with you on the pu pu platter below him. Wait for Baker in the second round, and get D-line help in the first.
Just no running backs or quarterbacks. I'll be really sad if we pick Mendenhall or Ryan. Not that these guys are bad players, but you can find guys almost as good later in the draft.
Posted by: BullCityDog | Apr 23, 2008 5:40:36 PM
Yeah Procton, Actually he should be the first and second pick!
He's a pretty boy, that's a system QB, with a sidearm delivery, who won't make it in the league...If the Panthers draft Colt Brennan, that would be a huge mistake...
Procton...You should spend more time brushing up on this draft stuff instead of making smart comments to my bloggs...The QB that the Panthers have been eyeing and have been talking about for the last 2 weeks and has a huge upside is Josh Johnson (who you failed to mention)
Posted by: rhackney | Apr 23, 2008 5:47:57 PM
Sorry guy's I know we're talking football, but I have to disagree with what the first poster "Fan" said. The Bobcats made big moves last draft! We traded Brandon Wright for JASON RICHARDSON! Come on, JASON (freaking) RICHARDSON!!! Not to mention we picked up a solid 6th man in Jarad Dudley.
It was our lack of depth at point guard and center/power forward that kept us down this season. Sure we didn't exactly look like a playoff caliber team, but it was a great draft for the Bobcats.
Back to football...
Posted by: TheMike | Apr 23, 2008 9:17:34 PM
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