This year has been exceptionally tough in trying to script what the Chiefs are going to do with their draft picks. No free agency, and no top ten pick.
So, forgive me when none of these draft picks turn out to be right, but I gave it my best shot.
Here it goes.
On Thursday evening, the Chiefs TRADE DOWN to a later selection in the first round and pick up offensive tackle NATE SOLDER from Colorado. They also receive an additional 4th round selection. Solder is a best available player at this position and can make it possible to move Branden Albert to right tackle now and turn Barry Richardson into a very decent guard for the future if the Chiefs choose to bring him back.
Friday, the Chiefs take wide receiver TITUS YOUNG from Boise State in the second round. This is a need pick but it's also a smart pick. Young is a beast and can immediately step into the number two receiver role for a team that desperately needs one.
Third round the Chiefs surprise a lot of people and take CASEY MATTHEWS from Oregon. The potential is undeniable and although he played a middle linebacker in college, a lot of analysts think he can make the transition to outside linebacker pretty easily. We have time to develop Matthews too because of Andy Studebaker's presence. I kind of question if Matthews will still be there in the third, but I believe if Ryan Mallett (who is, in my opinion, the best QB in the draft) can fall to the second round, then Matthews can definitely still be available when the Chiefs pick in the third.
For the first of the Chiefs two fourth round picks, they select guard/center JOHN MOFFITT from Wisconsin. His position would be center, and he'll most likely have a season to learn the ways of the position from current Chiefs center Casey Wiegmann.
For their second fourth round pick, the Chiefs select running back BILAL POWELL out of Louisville. He is a big back and will be the likely replacement for Thomas Jones (many fans believe Jones is done already). Powell will provide a good complement to the speed of Jamaal Charles and even Dexter McCluster. We were the number one running team in the NFL last season; there is no reason not to try to tool up for the future.
For the Chiefs first pick in the fifth round, we take nose tackle SIONE FUA out of Stanford. Fua is only about 310 lbs, but he is a good nose tackle and played in a 3-4 defense in college. Once again, questions come up on whether Fua will be available in the fifth, but if he is, look for the Chiefs to address nose tackle here.
For the second of the Chiefs two fifth rounders, look for quarterback GREG MCELROY from Alabama at this pick. McElroy is a very, very smart player, and though he doesn't have the strongest arm when throwing, he can manage games and comes with a winning mentality. With McElroy having time to learn from Matt Cassel and Jim Zorn, I am confident he can become our future starter. Ricky Stanzi was also a possible pick for QB, but I think McElroy is the better QB now and will be in the future. And so, a former Alabama QB replaces another former Alabama QB (Brodie Croyle).
In the sixth round, the Chiefs take wide receiver ARMON BINNS from Cincinnati. The Chiefs don't have much depth in the wide receiver department, so why not try to find a diamond in the rough? He's 6'3" and 210 lbs, so his size is good. Question is if he can be an NFL wide receiver.
Finally, with the Chiefs last pick in the 2011 draft, we take linebacker ALEX WUJCIAK from Maryland. This one was mainly based on Adam Teicher's pick from the KC Star. Seventh round selections are crap shoots and most don't turn out. But Wujciak seems like a hard enough worker to make the team and do well on special teams. Linebacker is a stacked position for the Chiefs, especially since I have them taking Casey Matthews, but competition is always good for an organization.
So what do you think?
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