1 reply to this topic

[warthog]

Our first Mock Draft

We'll be publishing the first of our three Mock Drafts in The Kansas City Star on Sunday.

We thought we'd give you a sneak peek today.

Unlike previous years, this is a hard one to handicap for a couple of reasons. One, there are no consensus, sure things at the top of the draft.

Secondly, there are new decision-makers at the top of the teams with the first three picks, so we don't have a track record on what they might do other than looking at how their previous clubs operated.

For instance, we could always count on Detroit's Matt Millen picking a wide receiver. Now, we're not sure what the Lions will do with the first pick.

So without further adieu, we'll let you in on the Top 10 picks of our first Mock Draft. I'm sure you're probably most interested in the third pick.

The entire verson will be in Sunday's paper and on our web page.

1 Detroit Lions … QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia

Stafford, a true junior, does not have to play right away. He can play behind Daunte Culpepper for a year just as Culpepper sat out his rookie season as an understudy at Minnsota.

2 St. Louis Rams … OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia

The Rams need to replace Orlando Pace at left tackle. They're going to try to move Alex Barron from the right side, but he was no great shakes there, either, and he's in the last year of his contract.

3 Kansas City Chiefs … OT Jason Smith, Baylor

I know, I know. LB Aaron Curry of Wake Forest is the popular choice here, and goodness knows the Chiefs need help at linebacker _ or anywhere on the front seven. And he'll be a solid player who would have a Donnie Edwards-like career. Nothing wrong with that.

But Curry, for all his ability, is not a pass rusher, and with the third pick, a linebacker has to be the second coming of Derrick Thomas. Especially when drafted by a team that had an NFL-record low 10 sacks a year ago.

Unfortunately, there is no pass rusher on the board worthy of that third pick. I fully expect the Chiefs to trade down a few spots, hoping there is a team coveting a player with that choice.

Then, the Chiefs can take a pass rusher with a later pick in the first round, and with a much-needed second-round pick acquired in the trade, choose an offensive tackle or one of the many linebackers who will be available.

But for this exercise _ I don't want to be making trades in a mock draft _ we'll match the best player with a glaring need.

Scott Pioli wants to build with big, fast and smart players. Smith, a converted tight end, is all three, and together with Branden Albert, can give the Chiefs bookend tackles for the next 10 years.

4 Seattle Seahawks … LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest

He’s an ideal replacement for the traded Julian Peterson.

5 Cleveland Browns … WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

Butter-fingered Braylon Edwards has one year left on his contract; Donte Stallworth faces legal issues stemming from his DUI wreck that killed a man.

6 Cincinnati Bengals … OT Andre Smith, Alabama

The Bengals need to find an heir to veteran left tackle Levi Jones has missed 18 games in the lat three years.

7 Oakland Raiders … WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri

Al Davis loves collecting players with speed and play-making ability. Don't let Maclin's 40 time at the Combine fool you. He'll look good in Raiders' black.

8 Jacksonville Jaguars … DT B.J. Raji, Boston College
Raji is an ideal fit for the kind of defensive front Jacksonville plays. And he has the mean temperament coach Jack Del Rio loves.

9 Green Bay Packers …. OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss

Packers need to find protection for Aaron Rodgers, who was sacked 34 times last year.

10 San Francisco 49ers … DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State

Big 10 sack leader is one of the fastest risers on the draft board.

We'll offer an updated Mock Draft next week and put the finishing touches on our final version on Draft Day.
http://chiefsblog.ka...com/?q=node/767

[SoCalChiefsFan]

Jason Smith better be set on playing RT then.