Quick! Give me Kansas City’s biggest need.
OK, offensive lineman? No? The back row is chanting defense. What? The fans in the corner are yelling receiver, maybe someone like Dez Bryant from Oklahoma State.
Great, who let the comedians in?
They’re screaming franchise quarterback, and let’s not forget the smart aleck laughing all of the above. I see you!
With all the hype and all the money, shouldn’t a top five pick be automatic? You know, just like a John Madden video game? Starting day one they’re leading the league in sacks, rushing for 2,000 yards, and finishing as a rookie Pro Bowler.
Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Defensive end Mario Williams was drafted first overall by the Houston Texans in 2006, but it wasn’t until the following season that he broke out with 14 sacks. Running back Edgerrin James was picked fourth overall in 1999 by the Indianapolis Colts and led the league with 2,139 total yards and 17 touchdowns. James was a top five pick who paid off early and often. I can’t forget Peyton Manning, the first overall pick by the Colts in 1998. No explanation needed, Manning is the man.
College is college and the NFL is not, but a player performing right away can happen. It can, but over the last decade, the ones who’ve really stuck out haven’t been your top 10.
Defensive end Jared Allen is a great example of that sort of player. After being drafted in the fourth round, 126th overall, now in his sixth season he has 72 sacks. In all but two seasons Allen has sacks in the double digits. Point is that the good ones aren’t guaranteed to be the best players coming out of college.
Still, if your team has a top five pick, you want it to count, especially if you follow the Chiefs who have one … umm … again.
Last year’s pick of defensive end Tyson Jackson with the third overall left me completely underwhelmed. Like most fans, I turned several shades of blue. Ever get punched in the gut? Yep, I was shocked.
The Chiefs went with need over value and still had to pay the large contract. I’m willing to give Jackson time, but without sounding mean, I don’t want the Chiefs to make the same mistake. I don’t want them playing it safe, because they need a difference maker.
What I’m going to do over the next several columns is hit on who the Chiefs might take with their first pick. Most mock drafts have the Chiefs taking an offensive tackle, specifically left tackle Russell Okung from Oklahoma State. Considered the best at his position, he’s followed by Trent Williams of Oklahoma and underclassmen Anthony Davis of Rutgers. Okung is also being looked at by the St. Louis Rams and there’s talk of the Washington Redskins possibly being interested.
Okung, despite a slight injury that cut his time at the NFL Combine short, did enough to show that he’s still the best offensive lineman in the draft. He’s strong, runs well, and was good in drills. He’s a natural at the position and would definitely be an upgrade for the Chiefs.
The experts say he’s comparable to Tony Boselli, Jon Ogden, and Orlando Pace. If the Redskins don’t take him, then many feel the Chiefs will build in the trenches.
So where’s that leave Branden Albert? Todd Haley has said they’ll do whatever it takes to get better, and then mentioned the versatility of Albert.
ESPN speculated earlier that the Chiefs would move Albert to right tackle after drafting Okung, but Albert can play guard as well. I’ll believe it when Scott Pioli says it, but if Albert hadn’t allowed the fifth most sacks (9) last season we probably wouldn’t be talking about Okung.
There are factors for Albert’s roller coaster year. Haley made him lose weight and for much of the season there was no chemistry with the offense, but it could be as simple as Albert’s a guard, not a left tackle.
To his credit Albert finished strong, but taking Okung may solve several problems. The Chiefs could move Albert and Haley mentioned possibly moving Brian Waters to center. When you think of a franchise player, a quarterback or running back come to mind, but the Chiefs need a franchise left tackle. Cassel wants time and a lineman to hang his hat on.
But, but, but? After saying all that, does getting a dominant left tackle deserve the No. 5 overall?
Many fans would have a problem with taking Okung. Not that that he’s a bust waiting to happen, because he’s talented, but many feel it’d be a mistake to spring that early for a tackle. It doesn’t have to be Okung. For me I just want Pioli and Haley to walk away with a good offensive lineman, but fans have a point.
I found plenty of examples of offensive lineman who weren’t drafted high, and many who weren’t drafted at all. The Chiefs have been known for their dominant line, but did they invest in high draft picks to get them?
No, the good ones for the Chiefs, players like Tim Grunhard were drafted in the second round. Dave Szott was picked in the seventh round of that same draft. Will Shields was drafted in the third round of the 1993 draft. Shields played 14 seasons and blocked for 1,000-yard rushers. Shields blocked for players like Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson.
Brian Waters went into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. Waters has been to multiple Pro Bowls and has won AFC Offensive Player of the Week, something no other offensive lineman has done in either conference.
Look at the Colts. Right tackle Ryan Diem was drafted in the fourth round, but after him the Colts have three starters who went undrafted and one was taken in the sixth round. Taking a look at the New Orleans Saints, it’s the same picture. Neither team who just played in the Super Bowl spent a high pick on an offensive lineman.
Failed experiments from the past have fans cautious. First-round selections like Trezelle Jenkins and Victor Riley left a bad taste in their mouths. John Tait who was drafted 14th overall and played well, but he didn’t want to stay.
From what I’ve seen, even looking back at the New England Patriots, teams don’t tend to take an offensive lineman too early.
For those wanting Eric Berry, the last safety picked in the top five was Eric Turner who was taken second overall in 1991 by the Cleveland Browns. Ed Reed, to whom Berry is being compared to, was taken with the 24th pick of the 2002 draft.
Where the Chiefs are picking is a tricky spot, it really is. Unless it’s a top quarterback, running back or defensive tackle, the other positions could be argued either way. This we know, the Chiefs need help.
Fans want a playmaker, someone who changes games, not what’s practical this time around.
Did Willie Roaf dominant? He absolutely did, and so could Okung, but picking the “right” player isn’t all about what he alone can do. The right player causes players on the team to improve because of what he does, and that’s the player the Chiefs need to draft with their first pick.
Whether it’s Okung or Berry, it doesn’t matter, because if the player they choose makes a difference in the team, then the Chiefs got it right.
Speaking of Berry, he’s next on the list. Please, I’d like to hear from you. If you’ll let me, my aim is to put a voice to the fan. You’re the ones paying for parking, sitting in the seats, and sticking around when general managers and coaches have come and gone. There are plenty of fans smarter than me, so email me and let me know.
Until next week, enjoy the warmer weather!
Good day, Chief fans!
