Draft 2009 - DE, MLB, & WR?

by PVChiefsfan on Nov 14, 2008 8:39 PM CST

Walterfootball.com's mock draft has us finishing just behind the Lions in the "FIght for Number One". As of today, Brian Orakpo is our choice at number 2.

Kansas City Chiefs: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
If you're not a Chiefs fan, chances are you won't know this. OK, guess how many sacks Kansas City's defense has as a whole this season.

Fifteen? Way off. Ten? Nope. Four? No, that was last week's total!

The Chiefs have six sacks on the year! Six freaking sacks! They foolishly traded away Jared Allen prior to the 2008 Draft, while moving Tamba Hali to right end failed miserably. Hali, now back at left end, needs a dominant pass-rusher across from him to once again play at his 2007 level.

That man can be Brian Orakpo. Through nine games, Orakpo has 13.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, as he's established himself as the premier defensive end in this draft class. Kansas City's young defense would greatly benefit from having him rushing the opposing quarterback.

Offensive line is the only other option now that Tyler Thigpen has emerged as a stud quarterback.

Then we pick Brandon Spikes at number 35

Kansas City Chiefs: Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
Napoleon Harris was Kansas City's middle linebacker when the season began. That failed miserably, as Harris was cut a few weeks ago. Pat Thomas took Harris' spot, and based on Kansas City's defensive rankings - click here for accurate NFL Run, Pass Defensive Rankings - it hasn't exactly worked out too well.

and Derrick Williams at 63

Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State
If Tyler Thigpen keeps improving and proves to be Kansas City's quarterback of the future, he'll need another receiver to throw to besides Dwayne Bowe. Bowe and Derrick Williams would be an awesome receiver combination, assuming the latter pans out.

I'll change this pick if Mark Bradley keeps up his torrid pace. Given his history, I just don't trust him for now.

1) Could people who know more than I do list the strengths and weaknesses of these guys?

2) What do people think about these choices?

3) If Bradley pans out as a solid #2, who would you like to see us pick in Round 3 in this scenario?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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Comments

I still torn about drafting a DE in the 1st round

On the one hand, we are getting ZERO pass rush from the DEs this year so we need that. On the other hand, we’ve invested very high picks in previous drafts (1st and 2nd in Tamba and Turk) that you would like to think will be able to work through it.

I guess if there is a really good pass rush specialist DE available (which there are a couple this year. Tyson Jackson from LSU is probably later 1st round and Orakpo from Texas and the guy from Georgia Tech are all good prospects.) we can always go back to the original plan with Turk moving him inside in passing situations.

We have major needs at LB which I think ranks slightly higher on our needs list right now than a pass rush DE.

I still think we should invest at least a 2nd rounder in a QB (if there is one still there worth a 2nd round pick) no matter what Thigpen does this year, we need a backup plan.

by ChiefDJ on Nov 14, 2008 9:07 PM CST reply actions

I saw a seven round mock draft

which had us taking Monroe in Round 1 and Graham Harrell in Round 4.

If Thigpen plays the next 7 games close to the level he has the past three games, would you still think we needed to go QB on the first day (“at least a 2nd rounder”)? Or would you be comfortable with a project like Harrell, or even a conventional QB who was a solid back-up in round 3 or 4?

And remember, we may end up with more than 7 picks…
]
and if someone want’s to trade up into our spot, I GUARANTEE we will take it – we could end up with 2 second rounders and 2 third rounders just from a trade in the first.

by PVChiefsfan on Nov 14, 2008 10:41 PM CST up reply actions

why would we trade down?

by KCLoyalty on Nov 14, 2008 10:47 PM CST up reply actions

trade one draft pick for

multiple picks a little later in the draft. This way you have a higher percentage of getting a great player bc if you have only one pick and he is a bust it really hurts the team.

by TXroyal on Nov 14, 2008 11:05 PM CST up reply actions

and because we have mulitple holes to fill

by PVChiefsfan on Nov 15, 2008 6:08 AM CST up reply actions

Taking Monroe in Round 1 would be a wasted pick

We have our LT in Albert. No other position on the line justifies a top 5 or even a top 20 pick.

I think we have to go either QB, DE or LB with our 1st round pick and top 5 for a LB would kind of be stretching it unless theres really a fantastic one out there.

by ChiefDJ on Nov 14, 2008 11:05 PM CST up reply actions

Not a wasted pick

but I agree…we won’t be drafting a LT this season…I’ve said many times we will go BPA unless that position is essentially a non-need for us.

LT is one of only a few positions I would consider a “non-need”

by PVChiefsfan on Nov 15, 2008 6:11 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed

This year even more than last year they will be looking hard to trade down. Aside from possibly DE (though as I said before, we already have high picks invested in DEs) there isn’t really a position we need aside from maybe QB that requires us to have a top 5 pick. It looks to be a good year for DEs and LBs, both of which are areas of need for us, so if we can move back a few spaces and pick up the MLB from USC or the DE from Georgia Tech plus a second rounder, that would help us lots.

The problem is always finding a partner that wants to move up. Usually the only way you get someone to trade up into the top 5 is if they are after a QB and depending on how Thigpen does the rest of the year we may be looking at QB at that spot ourselves.

by ChiefDJ on Nov 14, 2008 11:12 PM CST up reply actions

Tamba was drafted too high

I don’t think I’m the only one that went “Who?” when we selected him. He’s not working…let’s not wait it out and “make” our 1st round pick work.

by Joel Thorman on Nov 15, 2008 11:40 AM CST up reply actions

Draft

I take issue with it being foolish for the chief’s to trade JA. Look at his stats and look at the draft picks we got gor him. DE or MLB is my choice if one is worthy of such a pick.
O-line must also be addressed!

by dklogue1 on Nov 14, 2008 10:10 PM CST reply actions

OT is a must if the Ot is worth the pick we get him at

if andre smith is on the board when we pick there is no way we can pass on him…if hes not on the board then i say we go de because 1 of the 2 great de’s will be on the board when we pick

by KCLoyalty on Nov 14, 2008 10:43 PM CST reply actions

As I said above

We already have a LT, no other position on the O-line deserves a pick that high. Drafting a guy like Monroe or Andre Smith in the top 5 to play RT would be an enormous waste of money. You can get a 2nd round or later guy to fill that position adequately (might even have a 6th rounder in Richardson that could do it).

Just because O-line is our biggest need doesn’t mean the first guy we draft has to be an offensive lineman.

by ChiefDJ on Nov 14, 2008 11:07 PM CST up reply actions

i don't see the need for a WR

Unless of course crabtree falls into our lap with our second pick

by KCCheeze on Nov 14, 2008 11:32 PM CST up reply actions

It would be a waste if we put him on RT

but thats not what the chiefs would do….andre smith is a better lt than albert and they would either move albert to rt or rg…guard is alberts natural position anyways, hes only played lt in a few games in college

by KCLoyalty on Nov 15, 2008 12:30 AM CST up reply actions

I disagree

That Smith is a better LT than Albert, we have no proof of that at all. But regardless, even if you drafted Smith for LT and moved Albert to RT or Guard, that makes Albert a wasted pick. You don’t have to spend a #15 overall pick on a RT or Guard. You can get good guys to fill those positions for much less money later on in the draft. Heck, Will Shields was a 3rd rounder.

by ChiefDJ on Nov 15, 2008 10:45 AM CST up reply actions

It's not a wasted pick if it makes our O-line incredible

by Vince D on Nov 15, 2008 12:08 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think we need a tackle

Albert is set at LT, and for RT we still have Taylor (who played good for us at LT and has played RT before too), Richardson (who we JUST drafted, could blossom in a couple years) and McIntosh. I think we are pretty set at tackle. We need some guards though, for the right and for the left when Waters retires.

by Vince D on Nov 15, 2008 9:24 AM CST up reply actions

oops didnt mean to put that comment as a reply

by KCLoyalty on Nov 15, 2008 12:31 AM CST reply actions

My draft take...

Is that we dont need a DE as bad as a MLB because who will pass on us if we cant stop the run….

We dont need a WR cuz who can pass to a stud wide reciever without adequate protection….

RD. 1 – Trade down 10 spots at most and pick up the best MLB available (Maualuge or Laurinaitis
RD. 2 – Best DE available at the time (This is conditional, I say RT UNLESS we sign Jordan Gross in the offseason….which we should)
Rd. 3 – QB

by woodman212 on Nov 15, 2008 2:18 AM CST reply actions

Good thoughts everyone

I can almost guarantee we will pick what we consider the best player available each time our name is called

Thant makes a position for each player hard to determine, because our pick depends on other people’s picks

by PVChiefsfan on Nov 15, 2008 6:10 AM CST reply actions

If we can trade down a few spots

then that would benefit us greatly. Chances are that Maualuga and Laurinitis won’t both be taken in the top 10, so if we can trade down, pick up one of the two, and also more picks later on (including another 2nd rounder) then it will turn out to be a great move for us.

by Vince D on Nov 15, 2008 9:28 AM CST reply actions

I admit I am biased on the MLB need

Personally I see the need to fulfill the MLB first and foremost for two reasons.
1) The better MLB’s seem to stay with the team that brought them into the league for most of their career. (We shouldn’t have to worry with this again for awhile)
2) DE’s are more likely to “go for the gold” and move on after their contract is up. If we can’t find a good one later in the draft, there seems to be good ones every year.
However, one of the two positions I think could and should be addressed in free agency.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Nov 15, 2008 9:29 AM CST reply actions

What do you guys think of Cal center Alex Mack?

I would love it if we drafted him in the 2nd round.

Go to Wide World of Roto for all your fantasy news!

by JasonM on Nov 15, 2008 2:22 PM CST reply actions

Center in the 2nd round

I think that pick can be used on a RT or a QB, both of which are more important than a center IMO.

by Joel Thorman on Nov 15, 2008 3:05 PM CST up reply actions

Mack is projected by alot of places to go 1st round

check him out on youtube he is a beast and mean as shit.

Go to Wide World of Roto for all your fantasy news!

by JasonM on Nov 15, 2008 4:52 PM CST up reply actions

i would take Brian Orakpo in rd.1

if you get pressure in the backfield, then your secondary will have less pressure put on them. Orakpo is a beast and pressure on the QB or bodies in the backfield on running plays is always good. just my opinion though. i would really like to see crabtree fall into our laps too though. i know we have more pressing needs though!

by chiefs8288 on Nov 15, 2008 6:36 PM CST reply actions

I think we should take the best available in the first round

I may be a little biased since I go to Texas Tech but I think Crabtree is truely amazing, he reminds me of Andre Johnson. Even though we obviously need a DE and a MLB, I dont think any of them are worthy of a top 5 pick. I would be siked if the draft went like this
1. Michael Crabtree
2. Brandon Spikes
3. Herman Johnson/Jonathan Luigs
although Crabtree is an unlikely pick, I think he’s a more complete WR than Calvin Johnson. Maybe we could bring in a DE through FA, but I think Turk has played good enough to warrant another season at RDE. People have to keep in mind this is only his 2nd year in the NFL

by DBOWESHOW on Nov 15, 2008 8:48 PM CST reply actions

I'd trade down and grab Maclin

he is just as dangerous, plus he can return punts and kicks a la Reggie Bush.

Go to Wide World of Roto for all your fantasy news!

by JasonM on Nov 15, 2008 9:31 PM CST up reply actions

Draft

I think that Branden Albert is a good left tackle i think he would be an amazing Guard or RT, but i wouldn’t be upset if we passed up on Smith only if we got Brian Orakpo, we need a de bad, I think Tamba where he is right now is where he should be and will do pretty good, but we need someone to take the double team off Dorsey, and Orakpo could do it, just think about it, a young D-line with three first round picks on it, I think that Tamba may have been a reach but at LE he is up there as one of the best, at least when Jared was here he was, and i think he can get back to it, Dorsey and Tyler just need a little more time and i think they can be beasts, and if we got a MLB in the second we would have a beast of a front seven, and thats what we need to take some pressure off our young corners, and that will make the Brandons even better

by IamtheGreatest on Nov 15, 2008 11:28 PM CST reply actions