How Rebuilding Might Progress

by Direckshun on Aug 12, 2008 8:44 PM CDT

Allow me to widen the lens quite a bit for one post.

We are at the very start of what's likely to be a very long year. A mere handful of wins and a top five selection in the '09 Draft seems probable.

So before you get eaten up by pessimism over the course of the year, keep in mind that this season is merely the starting point for an arduous process that values long-term patience, not short-term satisfaction.

To illustrate that point, allow me to pontificate about what the continued rebuilding process looks like next year. I speculate about who might be traded, who might be let go, who might be drafted and who might be promoted.

This is how the second year of our rebuilding process might look, after the jump. If you enjoy hypothetical chin-scratching as much as I do, this is your entry.

First off, I suspect that Clark Hunt will give Herm and Peterson one more year, so those two positions will remain unchanged into 2009.

1. Free agency. But first, what are we going to do in free agency? I will not speculate names, but I will say that, true to their word, the Chiefs will have very limited play in free agency. I suspect they'll pick up about two players at very deep positions in 2009's free agency pool: interior lineman and kicker. They may go fishing at MLB, but I don't like the depth there. Both OG and K are deep, and the Chiefs have enough cap room that they can snag a proven K at Josh Brown-type numbers, and/or a rising OG who hits the market.

2. Draft. I've caught flack for this, but I just don't see Tony G remaining with this team into 2009. I suspect he'll be traded during the offseason or even during 2008 for a midround draft pick (or higher?), giving the Chiefs 8 total picks. Nonetheless, I'll just predict seven picks:

1. WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
2. QB Curtis Painter, Purdue
3. DE Derek Walker, Illinois
4. MLB Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan
5. OG Paul Fanaika, Arizona State
6. OLB Tyrell Sales, Penn State
7. OG Curtis Crouch, North Carolina State

To be mostly realistic, I would suspect only two of these rookies to be starters on opening day: Walker at strongside DE and Holtzclaw manning down the Mike. Crabtree, Painter, and Fanaika will all sit behind their incumbents, always breathing down their neck to start. I suspect they could be starters by the end of the season.

3. Depth Chart. I'll go position-by-position here.

Quarterback: Croyle, Thigpen, Painter. Croyle will have had an iffy year, missing several games in addition due to injury. Therefore, the Chiefs believe he is no longer the answer, and will put their new hopes in Curtis Painter. Huard is let go, and Thiggy gets a shot as backup. Croyle remains the starter on a short leash, and Painter will take a year to develop.

Running back: LJ, Charles, Smith, Savage. There's a very low probability that the Chiefs lose LJ, Charles, or Smith, seeing how this trio is a great combination of size, speed, and abilities. Savage is the only question mark, and I love Savage, I just think some other team is going to snatch him before we hold him on our practice squad.

Tight end: Cottam, Merritt, Allan. Having traded off Tony G, Cottam is now our starter, which isn't a problem becuase in addition to his great size, he can be a big target for the QB. Behind him are two of our 7th rounders from years past, Merritt (who'll be our primary blocker), and Allan (more of a receiving type).

Wide receiver: Bowe, Franklin, Crabtree, Darling, Robinson. Bowe continues to hold down the #1 spot, and Franklin gets a shot at the #2 after a year of sitting behind Darling (kept as a backup) and Webb (RFA, won't be been resigned). Crabtree will probably be starting by the end of the year, but who knows.

Offensive line:
LT: Albert, McIntosh
LG: Waters, Fanaika
C: Niswanger, Smith
RG: FA pickup, Crouch
RT: Richardson, Taylor
This assumes, of course, that Albert shows enough promise at LT to remain, and Richardson shows enough promise at RT to get promoted. I suspect we're heading for another disaster on the right side with Jones and McIntosh. I doubt the Chiefs would resign Jones, and McIntosh will finally get to go back to LT, albeit as a backup. We'll take a stopgap perhaps for RG yet again, and Fanaika will wait in the wings while Waters finishes out what might be his last year.

Defensive Line:
Starting: DE Hali, DT Dorsey, DT Boone, DE Walker
Rotational: DE Johnston, DT Tyler, DT McBride
There may be another UDFA in the mix or something, but this should be our working DL. I suspect the Boone experiment at DE will have failed in 2008, and Johnston won't have taken off juuuust yet. Walker is a rather large question mark, but obviously this team won't be able to compete just yet in 2009; they can dedicate a top pick in 2010 to an elite DE if need be. Tank will have improved, but I suspect that Turk will be on his last legs, and on the verge of getting cut.

MLB: Holtzclaw, FA pickup or UDFA. There's a huge question mark around the MLB position next year. I do think the Chiefs will try finding one in FA, but I doubt they'll find anything more than a scrub. Holtzclaw can make it work in the middle, but he may not be starting material yet. Nonetheless, he'd be the best by default and we'll see what he's made out of.

OLB: Johnson & Williams, Rumph, Sales, UDFA.
With the dear departure of Donnie Edwards, Demorrio Williams will finally get his shot to start in KC opposite Johnson and Holtzclaw. Rumph has done nothing but earn raving reviews at camp this year, so I suspect we'll be seeing him next year alongside the new rookie Sales, fighting for playing time. Also, every year the Chiefs always seem to accumulate UDFAs at this position, so it wouldn't surprise me if they continued that trend.

CB: Flowers & Carr, Leggett, Patterson, UDFA or two. Corner will be a welcome change from 2006's slow old fogies. Now the Chiefs are loaded with youth. Carr will have proven himself a worthy heir to Surtain. Leggett and Patterson may be serviceable in reserve time and I definitely think we'll see another UDFA jump on board.

S: Page & Morgan, Pollard, McGraw. I actually think Pollard would be great trade bait, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's what happened. He's underachieved, but still boasts a lot of upside if somebody wants to grab for him. With the acquisition of Morgan, who may outplay him in 2008, he may also be expendable. Nonetheless, this is my tentative lineup right now.

Special teams. The kick return game could be finally up to speck for this team after the loss of Dante Hall in 2007. Robinson returning punts and Charles returning kicks may finally give us something to look forward to. Colquitt and Darche will keep doing their jobs -- the major question lies at kicker. The Chiefs were active, but unsuccessful at landing a premier kicker this offseason. Next year, a lot of big names become available, including Stover, Gould, and Kasay. I say the Chiefs drop a big paycheck on one of the younger guys.

0 recs | Comment 29 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Disagreement pt. 1

I’d think that the Chiefs will finally address the Right Side of our O-Line or take one of the top MLB’s.

by Dono on Aug 12, 2008 9:13 PM CDT 0 recs

First off, I think they already have addressed the right side of their line with Barry Richardson and/or Herb Taylor. I believe both tackles are incredibly promising and there’s a chance they end up solidifying the right side together. Plus the crop of free agent OGs is pretty solid in 2009, so it’s not like we’d just be plugging in another stopgap; the Chiefs could pick up a young, solid RG.

That said, you never draft for your right side in the first two rounds. A good RT can be found much later (see: Barry Richardson in the 6th), and a guard should never be a high pick, ever. Fanaika has starting potential, and I snagged him in the 5th!

I believe the MLB crop is rich next year, and it’s undoubtably going to be one of our biggest holes. Especially with the emergence of Franklin and our other WRs, Crabtree might not be worth the pick. However, and this is something not a lot of fans (or teams) seem to recognize: two premier WRs not only elevate your passing game to an elite level, they also help your run game in unmistakable ways as teams load up to stop your WRs, so in that respect it also helps the OL. I think that addition alone would make our entire offense far better. The value would be too much to pass up for.

by Direckshun on Aug 12, 2008 10:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Differing Opinions...

Just because the Chiefs have already selected somebody doesn’t mean that there is not someone who is much more talented then say Barry or Herb. Trust me I get a hard on thinking that one of our last rounders will be worthy of starting time. But instead of just starters we could get pro-bowlers. People who not only suffice but excel. If you give Barry and Herb a shot why not give Franklin, Price, and our beloved Bobby Sippio similar chances and take someone we are in need of? Because teams should draft the Best player available and then assess need. Sometimes the two overlap. For instance, our need at MLB will not be satiated by a Sixth Rounder who was not wanted by his original team. We could draft a MLB who will fluorish in the league and not wait around for players to progress. You need a mixture of both progression and immediate success.

Brodie, Page, and Bernard have all progressed, and hopefully Tank, Turk, Tamba, and the rest of the Class of ‘08 all become fantastic players that can contribute; henceforth, you need to bring in the guys like Dwayne Bowe, and hopefully Dorsey, Albert, and Flowers who bind everything together and can produce immediately.

The Right side of the line should not be overlooked in our power run system. You’re telling me that a guy who is a phenomenal run blocker in the second round wouldn’t be worth it? This contradicts what the Lions and the Panthers did this draft. Taking Cherilus and Otah, respectively, to bolster a weak running team? That being said I wouldn’t suggest taking one in the first but if one is available in the second I’m all for it. I am really looking forward to hearing about Phil Loadholt the 6’8” 350 lb gargantuan at OU. Perhaps even seeing him in Red and Gold. You know why? Because he has far more upside than say a 5th or 6th rounder and it is a position of need.

WE’VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH TO FIX OUR O-LINE!

And as far as stating that picking Fanaika in the 5th is concerned, do you know how horribly hard it is to predict a draft this early? So props on that point…

by Dono on Aug 12, 2008 11:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

Howdy Dono.

The ultimate problem here is that you can’t have your cake and eat it, too. It’d be great if the Chiefs could excel at every position on the football field, rather than just excel at some and suffice at others.

But the truth is, you only have so much cap room in this league, and you only have so many high draft picks. You have to take the resources you do have and prioritize. Me personally, I put an extremely high premium on wide receivers, and I think our best resources should be focused there (as well as a couple other positions). I tihnk if we have to excel anywhere, we need to excel at that position as much as any other (I’d only put QB and DE at a higher value).

I put a lower premium on RTs and OGs. Successful teams around the league have proven that you can find adequate OGs in the lowest rounds of the Draft. Starting RTs are often found in the midrounds. I’m with you, I think we would be incredibly fortunate if Taylor and Richardson could fasten down the right side for ten years. Both were 6th round picks, and both have a truckload of promise, and I think they’re proof that good-to-great OL talent can be found late in the Draft.

So if it seems like I’m tougher on the WR corps than the OL corps, it’s because I believe it’s the more important position (although both positions, obviously, are important).

I agree with you on the MLB, too. Especially in Herm’s Cover 2, you need an elite MLB. Obviously, Holtzclaw does not seem to be that guy, although he might be a great backup. But again, we only have so many picks, and with gaping holes at DE, OG, OLB, and maybe OL and WR, I put getting an elite MLB on the backburner in my 2009 Draft. I’m sure I’d go for an elite guy in 2010?

I have high hopes for a lot of the guys you mentioned. I believe Tank, Page, and Croyle could all take huge leaps. Tamba and Pollard seem to have stalled, but I hope they continue to progress. Unfortunately, I’m not optimistic about Turk at all.

Thanks for the reply—feel free to write me back. This is the most fun I’ll have before Saturday.

by Direckshun on Aug 13, 2008 1:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

Your Opinion...

Have you ever thought what would happen if Crabtree didn’t come out. He’s only going to be a sophmore. Not to mention I think you’re giving him too much too early. He’s only had one year in a spread-pass happy offense. Chances are that he won’t even leave next year. So what do we do then?

I personally believe that we will be picking from 5-10; there are way worse teams then ourselves. (Dolphins, Broncos, Carolina, Falcons, Lions, 49ers, and maybe the Bungals) So with my predictions it will be a viable option for picking a MLB. Where do you think our needs are at? MLB, ROL, CB, QB?, WR? DL? It all depends on how players progress this year.

As far as cap room goes, we have 39 million available. I don’t think that our cap room situation is going to be a problem.

Not only can you find ROL in the midrounds but you can also find considerable talent of WR in late rounds as well. TJ Houshmanzadah was a 7th Rounder, Joe Horn 4th , Donald Driver 7th. So your argumentation is extremely flawed. What’s more important, good WRs or an amazing OL? WRs won’t get the chance to catch the ball if their QB is flat on the ground because the OL can’t block.

Look at our OL during the Vermeil era. That was one of the best lines ever seen and the players on the right side were drafted in the first and third rounds, Tait and Shields correspondingly. It is perilous that the Chiefs select offensive linemen early in the draft so we can create a formidable line; one that will provide protection for Brodie or someone else and create gaps for LJ and Jamaal to burst through.

We need help at LB and ROL face it. If we get a WR then Bobby Sippio won’t have a spot.

by Dono on Aug 14, 2008 12:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

Nice right up

I do have some different opinions though.

1 is there is no way they are trading Tony G. Despite the martyrdom some Chiefs fans seem willing to go through of giving him up so he has a chance at a Super Bowl, I don’t think Gonzalez feels that way. Yes, he wants to win, but he is a Chief through and through and he understands his legacy as a mentor to the next generation of Chiefs would mean much more than going to a team of strangers and winning a Super Bowl.

They need to keep Tony around as long as possible to mentor Cottam and the other young players and I can think of no one better to do it.

Free Agents, I think they are done with free agent linemen after this year. They’ve had nothing but disasters with the FA linemen they’ve brought in. I do think though, if they have any trouble at all this year with the FG kicker, they will offer a Kings Ransom for the best kicker available next year. We simply cannot continue to have FG kicking problems if we are ever going to improve as a team.

Trade Bait: Considring the depth we have at RB, if Kolby Smith has another good season, I see them offering him up for trade. He isn’t cut out to be a starter, but is an extremely solid young backup and could easily bring a 3rd round pick.

In the draft, I expect them to spend relatively high picks on a RT (unless Richardson shows he can do it by the end of the season) and a Guard. If one of the top MLB prospects are available when our turn in the 1st round comes up, I fully expect them to take one.

by ChiefDJ on Aug 12, 2008 9:34 PM CDT 0 recs

Write up

Duh. Right up.

by ChiefDJ on Aug 12, 2008 9:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

Idle speculation = hours of fun.

Thanks for the well-written response. I’ll respond to your different segments. (Please reply back, these conversations are basically why I’m a football fan.)

1. I hate to break it to Tony G, but this is a team of strangers! This team will be competitive for a Super Bowl, at the absolute earliest, in 2010. By then, Tony G will be twilighting, and Brad Cottam will be peaking. He simply does not fit in with our long-term goals. I believe, right now, Tony G warrants a high draft pick that a handful of teams would love to forfeit for him. A draft pick that would prove invaluable for our rebuilding prospects.

2. Actually, you’d be singing a different tune had the Chiefs landed Jeff Faine to play center. They pursued him aggressively in the offseason, but the Bucs snagged him to a crazy-expensive contract because the talent pool was too thin. Every year there are a few young up-and-comers like Faine who merit attention, and 2009 boasts a particularly interesting field that should keep FA contracts reasonable. Adrian Jones was not their first choice; he was a safeguard.

You and I are dead-on regarding kickers, though.

3. Kolby Smith was a 5th round pick, there is simply no way he warrants a 3rd. He has met expectations as a 5th, and still has a good degree of upside—he could probably be traded as a 5th if the Chiefs felt the need. But trading for backup RBs is really rare in the RB-loaded NFL. Plus the Chiefs are thrilled with the set of skills and abilities they have with LJ, Charles, and Smith (plus Battle or Savage). It is perhaps one of their most secure positions.

In my opinion, the running back they should dangle as trade bait is Dantrell Savage. They should give Savage a good number of carries over the next three games and offer a low-rounder (6th or 7th) for him. They tried it (unsuccessfully) last year with Derrick Ross, but I think Savage has the better upside. Talk about getting something out of nothing!

4. I’ve already spoken about the right side ofo the OL; I think it’s possible Herb Taylor and Barry Richardson have RT covered next year. RG can be covered late in the Draft (Fanaika?) or in free agency if they get one of those uppity young FAs. We’ll see. I am almost sure that Maualuga would be a great pick for the Chiefs in the 1st round, but MLBs are almost never taken in the Top 5 (where the Chiefs are sure to be). If you’ll look at the track record, there’s a reason for that!

Now, if the Chiefs attempt to trade down to around #10 and go for him there, I’d be enthralled, especially with the additional pick they would have brought in. But Crabtree makes our entire offense elite, making the single-biggest impact that any rookie could have for our team. That’s exactly what you want with a Top 5 pick.

by Direckshun on Aug 12, 2008 10:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

Top Pick...

Yeah using a top ten selection on a WR is always a good decision too right direckshun?

by Dono on Aug 13, 2008 12:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

Well… you’re never going to have a sure thing in the Draft.

I believe Crabtree posts near-Calvin-Johnson-type measurables. At this point, he’s the second best player in the 2009 Draft (I’d say OU’s Sam Bradford would be the best if he declared, but I doubt he will). I think with teams buttoning down on Dwayne Bowe, Crabtree could explode in his rookie year.

Besides, as talented and fast as Bowe is, he’s not the deep threat that Crabtree could be. We have the potential to form a Fitzgerald/Boldin combo, and that will only help every other position on our offense.

by Direckshun on Aug 13, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

Me too!

I just don’t think the Chiefs are going to be in the habit of trading away players that are still playing at a high level for no good reason. Despite what some people think, we have always been an organization that rewarded its great players. Yes, they traded Jared Allen for picks, but that was a special case as we all know. I am all for letting players that are beginning to decline go before we are paying a league high contract for an old man, but I think Tony Gonzalez will still be one of the best tight ends in the league when he walks away from the game. As long as he wants to be here, there is absolutely no logical reason to let him go.

I stand by my thoughts on free agent linemen. Jeff Faine got an obscene contract and is a declining player because of his age. He will not be playing as well in a couple of years as he did last year, but he will be paid considerably more. That is not smart management. That is why the Chiefs are going after 2nd contract guys (between 26-27 yrs old) instead of 3rd contract guys (30-31 yrs old). They need to do the same thing with linemen. Free Agency for this team is to either pick up stop gap players (McIntosh, Harris, Edwards) until we can replace them in the draft, or to get up and comers at a reasonable price (Darling, Williams).

I think Smith in his rookie year far exceeded what is expected of a 5th round pick. With another similar year for a player only beginning the 3rd year in the NFL I think a 3rd round pick would be very reasonable.

I don’t think trading a player with potential talent like Savage for a 7th round pick makes sense. We can’t get anything for him right now because no team wanted to draft him. He needs to show himself during the regular season this year to have any value at all.

We really need a good mauling RT. If Richardson can’t step up, with the offense we want to run, we need to be wililng to invest a high pick in one. Taylor is not a good run blocker and looks like he’s destined to be the backup LT. If Richardson can’t develop, we can’t wait, we need to get a good guy there.

I don’t know about MLBs being taken in the top 5, but I have no intentions whatsoever of the Chiefs picking that early anyway. Herm said he thought we would be picking in the early 20s next year and I wholeheartedly agree with him.

Honestly I would be shocked to see the CHiefs picking in the top 10, much less top 5 next year.

by ChiefDJ on Aug 13, 2008 5:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

Should the Chiefs trade Tony G away tomorrow, I don’t think they’d be doing it for no reason. The guy will be in his mid-to-late-30s by the time this team is competitive for a Super Bowl. By that time, he will be twilighting, and Cottam would be peaking. It doesn’t make sense to shell out tens of millions of dollars of cap room for TE-by-committee. But that’s my personal take.

But I think you may be mixed up on Faine — Faine’s 27. He’s not a declining player due to age. He’s exactly the kind of OL this team wanted; a young ascending OL looking for his second contract. If the Chiefs can land a Faine-type character next year, we may have the RG we’ve been looking for.

I will agree that Faine got an obscene contract, but that’s primarily because the talent pool at interior lineman was so poor in 2008’s offseason. It’ll be much deeper in 2009.

Even if I agreed with you that Smith played like a 3rd rounder last year instead of a 5th rounder (arguable, but it’s plausible I suppose), even you admitted that Smith is best suited for a backup RB role. Any team trading a 3rd for him would have to assume he’s 16-game starting material. I think that’s a stretch, and I don’t think many teams would trade for a backup RB in this RB-loaded league.

Savage, on the other hand, has a load of potential. Unfortunately, I don’t see where he fits on this team. We have the perfect trio at RB right now, and we’ve already got two potential return guys (Robinson, Sams, plus Charles) that Savage is unlikely to displace. At this point, Savage still has a lot of promise, but he doesn’t fit in KC. Best to make the most of his value and dangle him for a low-rounder. We’re going to need lots of picks in 2009’s Draft as well.

I’ve already been through the RT talk in this thread, but I will say that you make a lot of sense. I just hope Richardson or Taylor fastens down RT.

Although I will say you’re high if you think this team will be picking in the 20s in the Draft. I can’t fault you for optimism, though!

by Direckshun on Aug 14, 2008 3:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

Tony G wouldn't leave me!

(plugs ears) I can’t hear you! La la la!

by Mully on Aug 12, 2008 10:18 PM CDT 0 recs

I gotcha.

Far be it for me to trumpet trading Tony G just yet. :)

by Direckshun on Aug 12, 2008 10:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Not Tony G!

We have no reason to trade him… just because we traded JA doesn’t mean we’re going to trade good players every year to get more picks. JA was a risk and only had one good year and wanted too much money. I don’t think we’re going to trade Tony G, nor do I think he would want to finish his career anywhere but KC. But that might just be wishful thinking.

by Vince D on Aug 12, 2008 11:11 PM CDT 0 recs

I believe Tony

when he says he is 100% on board with this rebuilding effort. he wants to retire having only played for the Chiefs…that is an impressive statement in this day and age, and would give him one more way to be better than Asshat Sharpe.

by PVChiefsfan on Aug 12, 2008 11:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

I just don't see how Tony fits in.

If Cottam shows a lot of promise this year, Tony could be expendable. Not in Chiefs history, of course, but in terms of value.

by Direckshun on Aug 13, 2008 1:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

So Long As We've Got Cap Room

We’ll probably find a way to accommodate Gonzalez, as long as he’s still a productive player. From what he’s been saying it sounds like he only wants to play a couple more years, and it’s reasonable to assume that he’ll be able to perform at a high level until then.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 14, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

So...

Your explanation for keeping Gonzalez is “because we can.”

I don’t see the need, honestly. This team will not be ready to compete until he’s in his mid-to-late 30s. He’ll be an adequate backup at best at that point, and won’t be worth the massive contract he’d be earning. Especially considering that the salary cap will get tighter and tighter as this team gets better and better, we might be best served by shipping him now.

by Direckshun on Aug 14, 2008 3:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

Salary Cap

Actually, without a new collective bargaining agreement in place by 2010 the salary cap will disappear after the 2009 season and the NFLPA has already stated that they won’t be signing off on another salary cap in any new CBA they agree to…so as things are looking as long as Tony Gonzalez is productive in 2009 we won’t need to cut him in 2010 just to save cap space :)

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 14, 2008 9:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

I don't think WR is going to be our biggest need next year

I think this season will show that we’re set up at WR for a long time. I think our biggest need is a stud ILB. Someone who can define our defense for years like Ray Lewis, Zach Thomas, and Urlacher have.

Here are the first 4 players I would pick – with this year’s play/durability of Brody Croyle being the big variable;

1. Rey Maualuga MLB, USC – depending on who is drafting behind us and how bad our record is this year, we may be able to trade down a couple spots and still get him.
2. Cullen Harper QB Clemson – prototypical NFL QB size, very efficient passer, strong arm, quick release, smart guy.
3. Max Unger C/OT Oregon – versatile guy with good size. played G in HS, LT his first 2 years at OR, and now plays C.
4. Larry English DE Northern Illinois – good pass-rusher, needs to bulk up.

by 303chiefs on Aug 13, 2008 10:31 AM CDT 0 recs

Not a bad list!

I think Maualuga would be a great selection if we moved down closer to #10. I don’t like taking a linebacker in the top five. Cullen Harper would be an absolute steal in the second round—however, I doubt he’ll last that long. Unger and English would be two intriguing picks. I like them.

You and I are both doing the same thing: drafting stud QBs in case Croyle craps out. Let’s just hope Croyle has a great season so we don’t have to worry about it!

by Direckshun on Aug 13, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

Maualuga is an animal

I think Maualga is a top 10 pick for sure. Remember, the Chargers took Seau with the 5th pick – and that worked out pretty well for them. I realize Seau will be a a HOF’er – but you just never know. The team that worries me is the Dolphins, because their record is going to suck and they need a MLB to replace Thomas. They may go wtih Laurinitis though.

And as for Cullen Harper, I haven’t found a mock draft yet that shows him being taken in the 1st round. Most show Tebow and Stafford – with a few also showing Curtis Painter and Sam Bradford. I think he’ll be there in round 2.

I think the biggest reach on my list is Unger in round 3. I’m hoping the fact that he’s playing C this year will keep him from being picked before then. He’s instant OL depth at every position and would probably start in his first year.

by 303chiefs on Aug 14, 2008 2:08 AM CDT 0 recs

Unger

I actually believe he’d be solid value in round 3. I just don’t think he’d be worth it when we need that third pick for so many other valuable holes to fill.

by Direckshun on Aug 14, 2008 3:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

Unger

Sorry, I worded that poorly. What I meant to say was that Unger still being there in Round 3 is probably the most unrealistic of my projected picks. I’ve even seen a couple mock drafts showing him going in the 1st round. Personally, if our record is as bad as I think it’s going to be – I think there’s a chance we could get him early in the 3rd round. Assuming he doesn’t win the Outland Trophy of course. He’s on their watch list – but I think he was added late. They claimed it was an oversight or something.

And regarding having more urgent needs with the 3rd pick, unless we get good contribution from a couple of new guys – I definitely think o-line is one of our top 3 needs. Especially if Brodie has a good year.

by 303chiefs on Aug 14, 2008 11:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

Such as...

The Right side of our line? What else are we going to need it on?

by Dono on Aug 15, 2008 1:06 AM CDT up 0 recs

Needs

I think MLB is a bigger need than O-line. Of course you never know how this season will turn out and how that may change our needs in next year’s draft. ASSUMING Croyle and Albert play well, I think our biggest needs will be MLB, DE, and O-line (everywhere but LT and LG). But if Croyle shows any signs of being injury-prone this year – or if he doesn’t step up and take advantage of this opportunity – then we’re going to need to draft a good QB.

by 303chiefs on Aug 15, 2008 8:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

Of Course

Trying to predict the 2009 draft before the 2008 season has even started is like trying to predict what the weather will be like on a day three or four months from now. There are far too many variables to even start speculating who we’re going to draft, who’s coming out early, who other teams will want, who’ll get hurt (either our guys or potential draftees) and who’ll want to sign with us. We don’t even know where we’ll be picking.

But it’s fun to do a bull session on it.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 14, 2008 12:58 PM CDT 0 recs

And My Preference

In the first round would be Maualuga if we can get him (and don’t have to reach for him). I think that guy’s going to be an animal at MLB and that will be a position of prime need for us next year.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 14, 2008 12:59 PM CDT up 0 recs