Haley may want another Boldin-Fitzgerald

Todd Haley is the new head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Last season, Haley designed one of the greatest passing offenses in NFL history. The Cardinals became the first team ever to have 3 wide receivers with over 1000 yards receiving, Larry Fitzgerald(1431), Anquan Boldin(1038), and Steve Breaston(1006). With weapons like that, you can't blame Todd for taking advantage of their talent.

But now, Haley is taking over a team whose offensive superstars are either old or unhappy with the team. However, both Tyler Thigpen and Dwayne Bowe emerged as pretty solid if not good players over the course of the '08 season. Bowe finished the year with 86 receptions for 1022 yards and 8 TDS, and Thigpen ended up with 2608 yards and 18 TDs in 14 games.

Tony Gonzalez is still the face of the franchise, but he is getting up there in age. Tony will enter into the 2009 campaign at the age of 33, but is still producing as he caught 96 balls for 1058 yards and 10 TDs last year. Larry Johnson has already asked for his way out of Kansas City, so it seems like Jamaal Charles will take over as the primary back.

So, Todd is coming into a franchise without a true franchise QB, an emerging wideout, and one of the best tight ends in the game. So, what is missing from the offense? Bowe's Fitzgerald, that's who. Haley has his Boldin prototype in Bowe and his Breaston, or a possession receiver, in Tony Gonzalez. But he is missing a Fitzgerald. Where can he grab a young Fitzgerald to pair with Bowe?

In the 2009 NFL Draft. Michael Crabtree, who is frequently compared to Fitzgerald and even Andre Johnson, is projected by most mock drafts to go to the Seattle Seahawks as the #4 overall pick. But now that an offensive guru is the head of the Chiefs, who have the #3 overall pick, I think the franchise goes offense, and there is no better fit for Kansas City than Crabtree.

However, some would argue that drafting Crabtree doesn't make sense as the team has no proven QB, and I agree. This is the biggest X-factor for Haley and his staff. If Thigpen can continue to play as he did when he was handed the starting job last year, then the Chiefs should be in pretty good shape. But if Tyler turns out to be a fluke, the franchise will either be in the hands of Bradie Croyle or a new addition to the team.

If the Chiefs choose to go out of their own talent pool to grab a QB, here are some of the options they have: Matt Cassel, Kurt Warner, J.P. Losman, Matt Leinhart, Graham Harrell, or Nate Davis.

The best of those options is obviously Cassel, but the Chiefs would either have to pay him a gross amount of money or trade for him. The latter is the most likely of the two options as the Chiefs could offer Larry Johnson, and future picks to land Matt. Graham Harrell is also an interesting choice. Taking Harrell in the 4th or 5th round could be a terrific sleeper for Kansas City, as I am sure Haley could form a system around Harrell and Crabtree.