Arrelious Benn One Of The 'Safer' Receivers In The Draft

by Joel Thorman on Mar 21, 2010 1:00 PM CDT in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Draft

After a small sample size of just one year, I would, at times, consider the Chiefs as conservative in the many phases of the player acquisition process. Going for the sure thing versus a gamble is the way I perceive GM Scott Pioli.

That said, Arrelious Benn out of Illinois is being called one of the safest receivers in the draft, according to Wes Bunting of National Football Post.

And if I had to choose which rookie receiver would have the biggest impact next season, my money would be on Benn because of his ability to separate for himself underneath and create after the catch.

Benn is projected by many to be a late first round pick so if the Chiefs were interested, he'd likely have to fall to the top of the second round.

What's also interesting is that a lot of folks are also calling Anquan Boldin his NFL equivalent.

Boldin is a tough, physical receiver who has played through plenty of injuries (and we know how the Chiefs regime feels about injuries). Likewise Benn is a stout receiver, which he demonstrated with 20 reps on the 225 pound bench press at the NFL Combine.

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley had a lot of success with Boldin in Arizona so that comparison raises my eyebrows a little.

Benn is shorter (6'1") but strong (220 pounds). He's not known for his speed but increased his forty yard dash from 4.48 at the NFL Combine to 4.36 at his pro day.

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Is 4.36 slow now adays?

Damn these kids are getting fast. I remember when 4.4 was the benchmark for being considered very fast. Is 4.3 the new 4.4?
Anyways, i see alot of folks hoping for tate at 2a, i am guessing they would be even happier with this benn? Maybe he isnt supposed to fall that far?

by gochiefsgo on Mar 21, 2010 1:09 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

benn shouldn't fall that far...

what other recievers are there that are first round worthy? tate seems to be decent but he’s 5’10, that alone prevents him from going in the first fifteen. this just isn’t a draft to get a reciever in the first round. benn in my opinion is a better prospect than bryant, because he is, indeed, safer….

by liquorstoreclerk on Mar 21, 2010 1:25 PM CDT reply actions

It's a combination

Of not that many Elite WR’s and more players at other positions worth the 1st round grade. There seem to be a lot of D-line/O-line picks showing up in the 1st with some LB/CB/S picks mixed in.

I think the consensus is that Bryant is the #1 WR and will go earlyl/mid 1st round. Then it’s a mixed bag. Some have Tate next, others have Benn, and some have Demaryius Thomas from GT topping both of those. Either way I think only 1 other WR than Bryant will go in the 1st – so someone should still be around early 2nd if we’re interested.

I like Benn and think he would be a good fit – he’s explosive and has good hands. I always thought of him as a bigger, slower Jeremy Maclin – probably because when MU played Illinois there were always a lot of comparisons drawn between the two.

by Ochophosphate on Mar 21, 2010 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I thought the knock on Benn was

that his hands were not great?

by BAMFSpecialOps on Mar 21, 2010 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions

hard to remember

because he didn’t play much this year

by liquorstoreclerk on Mar 21, 2010 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Plus he had several QB's this year

by BAMFSpecialOps on Mar 21, 2010 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions

well hell, maybe so

maybe it was just 4 years of Juice Williams throwing to him.

by Ochophosphate on Mar 21, 2010 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions

that georgia tech reciever

is intriguing. I haven’t seen any tape on him at all, but his measurables, namely height make him interesting.

And Benn would definitely fit. Better than Bryant, I think. But what do you do if say He’s there at 2a but so is Cody, Pouncey, Spikes, or Charles Brown? This draft has so many good players, somebody is gonna fall, and it won’t be because they’re bad. It’ll just be the way it will go because of the depth. That 2a pick is the equivalent of a first rounder compared to other years….

by liquorstoreclerk on Mar 21, 2010 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Thomas never really had to run any routes in the GT offense

he mostly ran post patterns to clear a safety/corner away from the run. Not sure if he will be able to run the 40 or a route tree with his broken foot.

I would take Cody or Hughes in the second depending on the first round pick, Walton in the 3/4th

by BAMFSpecialOps on Mar 21, 2010 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Lost in all the WR talk

are USC receiver Damian Williams and LSU’s Brandon LaFell. For some reason, Williams reminds me of Reggie Wayne…maybe because neither are exceptionally fast, but both have great hands.

The studs from the 2010 draft class will be: DT Ndamukong Suh, S Eric Berry, RB C.J. Spiller, RB Jahvid Best, WR Arrelious Benn, WR Golden Tate, WR Mardy Gilyard, OT Charles Brown, CB Kyle Wilson and S Chad Jones

by kc_radrh8r on Mar 21, 2010 4:27 PM CDT reply actions

I still say Tate

Weis worked with him and despite being 5’11 (same as Chambers just lighter at 195) is a very tough player who can electrify this offense. Weis knows how to use him as an effective weapon plus we don’t have to waste a first round pick on him. Hes more reliable that Jacoby Ford and Trindon Holliday. Plus more proven that Mardy Gilyard. Tell me what you think

by Kansascitian on Mar 21, 2010 4:29 PM CDT reply actions

Tate's ability to run after the catch is precisely what this team needs

He also seems to have great speed and good hands. I just don’t think he’ll make it past the first round and the teams in front of us in the second

Official Member of the Draft Chuck Berry Fanclub

"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left."

by Aperture on Mar 21, 2010 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Honestly he just might

but we may get lucky. I just think with all the focus on the lines and in the DB’s it would be nice to pick up a guy like him to help on the offensive and specials teams front.

by Kansascitian on Mar 21, 2010 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

I do like Tate as our slot reciever...

then again I do really like what Mardy Gilyard brings to the table on special teams.

I would be interested in finding a receiver that has scored 4 Touchdowns at a school like Marshall in the 5th round.

Go Chiefs!!!!

by ravenhawk on Mar 21, 2010 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I doubt

Tate makes it to round two as well. I’m high on Gilyard and I think he would make for a great slot guy with Bowe and Chambers. Obviously Bowe and Chambers are the bigger, physical receivers (at least Chambers plays much bigger than his listed 5’11’’ 195) and Gilyard could the deep threat this team lacks. Either way though, I’d be happy with Tate, Benn, Gilyard, Williams, or LaFell in the 2nd round.

by kc_radrh8r on Mar 21, 2010 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

Either way we get an exciting guy in the slot who has potential to develop into a big part of this offense with Bowe and Chambers. Not to mention Todd Haley being a WR guy, hopefully he can mold these guys into an elite air attack to match JC and TJ in the backfield.

by Kansascitian on Mar 21, 2010 6:09 PM CDT reply actions