2011 NFL Draft: How High Is Too High For A Center?

by Joel Thorman on Mar 14, 2011 10:57 AM CDT in 2011 NFL Mock Draft

Should you start your quarterback right away? Is it more important to go defense or offense? Should you risk it all to get your quarterback? What's the perfect formula to trade up?

These are all annual questions on the NFL draft and we'll hear them all again with the 2011 NFL draft. Another question that comes up every year: How high is too high to draft an interior offensive lineman?

There's not a high emphasis placed on centers and guards in the NFL draft but they're still important positions so it's a difficult question to answer. For the Kansas City Chiefs, there may have to be an answer to that question by April. That's because, depending on the future of Casey Wiegmann and Rudy Niswanger, the Chiefs may be forced to draft a center at some point.

So is pick No. 21 too high to pick the next center in Kansas City? Not according to Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly who has Florida C Mike Pouncey headed to Kansas City in his latest mock draft.

With Casey Wiegmann on his way out, the Chiefs have a glaring hole on the middle of their offensive line, and Pouncey could help fill it.

On the one hand, I love the idea of adding to the offensive line. You'll rarely hear me complain if the Chiefs go offensive line because having a top tier line makes everything so much easier on offense. On Pouncey specifically, it probably helps that his brother, Maurkice, was one of the best rookies in 2010 while with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On the other hand, is a center in round one the best value? Can you get a fourth round center whose talent isn't drastically far behind a first round center?

If Wiegmann does indeed decide to retire, we'll be hearing more about this debate. If he decides to stay, though, I would guess that erases any chance of the Chiefs spending a first round pick on a center.

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Question

If Mike Pouncey’s name was Mike Anderson, would he still be the pick at 21?
I’d never spend a 1st round pick on an interior lineman or a RB, but then again, I’m not a GM.

I'm tired of pretending like I'm not bitching, a total fricking rock star from Mars, and people can't figure me out; they can't process me. I don't expect them to. You can't process me with a normal brain.

by craig in calgary on Mar 14, 2011 11:03 AM CDT reply actions

If you take one in the first they better be a perennial Probowler.

Otherwise pass and take one later.

The views expressed by craig in calgary do not necessarily represent the views of all Canadians.

by saskwatch on Mar 14, 2011 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Think that's a good point

I think he gets some credit for being Pouncey’s brother.

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by Joel Thorman on Mar 14, 2011 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

well, they are identical twins...

mike just had an issue early last season, but pulled his head out of his ass…

First of all, you throwin' too many big words at me, and because I don't understand them, I'm gonna take 'em as disrespect...

by SFLChief on Mar 14, 2011 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Not to mention his issues snapping the football

He’s really a guard, which is not a pressing need for us at the moment

by The Other Patrick Allen on Mar 14, 2011 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions

No Craig he would not be the pick.

The name Pouncey holds value. The person himself is not a 21st pick.

by 78Chief on Mar 14, 2011 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I still contend that Eli Smith wouldn't have been the first-overall pick a few years back.

I'm sorry, all white people who act black look the same to me.

-Snoop Dogg

by burntorangehorn on Mar 18, 2011 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Wait a round or two and pick up Tim Barnes from Mizzou.

Extremely underrated center, good athlete, strong upper body, and a very very smart player.

by CapnCribbs on Mar 14, 2011 11:03 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

No way!!

This clown is a poor imitation of his brother at center, a lot better prospects can be had in the 2nd to 4th rounds.

He really isn’t the best (pure) center in the draft either, but hey somebody has to hype up this kid since his bro went so high in the draft. wonder what his agent paid Nolan to hype the kid?

"It doesn't matter what you do in Life only that you do it the best you can. "

by sgthall on Mar 14, 2011 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

21 seems a little high

That said, I’ve seen him at the bottom of the first round in a few mock drafts. I think he does get bumped up a little because his brother was successful.

Arrowhead Pride
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by Joel Thorman on Mar 14, 2011 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Dang.

You have an extremely high standard for what makes a person a good imitation of someone else.

…on account of they’re twin brothers…

Cantaloupe? More like wontaloupe. Lazy ass melons.

by cucuybird on Mar 14, 2011 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions

i'm down...

he is alot better than most here give him credit for…

SEC Beast

First of all, you throwin' too many big words at me, and because I don't understand them, I'm gonna take 'em as disrespect...

by SFLChief on Mar 14, 2011 11:10 AM CDT reply actions

If you're going center in round 1 his name better be Alex Mack

I don’t comment on this site for the people that are against me and think that I can’t do it. I comment for the people that have always believed in me. I comment for my family, for my wife, for my mother so it really comes down to that.

by HIV 2 Elway on Mar 14, 2011 11:26 AM CDT reply actions

+1

Mack once threatened to end my life in the bathroom at Kips once when I was drunkenly talking shit on Nate Longshore after another devastating 4th qrtr meltdown.

I’m down with Pouncey in the first….seems like a 10-year starter to me.

6 1st round draft picks, 2 Super Bowl Champions and counting

by Another Successful Tedford QB on Mar 14, 2011 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Nick Mangold too.

One of the founding members of The Super Duper Matt Cassel Fanclub.
We all have the right to our own opinions, its just that mine are right.
My quest for soberiety is an ongoing struggle.

by nateforchiefs on Mar 14, 2011 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't like it.

I like Pouncy. But I think there are more important positions that need to be addressed with a high pick like that. Center, historically, is a position you can get great value from in later rounds. It would be like taking a kick returner with a 2nd rounder… oh…. wait…

RUN DEXTER RUN!!!!
Small Player + Big Heart = Huge Impact

by ARROWHEADSHANE on Mar 14, 2011 11:29 AM CDT reply actions

I do think it is relative.

Not the brother to brother relative. But What is his value in a PB Scheme relative to his value in a ZB Scheme. He may hold more value as a power blocker and that would mean he is less of an upgrade in our ZB Scheme compared to a later pick who may be more suited to fit into our interior line.

If some one like Hudson , Barnes, Moffitt, Fusco, Kirkpatrick, O’Down is less as a Power blocker but closer as a Zone Blocker than we would be better off taking that player later and get more value from Top Pick.

"You talkin' to me? You TALKIN' to me ?" - Travis Bickle

by CatChief on Mar 14, 2011 11:32 AM CDT reply actions

If C is your top need

then I don’t see a problem taking one in the first. In this instance it isn’t for us so we should nab Barnes somewhere 3-5

by SillyHatDay on Mar 14, 2011 11:39 AM CDT reply actions

this is a great question

I am along the same lines as Joel, it’s hard NOT to want a “top” offensive line.

The Chiefs have all but ignored the OL in recent drafts, which made the 08 and 09 teams hard to watch.

I think the Asamoah pick last year was MONEY… he’s going to be a great player for this team, and a very good value in the 3rd round.

When was the last time the Chiefs drafted a Center, though?
the answer: 1996… KC took two Centers in the 7th round… anyone remember Ben Lynch and Jeff Smith? yeah, me either.

The Pats took a Center ever 5 years or so

source: http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?teamId=3200&type=team

That makes some sense to me… I always repeat “you should draft at least one OLineman every year”… so, if you rotated positions, C would come up every 5 yrs or so.

Lots of starting Centers have gone undrafted, so it’s not always necessary to draft one… but, if you need one to start right away, I think you’ll want to consider drafting one in the first 3 rounds.

I would want to see KC draft a Center this year, but I’m not sold on any as being such amazing prospects that you gotta take em in round 1.

Pouncey struggled snapping the ball…. which, from my limited knowledge of football, is one of the TWO most important parts of a Center’s job.

Wisni is a good prospect too, but I’m not blown away by him either.

I love the idea of getting a guy like Pugh as an undrafted FA, signing Casey for one more year to give Pugh time to develop. Even if you have to pull Casey out on short yardage downs to get a little more push.

I would also be VERY happy with Kirkpatrick or Barnes in the 3rd round or later.

Prediction: KC will not draft a LB before the 3rd round

by stagdsp on Mar 14, 2011 12:07 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs

Nicely said Stag.

Fusco, Barnes and Kirkpatrick are the only centers that I would like to come away with in this draft.

by 78Chief on Mar 14, 2011 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I've got him rated...

around 25 on rankings… but (considering some of the other needs at the end of the first round), I don’t see him drafted until the upper half of the second round. Sorry Mike.

by David Winton on Mar 14, 2011 12:24 PM CDT reply actions

The question for me is D.Harris or Asamoh already being prepped for the job?

If so then drafting one early isn’t likely. If we have no players waiting then your strategy changes. Pioli is supposed to be savvy, so I would guess that he is already ahead of the curve than we and think the center spot is more than likely already in house.

by dubld on Mar 14, 2011 12:29 PM CDT reply actions

That is a great question.

I don’t think any of us has the answer. Hopefully, one of those are the answer and they can turn their attention somewhere else.

by chiefdan on Mar 14, 2011 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

get the best 21

Pick we can, since FA will be after and since we have a nice cieling, we should be able to fill in where we can’t draft.

Only about 40% of 1rst round picks ever become pro-bowlers.

by Bigcherokeechief on Mar 14, 2011 12:39 PM CDT reply actions

I don't think the first round is too high for any position

except kicker. I also don’t mind reaching a bit if it means getting the player you want and need and you know he’ll be gone next round.

I think center and gaurd are needs right now. Waters will play one more season and neither of our center’s are the answer we’re looking for. If there’s a good center or guard available in round 1, I have no problem with that pick.

by rdub on Mar 14, 2011 1:06 PM CDT reply actions

and

while I think we have ligitimate NFL talent at all the positions across the line for the first time in a while, we have very little depth.

by rdub on Mar 14, 2011 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions

agreed

Prediction: KC will not draft a LB before the 3rd round

by stagdsp on Mar 14, 2011 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not one who puts too much stock in Jamie Dukes but when he talks oline I have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Dukes at the combine said that the best value for interior olineman is typically in rounds 2-4. He also said that the best situation for Pouncey, who wants to be a center, is to go to a team where he can spend a year continuing to learn the position while getting starting snaps at guard. If that’s the case that place isn’t KC because we have no room to give this guy a starting guard spot while he learns from a veteran center over the course of his first year.

"Success is never ending, failure is never final."

by GenericBrand on Mar 14, 2011 1:14 PM CDT reply actions

well said.

agreed on all counts

Prediction: KC will not draft a LB before the 3rd round

by stagdsp on Mar 14, 2011 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions

He also said that's the "ideal" situation for Pouncey

While then saying that it wouldn’t surprise him to see a team pick him and throw him into the fire at center from day one. He just believes the kid would benefit longterm from being groomed the first year.

"Success is never ending, failure is never final."

by GenericBrand on Mar 14, 2011 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions