We all have ideas about who the Chiefs should draft. However, among the people who make their living following the NFL, none can gain a consensus on who the Chiefs will take. At least last year, the consensus was either Russell Okung or Eric Berry. The year before it was a consensus that the Chiefs would take Aaron Curry. But this year?
I just compared a few mock drafts and here's where we are:
Mike Florio at Profootballtalk: Nate Solder OT
Steve Wyche at NFL.com: Phil Taylor NT
Pat Kirwan at NFL.com: Mike Pouncey OG / C
Bucky Brooks at NFL.com: Akeem Ayers OLB
Brian Baldinger at NFL.com: Anthony Costanzo OT
Drafttek.com consensus draft: Derek Sherrod OT
Peter King CNNSI: Gabe Carimi OT
National Footballpost / CSN: Gabe Carimi OT
Rob Rang CBS Sports: Akeem Ayers OLB
Chad Reuter CBS Sports: Nate Solder OT
If anything the consensus is that the Chiefs will go Offensive Line in the first round, this even though Pioli's tendency has been to draft linemen later in the draft, his one notable exception being Logan Mankins. The offensive line assumption is based on our offense collapsed at the end of the year, however, our defense couldn't stop the run at the end of the year either so why isn't there more of a focus on NT or an inside run-stuffing linebacker? Or how about the fact that Cassell had D Bowe and no #2 speed receiving threat? Or the fact that Thomas Jones was worn down by the end of the year and showed his age, when Charles got hurt against Baltimore it was over we didn't have any answer at RB.
So maybe Pioli surprises us like the last two years and takes Mark Ingram if he is there at #21. I'm not going to be shocked with whoever Pioli takes cause I didn't see him taking Tyson Jackson and I thought he might play it safe with Okung as opposed to Berry and McCluster and Arenas were total shocks since most of the "experts" figured those two for 3rd round picks at the earliest.
So come this time next week, I think we might have some new Chiefs that none of us expected.