via i.usatoday.net

Wes Bunting of the National Football Post seems like a really sharp guy. That's why I thought his latest mock draft was very interesting. Below are a few excerpts followed by my thoughts.

9. Carolina Panthers: Memphis DT Dontari Poe
The NFL Combine helped Poe as much as anyone. He’s a massive kid with an elite combination of power, explosion and upside. His tape isn’t great, but I think he’s now a lock for the top 15 and the Panthers have a huge need inside for a body with his type of talent.

A lot of people are talking about Poe in KC. Bunting saying that his tape isn't great concerns me--especially combined with some knowledgeable people saying that Poe is not ideally a NT. Also, if his tape isn't great I wonder if Pioli looks elsewhere since Pioli seems to be a GM who makes performance on the field his highest consideration.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: LSU DT Michael Brockers
Brockers is as talented as any defensive lineman in the draft and is capable of maturing into a real game changer up front. He’s got the ability to play all over the Chiefs defensive line early and offers them a lot of versatility in their 34 front.

Wow. I don’t know much about Brockers, but it would be wild for Pioli to select what would be the third first round LSU defensive linemen in five years.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Stanford OG David DeCastro
DeCastro has the ability to become one of the NFL’s best interior linemen and will instantly improve the Bengals offense in both the run and pass game.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Boston College ILB Luke Kuechly
A tackling machine with good size, natural instincts and above-average athleticism. Is the kind of talent the Ravens could use inside as an eventual replacement for Ray Lewis.

DeCastro and Kuechly have both been linked to KC as possible fits. I was surprised to see how far he has both of them falling. My perception has been that both might be a reach at 11--DeCastro only because of his position and Kuechly’s habit of running around blockers (which, btw, was a criticism of DJ coming into the draft). However, it seems that Bunting’s opinion is that both would be more of a reach at 11 than I had thought. If Bunting is right and if the Chiefs like DeCastro and Kuechly, it seems even more likely that KC will try to trade back.

Do you think the Chiefs will successfully trade back?

What do you think of Bunting's take on Poe, Brockers, DeCastro and Kuechly?