FanPost

Plan of Action

I’m sure the new Chiefs’ regime has a plan of action that will take them through the draft at the end of April. I think I have a reasonably logical plan of action. Step one is to identify team needs.

First, IT’S THE QB, STUPID! We’re not going anywhere if we don’t address the QB position. Depending on Albert’s contract issue, we could have to add a quality LT. With Bowe possibly going FA, and Breaston on someone’s %$#% list, WR has to be considered a need. Given Lewis’s injury history, I’d say we need a SS. The Belcher tragedy left a hole at ILB that needs to be filled. Lilja’s retirement leaves a spot for a reserve interior OL. Many AP’ers feel we need another CB. That’s six to eight players we need. I believe there will be at least two FA ILB’s on the market, possibly two SS’s, and several WR’s. If we can fill two of our needs in free-agency, we’d have a leg up on the off-season.

Most fans feel the Chiefs need to bring in a veteran QB, at the same time drafting our QBOF. Two names bandied about are Smith and Flynn. I feel that trading for either of these two would be a huge error. We don’t need the contracts each of those two is playing under. If either were to be released by their current team, I’d be more inclined to accept him. I’ve also seen some proposals that we trade for Cousins(Redskins) or Freeman (Bucs). Regarding the proposed trade for Cousins; with RGIII just undergoing significant knee surgery, I doubt the Redskins would be interested in moving Cousins. As for trading for Freeman, the question that begs to be asked; "Why?". (totally off-topic; is anyone else having issues with MS Office vs. Windows 8? Our WP is driving my wife & I crazy!)

In analyzing the Chiefs’ options in the draft, we all need to remember that there may well be several paths to success. Many AP’ers want the Chiefs to take Geno Smith with the first overall pick. Obviously, Smith is the top QB on the board. However, he is nowhere near the TOP PLAYER ON THE BOARD! He’s not even in the top 32 for "Pro Football Draft Network", he’s ranked #23 by ESPN, #15 on the "DraftTek" Big Board, and #14 by CBS. That should raise a red flag immediately. This discussion has come up each of the last four years. The general consensus of opinion is that successful teams don’t reach for players. Taking Smith at #1 would appear to be a significant reach. I know how badly fans want the Chiefs to finally draft their own franchise QB, and Smith seems to have the right skill set, but I just don’t feel comfortable with us taking him @ #1. This is a significant problem. It is almost certain that he won’t be on the board at #34 (he probably won’t be on the board at #11). So what should we do? Remember, Pioli reached twice in his four drafts with the Chiefs, taking Jackson @#3 overall in ’09, and Poe @#11 last year. Jackson definitely hasn’t been as successful as one would expect of a player chosen third overall, while the jury is still out on Poe. Therefore one option would be to select another player at #1 (Lotulelei or Joeckel), and take the best QB available at #34. I like this option, if we take Lotulelei to play DE. The second option would be to trade down if possible. Unfortunately, we’d probably miss Smith anyway. The advantage to this option is that we’d get another high pick, so as to fill one more need. We’d then have the option of either taking the best QB still on the board, and then address one of our other needs at #34, or addressing one of our other needs in the first round and then take the best QB available @#34. A more radical idea would involve trading down in the first round, but for high picks in ’14. Then we’d be prepared make a monster offer to move up & take one of the top QB’s next year.

In conclusion, I’m hoping the Chiefs can be moderately successful in free-agency, landing two needed players. Then in the draft, I hope the Chiefs don’t reach for a player just to fill a perceived need. I trust Reid/Dorsey will make the correct decisions this year.



This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.