via ESPN.com
After watching the Jets game on Sunday and actually thinking about #6 overall pick Vernon Gholston for the first time since the draft, I decided to go back over some of the 2008 draft picks and see how they're doing. If you go even further to the 2007 draft, you'll see guys that were talked about on here as possible Chiefs' picks- Justin Harrell, Dwayne Jarrett and Robert Meacham for example- that have come nowhere close to Dwayne Bowe's production.
I'm certainly not going to call any of these guys a bust eight weeks into the season, because that's what stupid people do. This is more a comparative study for conversation's sake and so you can keep these guys in your mind as you watch games this weekend.
I've noticed interesting conversation dropping off a bit around the Chiefs blogosphere in the last couple of days. Larry Johnson's pending suspension plus an emotion-filled effort last weekend that resulted in a loss has taken a lot of out us recently. Recharge now and get psyched up again this weekend. It's the spread offense, remember?
Let us know who you would have rather had in the 1st round in the comment section.
#6 LB Vernon Gholston, New York Jets
As the Jets blog says, Vernon Gholston has had a tough time finding his place on the field. Gholston has registered six tackles in seven games this season and his name has barely shown up, well, anywhere.
Vernon Gholston, like a lot of draft picks, would fit in well in KC at the linebacker spot, if only because of our lack of depth at the position. Most teams are probably better off with current Ohio St. senior LB James Laurinitis.
#7 DT Sedrick Ellis, New Orleans Saints
Here we had a legit controversy over who the Chiefs should draft- Ellis or Dorsey. The Saints had reportedly offered a deal to the Chiefs that included their first and second round picks and their first round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft but the Chiefs decided to draft Dorsey instead.
In five games with the Saints this year, Ellis has ten tackles and this thing called a sack. I wasn't sure what a sack was so I had to look it up and lo and behold, the Chiefs have four this year! Who knew?
Sedrick Ellis is just now coming back from a knee injury that kept him out for a few games this season. Saints fans seem excited about him and his future appears bright.
#8 DE Derrick Harvey, Jacksonville Jaguars
Derrick Harvey has played sparingly for Jacksonville after a record 33-day holdout over the summer. Jaguars fans seem to be a mix of frustrated and anxious about drafting Harvey and more than anything they're ready to see him produce on the field. Harvey was the first pick of the draft that I felt was a big reach and I certainly would not have wanted him to be a Chief.
#9 LB Keith Rivers, Cincinnati Bengals
Keith Rivers played solidly for a terrible, terrible Bengals team until he broke his jaw two weeks against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The injury plus playing for such a poor team as the Bengals means we'll have to evaluate Rivers more next year.
#10 LB Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots
Jerod Mayo, in classic Patriot fashion, has come in and made quite the impact in New England. Mayo has played in every game this season and has totaled 48 tackles, by far the most out of any of the rookies we've talked about so far.
Mayo is starting and playing well. A great pick.
It's way too early to say I would have any of these players over Dorsey. Frankly, we could have used literally every player drafted in the first round and probably plugged them into a starting position. We can't lose in the '09 draft!