Chiefs Meet With Texas LB Brian Orakpo

via pictopia.com

The Kansas City Chiefs brought Brian Orakpo in for a visit earlier this week according to Ed Thompson of Scout.com.

Orkapo and Florida State LB/DE Everette Brown, who the Chiefs also worked out, are considered the best pure pass rushers in April's NFL Draft.

The 6'4", 260 pound University of Texas defensive end is projected to be an excellent fit as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. A lot of mock drafts, including SBNation's, sees him falling to the 5th pick, since the Cleveland Browns also run a 3-4.

Mocking the Draft tackles a few of his weaknesses:

The biggest question about Orakpo is his position. He has ideal size to be a 3-4 outside linebacker, but the strength to play 4-3 end. Doesn’t have the most awareness and can be fooled by misdirection plays. Relies too much on speed and strength instead of technique. Orakpo’s desire is questionable because it appears at time that he’ll take plays off. Needs to hustle more when a running play is past him.

Disappears at times? Sounds like Vernon Gholston last season who many of his critics compare Orakpo to.

Orakpo has to be considered a serious contender for the third overall pick even though most folks would prefer Aaron Curry. Orakpo's speed and athleticism make him an enticing pick for the Chiefs, but I would preferably not see him off the board until a few picks later in the top ten.

Take a look at his career statistics while in Austin (via ESPN.com):

Here are a few places he's been talked about around SBNation:

• Last week I noted what I thought was an interesting trend with University of Texas first rounders (which the folks at Burnt Orange Nation mightily disagreed with).
• Keyser Sose selected Orakpo with the 12th overall pick for the Denver Broncos in the Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft.
• Burnt Orange Nation predicted he would have over 10 sacks in the 2008 season (he had 11.5).