It seems many people are moving away from assigning actual letter grades to NFL draft picks so what we have here is some grades and some general reactions to the Kansas City Chiefs selecting Dontari Poe. We'll have a more complete set of NFL draft grades once this thing is over on Sunday.
Check out a bunch of the reactions after the jump. One that caught my eye -- calling Poe a "classic" Scott Pioli pick.
SB Nation - C
Dontari Poe has the physical skills, but we're not sure if he can consistently put it together on tape. This pick can go either way.
"Think Haloti Ngata. That's the kind of skill set and the kind of size he brings to the table. He's got average college tape, but he's got freakish athletic ability for a big man. Romeo Crennel has a good one here to coach up. ... Most rookie defensive tackles get taken off the field on third downs. This kid's best down is third down."
The Chiefs went for the Combine workout warrior in Dontari Poe, hoping he can eat up necessary space in Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defense. Crennel will need to work with Poe to make him deliver on his promise as a consistently productive player.
Don Banks of Sports Illustrated:
Kansas City's general manager Scott Pioli is thought to be risk-averse, but he made one of the bigger rolls of the dice Thursday night when his Chiefs made Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe their first-round pick at No. 11. Poe is massively gifted from an athletic standpoint, but his game film was less than inspiring in 2011. That's the thing about those boom-bust types. You ever notice the boom part gets mentioned first, sometimes distracting us from the bust possibility?
Wes Bunting of National Football Post:
I have some concerns about Memphis DT Dontari Poe being asked to do the dirty work and anchor the Kansas City 34 front. Physically and athletically he certainly has the talent. However, guys with motor problems rarely stay motivated clogging up run lanes inside
Matt Bowen of the National Football Post:
Dontari Poe is one of the prospects that intrigued me leading up to the draft because of the big combine workout paired with the inconsistent tape. Did the Chiefs reach on him? Not if he can control the interior of the D-Line when K.C. looks to get after the QB. Still, an interesting pick from Scott Pioli.
He's a big wide body for the middle of the KC defense, but he has to start making plays. He looks the part, but where are the numbers?
A 346-pound dancing bear of a defensive lineman, Poe has freakish athletic ability for his size, but wasn't a major factor in the Tigers' defense. Head coach Romeo Crennel can draw a lot out of him, but the Chiefs have missed on talented defensive linemen before.
Poe fills a gaping hole in the middle of the K.C. defense with his athletic, 346-pound frame. Despite playing against lesser competition at Memphis, Poe has a chance to harness his vast potential under the tutelage of Romeo Crennel. Poe likely takes over for aging vet Kelly Gregg and improves the talent core of what may be one of the league's most underrated rosters.
Poe could prove to be a solid pass rusher in this scheme as well. In the last three years, the Chiefs have tried the likes of Ron Edwards, Shaun Smith, Kelly Gregg and Amon Gordon at nose tackle.
They drafted big man Jerrell Powe in the sixth round last year, but never got him on the field. Well, Poe fits the bill as a major space eater. The Chiefs, remember, allowed 132 rushing yards per game in 2011. Poe is a classic pick by general manager Scott Pioli.
Arrowhead Pride - C
I understand many people aren't thrilled with the pick, and some will grade it lower, but I think it deserves a C because of the potential factor. I think you're banking on Romeo Crennel and defensive line coach Anthony Pleasant to coach Poe up and make him realize his potential. He also gives the Chiefs defense a little more flexibility if he can stay on the field. I understand the potential positives from the pick.
But this is a first round pick that comes with question marks (for the second year in a row). He didn't dominate his level of play at Memphis and the Chiefs haven't exactly nailed the nine defensive tackles they've drafted in the last 10 years. That's where the concern comes in.