I’m not gonna lie–I’m an opinionated cat. Quite often, I’m an opinionated cat who sees things differently than the mainstream crowd. I’ll admit that.
Still, I do have pretty good credentials when it comes being an NFL Draft prognosticator. Yesterday, Zach even urged me to remind everybody of how high I was on Dwayne Bowe last year. And then there were some super sleepers I called correctly while writing for Real Football 365, Kevin Boss for instance. Justin Harrell, who the book is still open on, was my favorite player last year, so I’m not perfect. All I’m saying is that I’m willing to step outside the box and have pretty decent intuition.
All I’m asking, Chiefs fans, is that you just give me a shot here and drop your guard and biases long enough to consider my recommendations.
Here are the players I covet heading into Saturday’s draft, just over 48 hours away:
QB Matt Ryan, B.C.
As you all know, this is my guy. And I know that he’s not most of your guys’ guy. In fact, there’s probably still more support for Dubya among Chiefs fans than there is for Matt Ryan. As Herm Edwards says, that’s OK.
First, I want to tackle this notion that there are more pressing needs than quarterback in the NFL. Ridiculous. Asinine. Bizarre. No offense, but I am just shocked that so many fans have this opinion. It’s like saying the CEO isn’t the most crucial part of a business, or that the head isn’t the most important part of the body. It just makes no sense to me, especially on the heels of three first-round QBs in a row winning it all.
Next, yep, Brodie Croyle. You want a leader and a winner in a QB. I wouldn’t follow Brodie into a USC sorority house. I wouldn’t follow Brodie into Best Buy if it included an unlimited shopping spree. The dude is not a leader. He’s just not. Meanwhile, you see Ryan play and do interviews and you see visions of other great quarterbacks. Manning. Brady. Palmer. He’s got what they’ve got. 32 on the Wonderlic. 27-6 as a starter at B.C. The size and toughness Brodie sorely lacks. He’s got it all. Right now the situation is a little like The Lord of the Rings. Brodie Croyle is nothing more than a steward, folks–we need ourselves a king, and in the worst possible way. All we have now is a part-time, injury-riddled steward.
As for the interceptions I hear about every 1.67 seconds (believe me, I’m annoyed), he played in possibly the most predictable offense in the country and still led his team to become the fourth best passing attack in the NCAA. I think people are overstating his interception issues. I’d rather have an 11-3 QB who’s more INT prone (Ryan) than a 6-6 one (Brohm) who can’t lead his squad to victories.
All I’m asking is for you to give the guy a chance. Or don’t. I could care less. History will be kind to me on this one.
QB Joe Flacco, Delaware
No need for as long of a spiel here, because I think we all like him. He’s big, smart, has a canon arm and swagger for days. Problem is he played against inferior competition in college. Also, I think part of why Chiefs fans like him so much is because they’ve talked themselves into thinking they can get a player as good as Ryan a round later. Yeah, I’m just not sure about that. Regardless, I’m high on Flacco.
QB Josh Johnson, San Diego
If for some reason we are more sold on Brodie than I think we are–and definitely more than we should be–this would be a great option. We could even reach a tad early in round three to make sure we got him. Speed Racer wheels, amazing accuracy (43 TDs, 1 INT), good size (6′3″), 24 on the Wonderlic…I prefer him to the two underachievers, aka Brian Brohm and Chad Henne, big time. Still, J.J. is definitely a project. Think Casey Printers on steroids.
QB Kevin O’Connell, San Diego State
I don’t know much about him, but by Saturday I may actually prefer him to Johnson. He’s still a little under the radar, but the ex-S.D. Stater could wind up being Aztec gold. He’s fast (4.6 40), got hops (31-inch vert) and absolutely torched opponents last season in the Mountain West. He’s really starting to rise right now. It might be too late, though, and we could be smart to take advantage and pounce with our third third or our fourth. I don’t know a ton about him, but I’m starting to warm up to the kid.
RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
He might not end up being quite as explosive or exciting as Darren McFadden, but he very well could end up being this draft’s best pure rusher. If he was there at 17 and there wasn’t anybody left we coveted, I would definitely take a long look at him. Remember how everybody moaned and groaned when we picked L.J. even though we had Priest Holmes? The best-player-available strategy works, folks.
WR James Hardy, Indiana
For the life of me I don’t know why any receiver outside of DeSean Jackson is ranked above this guy. The possibility of getting him at No. 35 is tantalizing to say the least. 6′6″ and he runs a 4.4 40. I don’t ever want to read or hear the words Mario Manningham again.
WR Jordy Nelson, K-State
We’ve already raved, and raved, and raved…and then some about our guy Jordy. The point I want to make here is that with our plethora of picks (13 total, six in the top 82), I would be totally willing for us to trade into round two and snag him. He is the perfect No. 2 WR. Say hello to the next out-of-nowhere guy, a la T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Wes Welker.
OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
I just want to start singing, “I like the way you move, duh, duh, duh.” Great frame and athleticism, incredible feet. He has the potential to be the very best pass-blocking left tackle in this draft. He seriously could go to the Broncos, too, but I’m reading that they might go with a back. I’m also reading that with Branden Albert moving up, Williams could be there at No. 17. I’d much rather go with a legitimate LT prospect 12 picks later, wouldn’t you? We just can’t be sure that Albert is a LT at this juncture, and you can’t pick a guard in the top five. That’s like winning a sweepstakes for any car you want and picking a Honda Accord. Nice ride, but…yeah…you get it.
OT Sam Baker, USC
As one scout said, he’s a ten-year starter at right tackle. In the late first or early second I will take that with no hesitation whatsoever. If he had been more healthy last year he would have been a top-20 pick. The kid’s got great instincts, the kind of feel for the game that you can’t teach.
DE Quentin Groves, Auburn
Saw this monster absolutely obliterate my Wildcats last year. Plus, his measurables are not far off from Vernon Gholsten’s. Blazing 4.53 40. 30 reps of 225. 30-inch hops. Oh yeah, what about his heart? Well, that was an outpatient procedure that didn’t even cause him to stop working out for teams. I understand that it’s a heart issue, and that’s scary. But as someone who grew up the son of a heart doc, I assure you that this (WPW syndrome, which is almost always cured with a minor preliminary operation) doesn’t appear to even really be an issue. The only reference to heart we should be making when it comes to Groves is how much heart he plays with. Because of the operation we might be able to get a top-ten player with the No. 35 overall pick. I like him every bit as much as Chris Long. Seriously.
CB Antoine Cason, Arizona
4.4 40. Four-year all-conference guy in the Pac-10. He’s got decent size. He’s perfect for the Cover 2 scheme. If he somehow slips into round three, which is possible, he’d be a steal. I have no clue why he’s slipping so much. Really, I don’t.
CB Chevis Jackson, LSU
As you know, he’s been one of my boys for some time. He’s pretty big, and while not the fastest corner out there, he’s a sticky coverage guy–you can’t shake him. He has great intuition and instincts. He’s really the prototypical Herm corner, and he’ll be there in round three. We should do ourselves a favor and take him at that spot, especially with three thirds.
FS Ron Girault, Fresno State
Started 40 games. Ran a 4.46 40. 40-inch hops. Benched 225 25 times. He wasn’t invited to the Combine, so he’s not a name commodity right now, but he’ll be one of the best safeties in a weak class. He can be had in the late rounds and would be a great insurance policy to Jarrad Page, who I’ve soured on a bit. The biggest drawback is that he’s only 5′9″.
Let us know your “Draft Apples,” Chiefs fans!
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Another platinum hit…lol…
nah… forget Matt Ryan… we give Croyle another year, sign a solid, more mobile backup like Culpepper, then next year if the Brodie Project goes to the crapper and when Derek Anderson proves he’s the man in Cleveland we could maybe trade for Brady Quinn
ok… it’s a stretch… i’m just not sold that Ryan is the best pick there at 5…
ok… so Culpepper isn’t mobile… but in comparison to Huard… you see where i was going with it…
Krans,
I wouldn’t mind seeing us snag Brennan with a really late pick if he’s around. 70% completion percentage two years running (in a system where his predecessor, the NCAA passing yardage leader, only hit 57%)? He’d be a hell of a 6th-7th rounder.
I wouldn’t want to waste a pick higher than 6th round, though, with the baggage that guy carries with him.
Crawford,
Yea thats pretty much all im saying. You have to realize prior to the Sugar bowl many ppl though he had a chance of going 1st or 2nd round and almost everyone would agree hed go first day
Im not expert on talent but ive seen him play enough times to be pretty convinced hes a great QB when healthy. I honestly think San Fran will prob grab him in the 5th but we’ll see.
But yea all im pretty much saying is i here the arguments for Ryan and they are sound but hes not the best in a lot of areas. Now i think hes got great potential and hes a smart kid but i just would rather go in another direction.
Anyway Adam has his favorite, i have mine, neither is very popular haha
Anyone else have thoughts on Mike Hart?
I think he would be a really nice nice pick
Krans, dont ask me about Mike Hart… According to Adam, Im pretty biased and inclined toward drafting EVERY Michigan player in this years draft. Hahaha! I mean, its true… but not. I mean, granted I wanted Jake Long (but who didnt?), I wouldnt mind having Chad Henne as a sold backup QB, I DO like Mario Manningham at WR, and I’ve always though that Make Hart was quite the player. Now, I think he may be a mid 3rd rounder… if he gets hyped up a little more, he may move up to a late 2nd rounder. MAYBE!… But I like the kid.
And as far as our 1st round goes… I’m totally for Chris Long at 5. Maybe he wont get to 5, fine. But Im pullin’ for it. But as a plan B, I say we snag Sedrick Ellis… At 17, Im pulling for Chris Williams! I definitely see a young Willie Roaf. As a plan B, Id hope that Jeff Otah is there, because granted he’s not the next Willie Roaf, but he IS the best run blocking OT in the draft.
…. My God! Imagine how LJ is gonn feel come Saturday! I think its gonna be almost the equivalent to when Tom Brady woke up on his personal Christmas morning and found all his WR toys to play with.
As far as the New Orleans J.Brown/#10 pick… I WOULD DEFINITELY consider it. I mean then we’d be able to draft a Branden Albert or Chirs Williams for sure at #10 and maybe snag DRC or (if we dont think Turk can cut it) we can draft Phillip Merling at #17…. This would be kinda cool, but I’m a little to high on Ellis/DMC/and Gholston.
Wow ROC, i think i almost completely agree with your entire post lol.
Ive seen a couple mocks that have Hart going 4th round but i definately wouldnt be surprised to see him early third. Like i said i would prob use a 3rd on him and feel very very good at where we are at RB
As for Manningham, i think hes worth a second round pick, i mean sure he ran a slow 40 but its what he does in the game that matters. One of the reasons Bowe was so good for us though is he can block, he really was the perfect fit of last years class and KC will prob look for similar blocking receivers this year as well (another reason i mentioned Bess).
As for moving down, could go either way. Now that we have no.17 i actually hope we stay put and try to get one of the best in the draft at 5
Im excited though for saturday, its going to be a hell of a draft
You are right I’m not sold on Matt Ryan. The Flacco guy transfered from QB rich Pittsburg U. because he could not get playing time. I sure he will be a back for life. I have no problem drafting a QB but I just can’t see Ryan becoming a Superbowl winning QB.
You are right I’m not sold on Matt Ryan. The Flacco guy transfered from QB rich Pittsburg U. because he could not get playing time. Can’t break the starting line for Pittsburg, but he is gonna set the NFL on fire. I’m sure he will be a back for life. I have no problem drafting a QB but I just can’t see Ryan becoming a Superbowl winning QB.
I may be one of the only ones that agree but Brodie fuckn sucks, and Matt Ryan is a better pick than ellis..They say picking ellis will shure up the defense, but then we let our best young player go???? Was it ust me or did D Bowe admit he was high in that dumb/cocky ass utube video…He’s gonna be a problem soon. Whatever happened to humble guys like Gonzalez?????
at this point i dont care about character issues…id sell my soul for a winning season and some playoff wins… Saturday can not get here soon enough, the suspense is killing me…..
Adam, I was initially extremely opposed to drafting Ryan. I don’t think it would be a bad pick, though, given that he rates extremely high from a character/intelligence standpoint.
What I take pause at, however, is that I think drafting Ryan is a statement that the team has given up on Croyle, and I think that’s unfair. It’s like asking your pizza delivery guy to deliver all his pizzas in a half-hour, but refusing to let him use a car to get there. I think the Chiefs should instead work on two approaches: building a really solid offense around Croyle and giving him a legit chance to prove himself and, if he doesn’t, look to next year to develop a QB. Or b) the preferred option, instead use your 2nd or 3rd on a QB that can push Croyle for the starting job.
I’ve been looking through a lot of mock drafts and still see Clady showing up on quite a few. But hardly anyone here talks about him as a possible pick now. I know most here don’t seem to like him. One site even said that Will Shields has been working with him.
http://patsdraft.com/April_Draft07.htm
No one here thinks there’s a chance we pick him at 5?
totally off subject but yesterday i saw someone say manningham. i read today that the guy got a 6 on the wonderlic. A FREAKIN 6!!!!!!!!!!! WOW A REAL GENIUS
so the guy is slow and stoopid
i know its stupid just a joke
LTCF
Last time I brought that up, I got jumped on.
LTCF Whats that mean?
marcus henry out of kansas
Man you guys REALLY need to lay off of Adam and his love affair with Matt Ryan. He is a good QB and might be pretty good in the NFL. Agree to disagree with Adam and let it go. I seriously doubt if he is there anyway. Either Oakland trades out of 4 with a Baltimore or the like or ATL takes him at 3! End of discussion he shouldn’t be an issue for us!
another thing on the saints shopping brown(lt) IF we could get him and #10 for #5 then we could also draft albert at 10 and have a pretty good oline started. also hes signed for under 900 thousand a year until 2011
LTCF = LongTimeChiefsFan
I’m tellin’ ya, Todd at thehuddlerport.com, has the best scenario yet: Carolina sends up Julius Peppers, and their #1 (13), for our #5. We get our DE, and are sitting pretty with 2 first rounders.
yea but we need oline worse AND peppers is ALWAYS hurt
AND we would STILL have 2 1st rounders
It’s tough. Clady and Albert are a reach at 5, and Ryan might be also. We REALLY need to trade down.
CARL IS AN IDIOT