My Chief Concerns: Should A Prolonged Lockout Dictate The Chiefs Draft Strategy?

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Will the lockout dictate which way the Kansas City Chiefs go in the first round or even the second? Should it? Let’s face it, although the Kansas City Chiefs returned to relevancy in 2010, the Chiefs still have big needs on both sides of the ball (WR, OL, FB & NT, OLB, and FS). It is no secret that NFL offenses are very complex. In my opinion, our two biggest needs are WR and NT. Having said that, if the lockout continues and we lose OTAs, mini-camps, training camps, and even pre-season games, would choosing a wide receiver or offensive skill player with our first pick be counter productive?

Would we be better off going with a defensive player, specifically a NT, who presumably has simpler assignments and could pick up the defense so much faster than say a wide receiver? Would you still do so, even if the offensive player is just slightly rated higher than the defensive player? Isn’t it a lot easier to be disruptive on defense than synergistically productive on offense? I say yes, if you believe the lock out will persist into training camp time; the Chiefs should take a defensive player with their first and second picks. Am I being short sided and simple minded, or is this a concern?

What do you think?

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Tags: Draft, kansas city chiefs, NFL Lockout

That Guy

This is something I have pondered much myself. If the lockout is gonna create a problem with a reduction of the offseason, the best draft strategy would be to seriously target a team's biggest needs (especially less complicated positions like NT) with a quality over quantity mentality. I believe the Chiefs should try to somehow gain another 2nd or 3rd rounder by packaging all their late round picks and draft players at NT, OLB, WR and OL that are ready to contribute immediately.

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KC MikeG

I believe that a prolonged lock out will directly effect our drft strategy causing us to select a NT like Phil Taylor or an OLB like Houston or A. Smith. Either one would be very good for our defense then we can pray for free agency to happen at some point or to get lucky on a late round WR draft choice to pan out or much more likely something that I don't hear anyone mention very often is that or passing attack could be much stronger from Urban being healthy or Tucker or Horne (who looked really good in camp last year) developing or hold on to your hats - Chambers deciding to play football again - fat chance! Bottom line this whole CBA thing is screwing up everything!

Lawrence U.

You don't think about the lockout when you go to draft. If the labor negotiations get settled and you draft a guy for those type of reasons, you're screwed. You draft to fill the needs you have now without any thought of whether or not there will be a season, I think Haley and Pioli are more than smart enough to know that.

Adam Toren

You ask a valid question that I've been thinking about for a while. Frequently in the draft you have to ask yourself whether you draft best player available or for need. Usually it is a combination, but with a lockout, and the draft being the only surefire way to fill holes, does this draft need to be focused on filling needs more than ever before? Also, with the defensive line being the cream of the crop this year, don't be surprised if some offensive players slide. It really is impossible to say we should absolutely go defense in Rds. 1 & 2 because don't know if players will slide. It's true that the value in this draft is defensively, but that could mean that teams will be reaching for defense all draft which will allow value to be gotten on offense. Essentially, that's a longwinded way of saying that it's something to consider, but it's too early to commit to that.

jeremyriversideca

That is an excellent point too. It will be interesting to see if any of this happens on Draft day if the lockout is still on.

merlin

Adam: Longball is expecting an offensive slide in the draft. #21 is a good spot to sit and see what trickles down. It could be good for us, or good trade bait.

Randy5k-Arrowhead Adventurer

love that tie in picture!

Thanks Randy. Man it is tough blogging in the offseason on Friday. It is a ghost town around here on Frdiay afternoon, right?

I believe that a prolonged lock out will directly effect our drft strategy causing us to select a NT like Phil Taylor or an OLB like Houston or A. Smith.

Either one would be very good for our defense then we can pray for free agency to happen at some point or to get lucky on a late round WR draft choice to pan out or much more likely something that I don't hear anyone mention very often is that or passing attack could be much stronger from Urban being healthy or Tucker or Horne (who looked really good in camp last year) developing or hold on to your hats - Chambers deciding to play football again - fat chance! Bottom line this whole CBA thing is screwing up everything!

You don't think about the lockout when you go to draft. If the labor negotiations get settled and you draft a guy for those type of reasons, you're screwed.

You draft to fill the needs you have now without any thought of whether or not there will be a season, I think Haley and Pioli are more than smart enough to know that.

Also, with the defensive line being the cream of the crop this year, don't be surprised if some offensive players slide. It really is impossible to say we should absolutely go defense in Rds. 1 & 2 because don't know if players will slide.

It's true that the value in this draft is defensively, but that could mean that teams will be reaching for defense all draft which will allow value to be gotten on offense.

Essentially, that's a longwinded way of saying that it's something to consider, but it's too early to commit to that.

Adam:

Longball is expecting an offensive slide in the draft. #21 is a good spot to sit and see what trickles down. It could be good for us, or good trade bait.