Chiefs Ultimate Mock Draft: Round 4
There are a lot of mock drafts flying around these days so we here at Arrowhead Addict decided to try to bring you a different and interactive mock draft experience.
We’ve teamed up with FanSided’s draft Site NFL Mocks to bring you the first ever Kansas City Chiefs Ultimate Mock Draft!
Basically, we have a panel of four mockers presenting four unique picks for every round of the Chiefs 2011 draft. The mockers are picking in a snaking order and once one mocker takes a player, he can no longer be selected by the others. The result is four realistic and unique options in each round. After the mockers present their picks, AA readers are voting on their favorite selection. Whichever players the readers pick will be the official Chiefs Nation selection in the Chiefs Ultimate Mock Draft. The mockers will abide by the picks of Chiefs Nation as they continue on in the full seven round mock. When it is all over, we will have hopefully constructed the most fan friendly mock draft possible.
Let’s get to it. Below are the results so far and the picks for Round 4.
Chiefs Ultimate Mock Draft, Round 4, Pick #118
Official Reader Pick:
Round 1: Phil Taylor, Nose Tackle, Baylor (Andrew)
Round 2: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA (Andrew)
Round 3: Edmund Gates, WR, Abilene Christian (Andrew)
Jesse (4A)
Pick: Mario Fanin, RB, Auburn
Explanation: I’ve been against the first and third round picks in the draft because I’ve felt there was better value and positions could be filled later in the draft. For example, looking at Drafttek’s big board now. If the Cheifs had passed on Phil Taylor in round one they could have grabbed Kendric Ellis, in round four. Had they passed on Edmund Gates in round 3 they could grab either Greg Little or Tandon Doss two Wide receivers who are better than Edmund Gates. But the Cheifs won’t grab two Nose Tackles in this draft or WR back to back so I’m passing on those players now.
I know someone is going to pick Tim Barnes and he’ll probably win here, but Fanin is 230 pounds at 5-10 well built and runs a 4.38 40 yard dash. Averaged 6.5 yards per carry and also can catch the ball out of the backfield. The cheifs need to find an eventual replacement for Thomas Jones and Fanin has great upside. Bilal Powell would also be a nice compliment to Jamaal Charles. A player like Delone Carter at this point would also be a good pick.
Andrew: (4B)
Pick: Tim Barnes, C, Missouri
Explanation: The tackles may get the bigger bucks and the guards may be the enforcers, but the center is the inscrutable, thankless, most essential part of a great offensive line. You center is the player that makes the blocking assignments, risks a fumble every single play that he hands off to the quarterback, and often has to simply reach out and throw his body in the way instead of actively pouncing on defensive lineman like a guard. In Haley’s offense, the center is asked to do even more: in Jamaal Charles’ offense, he is often asked to versatile and pull out wide, and is frequently asked to slither through the defense to block at the second level. It is a position of equal parts athleticism and intelligence in a way no other position on the field is.
Do you want Jamaal Charles to go All Pro the next five years? Then you must draft Tim Barnes. The Chiefs have been in the hunt for a new center ever since 2006. Yet we’ve only taken a flyer on a project, Rudy Niswanger, who is versatile depth, at best. It’s time we bring in a stud who can man the position for 10 years. Barnes is an elite prospect for the zone blocking system in our run game and the spread offense in our pass game. He is fantastic in space, and extremely strong in pass protection. He’s not going to pound the ball down your throat, but with Charles and McCluster in our backfield, that was never a big part of our gameplan anyways.
Merlin: (4C)
Pick: Chris White, SILB, Mississippi State
Explanation: Barnes is the best pick here, but he is already selected. Doss is the best player available, but I am not sure the Chiefs should double up on WR so soon. Had Addicts followed the Merlin blueprint, (Sherrod, Powe, Moffit), Doss or Toliver would have been good choices. I would love to go OT here, but there are not fits. Brewer is suited for a power blocking scheme and Hall is probably an OG in the NFL. That only leaves a few choices. McElroy is a consideration, but I know Adam is high on him, so I’ll pass. Chris White is my offering. Chris is a highly productive MLB. He lacks some range, but he has enough to function in a 3-4 defense. He has great instincts, a high motor and is a very sure tackler. Chris is not the most athletic prospect, all he does is produce on the field.
Adam (4D)
Pick: Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama
Explanation: Matt Cassel has yet to start a full season for the Kansas City Chiefs. Brodie Croyle has shown that he isn’t a viable back-up QB and is a free agent who won’t be re-signed. That leaves us with Tyler Palko as Cassel’s back-up. I don’t like that. That’s why we should pick McElroy. I’ve touted him before and I still think he’s a good choice. Let’s go down the Scott Pioli checklist to see if McElry fits it. Smart? Yes. He was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist and scored at least a 43 on the Wonderlic. From an SEC school? Yes, Alabama which runs a Pro-style offense. Team Captain? Yes. Tough? Played a National Championship game with a cracked rib, so yes. Understand that I’m not looking for Cassel’s replacement. I’m looking for a smart, accurate, and tough game manager who will keep Chiefs’ fans from weeping when he walks on to the field. McElroy completed 71% of his passes in 2010 and I already discussed his intelligence and toughness. Last but not least, he’s a winner. He’s been QB since eighth grade and lost his first game in 2010. He may not have great arm strength, but that arm strength didn’t exactly help Brodie Croyle.