Scott Pioli’s Underclassmen Draft Board
Former Kansas City Chiefs GM, Scott Pioli, is continuing his zombie-like rise from the dead.
Pioli was jettisoned from KC after 2-14 season in 2012. Despite a surprise playoff run in 2010, Pioli left the Chiefs exactly as he found them record-wise, although younger and with more talent.
Late last week, Pioli’s hand shot up out of the fresh soil atop his football grave. He was to join NFL Total Access on NEF Network as a guest draft analyst. At the time, we suggested that Pioli might be trying to get a job somewhere as an expert/analyst as he did not end up landing with another NFL team this offseason.
Well today, Pioli is back. He has popped up in Perter King’s Monday Morning QB column on SI.com.
King asked Pioli to disclose his evaluation of the 73 underclassmen that hd declared for this year’s draft. Pili obliged, provided a couple of paragraphs on the topic and sent King his top ten underclassmen.
And here they are:
1. Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M
2. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
3. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
4. Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
5. Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
6. Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
7. Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
8. Keenan Allen, WR, Cal
9. Alec Ogletree, MLB, Georgia
10. Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State
It is important to reiterate that this is not Pioi’s top ten players, just his top ten underclassmen. Still, it does give us a little peak behind the curtain that Pioli tried so hard to keep us from seeing behind during his tenure as Chiefs GM.
It also gives us some incite into the current Chiefs draft board. Most of Pioli’s scouts have likely been retained for under the new regime at least until the draft is over. New GM John Dorsey, who has final say on all draft picks and head coach Andy Reid, surely have their own opinions on these players and may have shuffled things around a bit. Both will also come armed with some intel from their scouts in Philly and Green Bay. That being said, the scouts currently in house helped Pioli reach these conclusions and so their influence, to some degree at least, is still in the picture here.
Here is what Pioli had to say about T Luke Joeckel:
"Strong candidate for the first overall pick. Three-year starter at left tackle in the Big 12 and never red-shirted. A true height-weight-speed prospect who plays with good athleticism and body control. Will play early while he develops better hip and core strength. Good teammate too."
Strong candidate for the first overall pick, eh? That could give us a clue as to Pioli’s plans for current Chiefs LT Branden Albert.
Thankfully, for those hoping for the team to take a QB #1 at least, Pioli is gone.
One last tidbit King added was that Pioli will be doing some work for NBC Sports at the Super Bowl.
It looks like our guess that we’ll be seeing more of Pioli in the next few months was correct.
You can see Pioli’s complete evaluation of these players on SI.com.
What do you think, Addicts? Did Pioli get his underclassmen top ten right?