Kansas City Chiefs 2013 Draft: Taking A Second
By Laddie Morse
The pundits are punch drunk on predicting who the Chiefs will pocket first overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. I guess I have to count my self twisted silly in that process too. So… without further adieu, let’s take a look at who the Chiefs may be drafting with the second pick in the second round.
One way to do that is to look at some popular mock drafts and determine, based upon those mocks, who would be left over and available for the Chiefs near the beginning of the second round.The outcome most interesting to me right now comes from the mocks that project Geno Smith at number 1. Some of those mocks include: Rob Rang at CBS Sports, Dan Kadar at SBNation, Walter at Walter Football, Charlie at Walter Football, Paul Banks at the Sports Bank, Steve Shoup at FanSpeak, Kevin Hanson at EatDrinkSleep Football, Eric Galko at Optimum Scouting, Nate Bouda at NFL Trade Rumors, Jay O’Brien at The NFL Report, and Dane Brugler at NFL Draft Scout.
Matthew Hodges at NFL Draft Monster has a three round mock you might really enjoy and so does Peter Smith at Pigskin Heaven. On Friday, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com projected Geno Smith first in his mock draft too.
15 out of 20 of the most recent mocks I found show Geno Smith going first. So, we’ll project the Chiefs second round selection based on Mr. Smith going to Hollywood… err… I mean Kansas City.
Over at NFL.com, Bucky Brooks has a first round mock projecting Geno Smith first to the Chiefs and if you check off all the players he’s projecting to be gone by the end of the first round, below you’ll find a list of the best 20 players who would be left over for the Chiefs to choose from if Brooks’ mock comes true. You can use any site you want to do your check listing but, I chose CBS Sports. The prospects left behind from Brooks mock are also listed by using the top 100 list at DraftTek.com as a checklist. DraftTeks list can be found following the CBS list below.
Here’s the CBS Sports list of the top 20 players left on the board after Bucky Brooks mock.
Here’s the DraftTek.com list: DT Johnathan Jenkins, CB Jonathan Banks, DE Datone Jones, WR Justin Hunter, QB Tyler Wilson, CB Desmond Trufant, RB Giovani Bernard, WR DeAndre Hopkins, DT Jesse Williams, C Barrett Jones, WR Terrance Williams, CB Jordan Poyer, ILB Arthur Brown, OLB Alex Okafor, QB Zac Dysert, DE Sylvester Williams, RB Eddie Lacy, CB Jamar Taylor, QB Tyler Bray, G Larry Warford. The players listed in bold are unique to DraftTek and are also part of what would be the best 20 available prospects at the beginning of round two (based on Bucky Brooks mock). Maybe there’s someone there you covet here?
While I believe the Chiefs next greatest need after a QB would be a CB, I’m unsure that a CB would be the next “best player available” at that point. However, Desmond Trufant (5-11) had a great Senior Bowl showing and will likely go in the first.
If for some reason, as Bucky Brooks has predicted here, Trufant falls to the second round, Trufant would be hard to pass on but, since Brandon Flowers is a short corner (5-9ish), then I think the Chiefs priority would be to select a CB who is bigger, approximating Brandon Carr’s size. The next largest CB showing up on the prospect’s list is Johnathan Banks (6-1) who is not quite as good as Trufant but, does have the size needed to pair with Flowers.
No comment on Matt Barkley except to say there’s just no way the Chiefs take 2 QBs back to back. Plus, I’m not a Barkley believer.
Neither Dantone Jones from UCLA or Alex Okafor from Texas fit the description of a 3-4 DE so you can likely count them off the list.
DT Jessie Williams from Alabama could be a good choice but, may be more suited to play in a 4-3. Johnathan Hankins Ohio State and John Jenkins from Georgia have to be in the conversation if they’re going to go DT in this spot.
6-1, 185 CB Johnathan Banks would be on my short list if things fell this way. He can play man coverage and zone. He can rush the passer and when he gets there he knows how to strip the ball. He’s a good in run support and would be positive to pair with Flowers. Take a peek at Banks vs. Tyler Wilson and the Razorbacks.
WR DeAndre Hopkins has had some nice games but, his 4.45 speed doesn’t separate him from other receivers and he just doesn’t make the catches you think he should make at times. Compare him to a Tavon Austin, who has 4.38 speed, and someone taken with the 34th pick should deliver more than Hopkins can deliver.
I’m normally not an Alabama fan but, their performance in college football’s biggest game in January leaves me coveting most of their top line prospects. Consequently, I’d love to see RB Eddie Lacy in red and gold next year and I could fully understand how Dorsey and Company might rate him as the BPA at #34. Lacy was impressive every time he touched the ball that day and ended up being named the offensive MVP. I wouldn’t be upset at all if the Chiefs took Lacy. He and Jamaal Charles could do some damage together.
I also think Center Barrett Jones is going to be a fixture for some lucky team. His size and ability would be just up Andy Reid’s alley.
Margus Hunt is impressive if you’ve ever had the pleasure to watch him operate. He reminds me of a taller (6-8) heavier (275) Aldon Smith of the 49ers. Now, I know A.S. plays OLB for the 9ers but, with ten more pounds Hunt could be a force at DE in the Chiefs 3-4 scheme. He’s a freakish athlete and would give the Chiefs some QB pressure from the DE position they’ve lacked since Neil Smith was in town. Hunt’s wingspan is also going to allow him to block his fair share of passes. Can you tell… I’m a Margus Hunt fan.
I’m sure there are excellent prospects beyond the 20 I have mentioned so, now might be a good time to lay your cards on the table.
Well, Addict fanatics… who should the Chiefs take at the top of round two… that is… if Bucky banked a bingo in the first?