Chiefs 2013 Draft: Geno Smith ‘Very Much In The Running’
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Earlier this week we brought you a couple of reports from NFL.com and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, that the Kansas City Chiefs were going to be working out West Virginia QB, Geno Smith.
Rapoport’s report claimed the Chiefs were “fascinated” with Smith and that they were comparing him to former Eagles QB, Donovan McNabb.
Most AA readers and Chiefs bloggers and reporters alike, began immediately suggesting that everything the Chiefs were letting slip about Smith was merely a smokescreen in an effort to increase the chance that KC could trade out of the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
I reached out to Rapoport on Twitter and asked if he thought the Chiefs’ interest in Smith was genuine or if, like everyone thought, it was merely a smokescreen.
Now Rapoport has expanded his thoughts on the matter in a terrific new column that examines one of the more successful draft smokescreens of all-time. Rapoport also talks a bit about the Chiefs and says he believes his original report is accurate and that he trusts his source.
"The cries of “smoke screen” came loud and clear. Never mind that Smith was, to many, the draft’s top QB. With Kansas City holding the No. 1 pick in next month’s draft, skeptics doubted that coach Andy Reid, general manager John Dorsey and company viewed Smith in the same company as, say, Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel. But the words were real. And I trust the source."
Later, Repoport mentions that he knows the Chiefs have yet to set their draft board. This is interesting because most people seem to think that KC already has a pretty good idea of which player they will select if they pick No. 1.
"I believe what I reported. I also know the Chiefs liking Smith does not mean they will draft him. I also know Kansas City hasn’t set its board yet, and Smith is very much in the running to be atop it — along with several other players.When I posed the question to two high-level executives, one told me Smith was the best quarterback in the draft and the Chiefs picking him would make sense. The other told me no way Kansas City passes on Joeckel."
You must read Rapoport’s article. It is great and really illustrates that although teams may say things publicly on purpose, it doesn’t mean the things they are saying aren’t true.
Or they could be complete BS.
What do you think, Addicts? Has Rapoport changed your mind that Geno Smith may still have a legit shot to be taken No. 1 or do you still think that Reid and Dorsey made up their mind on Smith long ago and are just trying to move back?