What if the Chiefs trade out of the first pick …

Nov 26, 2011; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive end Dion Jordan (96) against the Oregon State Beavers during the second half at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Z. Rider-USA TODAY Sports

With smokescreens going around the NFL leading up to the draft in April, it’s a very confusing time to be a fan. With the first overall pick, one wouldn’t think that Chiefs fans would still have no clue who the Chiefs will end up taking in the first round of the draft, but that’s exactly the predicament we find ourselves in.

While it does seem likely that if the Chiefs pick at number one overall, that Luke Joeckel will be the man. But what if the Chiefs don’t stay at number one? What if the interest that the Jacksonville Jaguars are apparently showing towards Geno Smith makes some General Manager nervous enough to trade up and grab him? What if the Chiefs can trade the number one overall pick to move down in the draft and pick up additional selections? Then it gets even more complicated.

First we have to find a trade partner. Nick Jacobs from TWC Metro Sports in Kansas City says that he has his eyes on the Cardinals, Jets, Bills and Eagles. Any of these teams could move up for either quarterback Geno Smith (who says there’s no clear number one prospect at the QB position?), Dion Jordan, or an offensive tackle.

Depending how far the Chiefs trade down will also determine what player they could take. Let’s start with the team that I think has a good chance to move up to number one: The Raiders. Trading with the Raiders at number three overall would still allow the Chiefs to get a top-flight tackle such as Eric Fisher from Central Michigan, if he doesn’t go sooner than three. Other players that the Chiefs could probably still get with the third pick but probably couldn’t get any later are Oregon’s DE/LB Dion Jordan, and Florida Defensive Tackle Shariff Floyd. And guess what, the Chiefs have been at the Pro Days or have worked out all of those players, obviously to get a closer look.

Since there is not much of a difference between the third and fourth pick, which is owned by the Eagles, I will skip ahead to the Cardinals, Bills and Jets picks, which are at number seven, eight and nine respectively. Dropping to either one of these picks could still leave the opportunities to pick up Texas A&M’s Defensive End Damontre Moore (who the Chiefs saw at his Pro Day), Oklahoma’s Left Tackle Lane Johnson (who the Chiefs saw at his Pro Day), BYU’s DE/LB Ziggy Ansah (who the Chiefs saw at his Pro Day) or Georgia DE/LB Jarvis Jones. Obviously, there are many other players that the Chiefs could be looking at if they find themselves in this spot, but I wanted to stick to ones that the Chiefs have had contact with.

Just because the Chiefs have seen these players in person, or even if they bring these players in for private workouts, it is no guarantee that the Chiefs will be looking to draft them. And just because the Chiefs haven’t taken a look at a player is no guarantee that the Chiefs won’t draft him either (although it makes it less likely). But while Luke Joeckel is observed by many to be the best player available in this year’s draft, and while new GM John Dorsey has said that he will take the best player available in the draft, would you have a problem with the Chiefs trying to trade out of the pick to select one of the players that I have mentioned above? Do you think there is a big difference in talent between Joeckel at #1 and, say, Eric Fisher at #3 or Lane Johnson at #7?

Personally, I wouldn’t mind the Chiefs trading down from the first pick. If the team can still get a top-tier prospect – and if the Chiefs select in the top ten then that wouldn’t be an issue – while picking up an additional pick on the second day of the draft, I think that would be the best case scenario for the Chiefs entering the draft. What do you think Chiefs Nation? Would you entertain offers for the first pick, or use the opportunity to select the best player available in the draft?