In the First Round, the Chiefs Select…!
By Miles Yi
The NFL Draft is exactly three weeks away. More or less, these nine players, listed alphabetically, have been in the mix for the Chiefs’ first pick:
- Ziggy Ansah, DE/LB, BYU
- Eric Fisher, OT, Michigan
- Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida
- Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
- Jarvis Jones, DE/LB, Georgia
- Dion Jordan, DE/LB, Oregon
- Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
- Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
- Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Yesterday, Paddy reported that the Chiefs are really considering just three: Joeckel, Fisher and Jordan.
It’s time to make your call. Here’s mine: Luke Joeckel.
Occam’s Razor is often described as “The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct.” In other words, the simplest solution is usually the right solution. There are lots of questions remaining before April 25. What’s going to happen to Branden Albert? Will the Chiefs get an offer to trade down? How will Matt Flynn joining the Raiders impact the Chiefs’ draft board? Is Geno Smith a reach at number one, and just how good of a quarterback is he? Are Star Lotulelei and Jarvis Jones healthy?
Drafting Joeckel requires the fewest number of these questions to be answered. More correctly, getting Joeckel requires none of these questions to be answered. By all accounts, he is the most talented, ready-to-play player in the draft. He’s a stud at left tackle. He’s a great character guy and has a tireless work ethic. The guy has started every single game for Texas A&M since joining the team as a true freshman (where he blocked for our very own Cyrus Gray), all the way through his junior year last year. He held down the left side of the offensive line for Ryan Tannehill two years ago, and last year, allowed only one sack while protecting the scrambling Johnny Manziel.
Most analysts call Joeckel a “ten year starter” and perennial Pro Bowler. If there was ever a sure bet with the Draft, Joeckel is it.
With Joeckel, John Dorsey and Andy Reid get their “best available player” and Joeckel fills an immediate and glaring gap on our team at either left or right tackle, depending on what happens to Albert. We get a stone cold lock on pass protection and a road grader for Jamaal Charles.
If you have the chance to draft the next Jonathan Ogden or Willie Roaf, you just do it. Keep it simple, Chiefs. Joeckel should be our guy.
Addicts, the clock is ticking. What do you think?!