Chiefs Select In Travis Kelce Third Round Of 2013 NFL Draft
Dec 27, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats tight end Travis Kelce (18) runs after catching a pass during the fourth quarter against the Duke Blue Devils in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Cincinnati won 48-34. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City used their second-round pick to trade for QB Alex Smith so they used their early third-round pick to select TE Travis Kelce out of Cincinnati.
KC’s third-round pick is actually a late second-round pick in most drafts. This year there were only 30 picks in the second round because the New Orleans Saints had their pick taken away as punishment for the bounty program they ran a few years back and the Cleveland Browns used their second-rounder in the Supplemental Draft last year.
The Chiefs had hoped to snag an early second-round pick from the Miami Dolphins for LT Branden Albert but the two teams were never able to get the trade to go through. The Dolphins traded their early second-round pick to the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the draft on Thursday night. Miami reportedly was prepared to give the Chiefs the 54th pick but KC apparently wanted more.
Instead, the Chiefs’ second pick of 2013 is Kelce.
Here is a scouting report from NFL.com:
"STRENGTHS Kelce has an ideal tight end frame. Athletic for his size, with great strength, and the ability to stretch the field vertically. Very physical run blocker, generates power from the lower half, and will move defenders off the ball. Plays with leverage. Wide catching radius, can adjust and make the difficult catch. Tough to bring down after the catch. Light feet, and has lined up in numerous different positions.WEAKNESSES Suspended for an entire season for violating team rules. Only one season of production. Doesn’t have blazing speed. Not a tremendously explosive athlete. Doesn’t come out of his breaks all that well.NFL COMPARISON Rob GronkowskiBOTTOM LINE Kelce has been a tremendous run blocker throughout his career for the Bearcats, but really elevated his game as a receiver in his senior season. He isn’t a tremendous athlete, but he does a lot of things very well. It’s a deep tight end class, but Kelce’s play suggests that he should be highly sought after."
Kelce is reportedly an excellent blocker.
What do you think, Addicts? Does Kelce make sense, given Tony Moeaki’s injury history?