John Dorsey Narrows Down Kansas City Chiefs’ First Round Pick To Four Players

Feb 21, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey speaks to the media in a press conference during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

John Dorsey is known for keeping things close to the vest when it comes to the draft, so it was a little bit of a surprise for him to say the Chiefs have narrowed down their choice to four players at number 23 overall.

"Q: How many guys are you projecting that you’ll be choosing from at 23?DORSEY: “Right now you begin to play the hypothetical games. You begin to not only look horizontally, but you look vertically and then you begin to narrow your choices down. Then you have to build in those hypotheticals too, what happens if you decide to trade up, what happens if you decide to trade back as well. I think there is a certain pocket there, it’s really interesting to me that you can narrow it down to a group of about four that you think. It’s so hard to predict when you’re sitting in the back there in to 20’s or the 30’s of who is going to fall to you because so many different scenarios can occur in this process. You have to think out every little step as you go along the way just to protect your interests and the interest of the Kansas City Chiefs when it does come time to select those players.”"

Expanding on that comment from Dorsey, Terez A. Paylor guessed the positions those four players may occupy.

Given the “four players” the Chiefs are supposedly down to and the four positions Paylor mentioned, I’ll give the four players I think the Chiefs are interested in and do it in the order of preference.

TAYLOR LEWAN, OT, Michigan

Lewan may be the most athletic and flexible offensive lineman in the draft. We talk a lot about the hole at right guard, what if the answer is Jeff Allen moving from left to right and Lewan moving to left guard? Kansas City could kick Lewan out to right or left tackle if needed.

Both of Andy Reid and John Dorsey’s draft histories indicate they believe – assuming a quarterback is in place – games are won at the line of scrimmage. Assuming defensive line is out of the question, which is something Paylor seems to think after some comments from Dorsey, then offensive line would make lot of sense.

DARQUEZE DENNARD, CB, Michigan State

Potentially the best cornerback in the draft and would give the Chiefs a lot of flexibility on the field. Brandon Flowers fits best as a slot corner in Bob Sutton’s defense, adding Dennard to the combination of Sean Smith and Marcus Cooper would allow Flowers to move inside long term. It would also allow the Chiefs to part ways with Flowers next Spring without creating a big hole in the defense.

JEREMIAH ATTAOCHU, OLB, Georgia Tech

A big, athletic pass rushing outside linebacker who would be available in the “pocket” Dorsey is talking about. Dee Ford and others are an option, but they all seem to small for Dorsey’s taste. Anothony Barr is a guy who, if he falls, would be high on Dorsey’s list one would think.

BRANDIN COOKS, WR, Oregon State

History says John Dorsey prefers to attack the wide receiver position in the second or third round. Taking Brandin Cooks would not be a surprise to me if the Chiefs moved back in the first round and added another pick. Even then, wide receivers seems to be a place the Chiefs will attack later in the draft and not in the first round.