Why The Kansas City Chiefs May Not Draft A Wide Receiver In The 1st Round
By Nick Floyd
Dec 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid yells to an official during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Earlier this week, the Kansas City Chiefs left the 2015 NFL combine, where they surveyed a number of players who could be wearing red and gold next year.
With all that has been said and looked at and analyzed during the combine, there is one piece of information that has not been shared: The Kansas City Chiefs will not draft a wide receiver in the first round.
Kansas City’s receiving corps has been picked apart in recent months due to the fact that…well, they’re horrid (and didn’t score a single touchdown). This, in turn, has led many analysts and fans to book a receiver for the Chiefs in the first round. There is just one problem with that philosophy: It is not Andy Reid’s style.
Reid isn’t a complete stranger to drafting rookie receivers in the first round, but during his stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, there had only been two wideouts selected in the first 32 picks.
The earliest was Freddie Mitchell back in 2001 (25th overall). Mitchell only managed to play four years with the Eagles, gaining 1,263 yards and only five touchdowns.
The second? Jeremy Maclin.
So given Reid’s history and philosophy—the latter of which Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey shares—one would assume that the team will select the best available player based on their draft board. Maybe that’s a wide receiver, maybe it’s not.
Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham catches a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
This is not to say that there isn’t a first-round wideout worthy of the Chiefs’ consideration. Kansas City has been linked to such potential rookies as Dorial Green-Beckham, who has a high ceiling. Standing 6’5″ and 237 lbs, Green-Beckham is as intriguing as he is big.
The Chiefs currently have a big-bodied receiver in Dwayne Bowe, but serious lack of production may soon see him on his way out. Green-Beckham’s route running is questionable, but Reid and his staff can help develop that aspect of his game. There is only one problem with this: quarterback Alex Smith is not one to air the ball out, so having a bigger target to throw to might not mean much if Smith continues to throw short, conservative passes.
The Chiefs also need help on the offensive line. A prospect like Miami’s Erick Flowers would be an intriguing pick if he falls down the board. At 6’6″ and pushing 330 pounds, Flowers would be a big body on an offensive line that was in desperate need of it in 2014. He is good in the ground game, and though his pass blocking has some issues, Reid knows how to develop linemen.
Kansas City’s secondary could also use some help. If the Chiefs are able to pull in a prospect like Alabama safety Landon Collins, the Chiefs defense, which was second in the NFL in points allowed, would get another key playmaker. Collins is not the biggest safety out there, but he hits a lot harder than his size would suggest.
With current DB Ron Parker asking north of $6 million per year and Pro-Bowler Eric Berry’s status uncertain, adding another potential Day 1 starter would the Chiefs’ top-five pass defense
Feb 19, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey speaks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Now all this may just be wishful thinking, but much of the draft is exactly that; hoping the top player on your board is available when you pick is something every team does. Given the history of Andy Reid and John Dorsey, picking for positional need is not something that they will do in the first round.
So will the Chiefs select a receiver on the first day? Probably not.
Yes, a player like Green-Beckham could be a huge asset, but the fact that he’s raw and sat out 2014 makes him a boom-or-bust proposition.
What will the Chiefs do at No. 18? Who knows? There will be more analysis and predictions as the draft approaches, but for now, it seems like taking a wideout at No. 18 is nothing more than wishful thinking.
What do you think, Addicts? Am I wrong in assuming the Chiefs will not select a receiver? And if so, why? Let me know in the comments, and share your first-round predictions for the 2015 draft.
Thanks for reading!
Go Chiefs!!
Next: Is Dorial Green-Beckham Worth The Risk?