Welcome to this years Kansas City Chiefs 2013 NFL Mock Draft Challenge. I love doing this every year and I invite the readers to post their own Chiefs mock in the comments. To make this a fair exercise, we have to follow some rules.
Here are the rules I have used in the past.
1] The big board on Draft Tek is the official board to make picks from.
2] You can go up five positions from your draft position.
3] You are free to go down as far as you want to select a player.
4] No trades are allowed.
As of now, compensation picks have not been awarded. Once the are, I will factor them into the exercise. Now, onto my picks and explanations.
Round One: Pick #1 Geno Smith, QB West Virginia
We will have a healthy debate during draft season over this pick. Luke Joeckel is the value pick here. However, Brandon Albert is a free agent and will sign for left tackle money somewhere. Do you want to give a guard left tackle money? Of course not. So, you either sign Albert or you draft Joeckel. The smart move is to resign Albert and draft elsewhere. The draft is strong on the defensive line, but the Chiefs don’t have a huge need there. Where is there a need? Oh yes, that gaping hole at the most important position on the field, quarterback. I am ordinarily all about value over need but not this time, not this year. Andy Reid gets to work with the best QB prospect in the draft. I mocked Joeckel to the Chiefs over at DraftTek and Smith went #7 to the Cardinals. I have seen other mocks that send Smith to the Eagles at #4. If you can go in the top ten, you can go #1. Smith is the pick.
Round Two: Pick #34 Jordan Poyer CB Oregon State
This pick comes down to Tavon Austin at #30 or Poyer at #33. While it is tempting to take Geno’s running buddy, Poyer is the better move. It’s easier to find speed receivers later than it is to find good corners. The Chiefs don’t really have a good outside corner to pair with Flowers. The Chiefs need another corner and sooner is better than later.
Round Three: Pick #63 Margus Hunt DE SMU
Are you surprised I went DE this soon? I am, but that’s how the board fell. AT 6′ 7”, 288 LBS, he has the length and weight of a good #5 technique. He is new to the game, coming from that football factory country of Estonia. He is raw, but an athletic freak. He will not start right away, but could be one of those players that bursts onto the NFL scene in year two or three. Kevin Minter the SILB from LSU was very tempting here. However, the SILB position is not as important as DE.
Round Four: Pick #96 Shawn Williams SS Georgia
It’s so secret that I want competition for Kendrick Lewis. I like Lewis, but he is hurt far too often. However, I am starting to get nervous that the speed wide receiver position has not been addressed. Denard Robinson is available at #93, but I see him more as a quick slot guy, not a stretch the field type that the Chiefs need. However, Williams is a SS and that would prompt Eric Berry to slide towards the free safety position. Berry can play either position in the backfield, so it’s more who you pair him with.
Round Five: Pick #127 Alvin Bailey OG Arkansas
At this point in the draft, I am looking for value over position. Who is best suited to help somewhere? With Ryan Lilja retiring, the Chiefs need another interior lineman. At 6′ 5”, 320 LBS, Bailey has the size to take on some of the large DT’s in the NFL. He needs lots of work on his footwork and technique. However, you expect some larger flaws in a player you draft after the first two rounds.
Round Six: Pick #160 Rex Burkhead RB Nebraska
A sprained knee cut his season down and drove his stock down. He is a good one cut runner and has good hands. Plus, he is a good short yardage, power back. Burkhead would make a nice complement to Jamaal Charles. In round six, this is a steal.
Round Seven: Pick #191 Philip Lutzenkirchen TE Auburn
Later in the draft, you can often hit gold by taking players coming off injuries. Lutzehkirchen lost most of the season due to a hip injury that required surgery. He does have the skills to be a good receiving tight end. In round seven, you roll the dice and crap out most of the time. He does have skills and, if healthy, might be able to earn a place on this team.
Conclusion
Every time I do this exercise, I am a bit surprised. I really wanted a speed wide receiver to stretch the field. DE is a need, but not really worth a third round pick. However, I could not pass on the value. This mock is an odd one. I ended up going Off, Def, Def, Def, Off, Off, Off. If you asked me before I did this, I would not expect to take defensive players with three of the first four picks. I suspect that mirrors the experience of general managers in the NFL. They have a plan and a board, but there are always surprises.
OK Addicts! That’s my take. Now head over to DraftTek, review their big board and post your picks in the comments. Feel free to comment on my picks and anyone else’s.