The Odds On Ten Positions The Chiefs Could Take In The First Round
By Laddie Morse
Sep 7, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) rushes the passer against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated South Carolina 41-30. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
There are two elite OLBs in this draft… Jadeveon Clowney and Khalil Mack and one outstanding OLB… Anthony Barr. All will be gone baby gone by the time the Chiefs pick and pop at 23. Then there’s Ryan Shazier from Ohio State and if for some reason Dorsey and Reid are in love with him… then… yes… an OLB could be the Chiefs first round pick. If thats the case, it’s more likely the Chiefs would trade down a bit because I’m projecting Shazier to round two.
I’m in favor of the Chiefs taking a player who can help their pass rush and I think that’s the main reason you’d hear any rumblings from One Arrowhead drive about Shazier. Justin Houston and Tamba Hali are both 6’3” but go 258 and 275 respectively. Shazier is 6’2” (tops) and goes 237 on a rainy day. So, if R&D are dreaming of Shazier replacing Hali one day… some weight training would be in order.
Still, we can rule OLB out as a probability. A possibility? Yes, but the likelihood appears slim to none.
While the Chiefs need to pick up a player in this draft who can help put pressure on the QB, there appear to be others who could help out with that later in the draft so, feeling like they have to solve that problem in round one shouldn’t necessarily be priority one.
Odds the Chiefs will select an OLB in the first round: 6%
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Although the Chiefs could go for an offensive lineman in the 2014 draft, you’d have to believe the reason for doing that is not to take an offensive tackle. Consequently, it seems doubtful John Dorsey and Andy Reid will be using a first round pick on a Guard.
Guards may be more valuable than running backs these days. That may only be because of the law of supply and demand (and there is a glut of RBs) but, good Guards can be found later in the draft. So, the idea of using a first round pick on a position that is not an “impact” position on the field of play is not sound reasoning and you can bet John Dorsey and Andy Reid have that: sound reasoning.
Please refer to #10 above for a discussion on Guards.
Odds the Chiefs will select an OL in the first round: 7%
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