Early Kansas City Chiefs Draft Outlook

Nov 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey during the game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The clock has begun to tick on the Kansas City Chiefs first round draft selection and, as one would expect at this stage of the game, the picture is pretty muddy. Fortunately there are some things from the past and a few facts out there to start to put together an outline of what the Chiefs may be looking for come draft time.

We know the Chiefs will select 18th overall in each of the seven rounds of the draft thanks to a 9-7 record and second place finish in the AFC West. This puts the Chiefs in a pretty good position to get some good value plus acquire some players who can contribute early. Unlike the last two seasons, the Chiefs will have a second round pick to play with in addition to a potential four compensation picks. Those resources should allow John Dorsey some flexibility should there be a player he deems worth of trading up for in the draft.

Where those maximum of four compensation picks will be is unknown for now. The NFL does not make their formula for compensation picks known so we don’t know if the Chiefs will have just one compensation pick, four compensation picks, or if they even get one. History would suggest the Chiefs should get at least two or three, but that’s not something we can bank on until those picks are announced after the Super Bowl. Normally those selections are announced in March.

Assumptions would say Kansas City will at least get a pick for Branden Albert, the free agent prize of the Miami Dolphins last offseason. Losing Dexter McCluster, Jon Asamoah, Geoff Schwartz, and Tyson Jackson to free agency should net the Chiefs at least one more pick and possibly three. NFL rules limit the Chiefs to a maximum for four compensation picks, so they cannot get a pick for everyone they lost last Spring, but a potential four picks isn’t a bad consolation.

Compensation picks cannot be traded.

An early guess would say the Chiefs get a third round pick – the highest compensation round possible – for Albert. The other three one would think wouldn’t exceed a fifth round pick.

What will Dorsey likely be aiming for with those potential 11 picks? Let’s get that four month conversation started.

Next: First Round Possibilities