Dorial Green-Beckham: Is The Talented But Troubled WR Worth The Risk?

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

The NFL Combine is an odd thing. Every year, it is a huge production receiving a massive amount of attention from the sports media and anyone interested in getting another glance at the potential future of their team. Yet, we also often hear how little the event genuinely changes the fate of most. After all, it is essentially a giant practice session,and what these players did on the field during their college careers is what NFL front offices care about the most.

Regardless, the combine never fails to start shaking up mock drafts. This year is no different, and Arrowhead Addict’s Lyle Graverson has put together a “Post-Combine Stock Report” detailing who is and is not a potential candidate for the Kansas City Chiefs‘ 18th overall pick.

One prospect that should still be on the board is WR Dorial Green-Beckham. He has all the physical gifts to be a potential true No. 1 wideout. At the combine, he came in at 6’5″, 237 lbs and ran a 4.49 40-yard dash. He is big, fast, and was ranked as one of the top overall prospects in the nation coming out of high school. In fact, he was named one of the first five-star prospects in the 2012 recruiting class by Rivals.com.

With all of that talent and potential, it is no surprise that Chiefs GM John Dorsey had this to say about Green-Beckham, per NFL.com:

"“Physically, we think he has all the gifts in the world. We’ve all admired him. All of us who have been in the state of Missouri and the Kansas City area have seen him afar, have admired his physical traits. I think now what people want to do is get a feel for him as a person, see where he is at this state. Just see where he is, that’s what we are doing. We will be meeting him in the next couple days and I look forward to it.”"

So how would such a talent still be available at the 18th pick, when all the other standout WRs are projected to be long gone by then? As you likely know, it has nothing to do with Green-Beckham’s on-the-field ability.

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After two promising seasons at the University of Missouri, Beckham was dismissed after multiple off-field issues. These included two arrests on drug-related charges and an incident where a woman was allegedly shoved down several flights of stairs (recapped by ESPN here). These issues have been well-documented and prompted an unnamed NFC director of personnel to say that he felt Beckham “can’t be trusted.” The same unnamed source also questioned drafting him in any early round, stating “Why would you take a guy like that before the third day?”

Beyond his character issues, Green-Beckham is also at a bit of a loss for playing time. Though he joined the Oklahoma Sooners after being dismissed from Missouri, he never actually played in another game. His last on-field action was in the 2014 Cotton Bowl.

Green-Beckham would be far from the first prospect to come out of college with a clouded history (just look at this timeline detailing the “incidents” surrounding the probable No. 1 overall pick). If he is available late in the draft, I doubt there would be many who take issue with selecting him. The problem becomes figuring out whether he is worth using an early pick on.

We know he has the physical talent to make an impact. And when the GM says he has “admired” a player, it is a safe bet the team is interested. Dorsey has also expressed that making sure the Chiefs don’t go through another season without a WR catching a touchdown is a priority. And even though one executive said he wouldn’t take Green-Beckham before the third day, that view is by no means a consensus.

Take a look at these first-round mock compilations from CBS Sports and NFL.com. Each of the seven different predictions have the “big three” receivers (Amari Cooper, Kevin White, and DeVante Parker) gone before the Chiefs are on the clock. None have Green-Beckham taken before the 18th pick, but three out of the seven have him going in the first round. So banking on Green-Beckham’s availability come Day 3 is a pretty big gamble.

Do the Chiefs pull the trigger in the first round? Do they wait and do it if he is still an option in the second round? Even longer?

It depends on how much Dorsey and the Chiefs front office are willing to take a chance.

Green-Beckham was involved in both drug-related- and domestic violence-issues. First and foremost, those are serious offenses in their own right. As they relate to football, these kinds of issues have recently taken some of the most talented players in the NFL off of the field and potentially out of the league.

That is not to say that Green-Beckham is certain to repeat his prior indiscretions. But it does mean the Chiefs have a tough decision to make about who they think he has become.

Unlike some other players with a questionable background, Green-Beckham felt the repercussions of his off-field actions by being kicked out of major program. If the Chiefs come out of their investigatory process feeling like he has learned his lesson, he could become Dwayne Bowe’s replacement (either sooner or later depending on what happens with Bowe’s contract). He would also come at a much cheaper cost than any of the premier WRs on the free agent market. If that is the case, Kansas City might find his talent too good of an option to pass up.

If, however, the Chiefs are convinced that he has not really matured since being dismissed from Missouri, then drafting Green-Beckham would be an incredible risk. One that, in my opinion, would be too large to take considering the team’s need at that position.

The Chiefs could serve as Dorial Green-Beckham’s chance at redemption. But Kansas City has to be confident that he will treat that chance with wisdom and maturity.

Next: Report: Chiefs Will Release TE Anthony Fasano

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