Mock drafts are simultaneously one of the best and worst aspects of the NFL offseason. It is always fascinating to see what the “experts” and “draft analysts” think, and to wildly imagine how the 18th pick in the draft will be the missing piece to the Super Bowl.
But then it becomes equally frustrating when an expert doesn’t agree with your own mock draft, or worse…”doesn’t even know what he’s talking about!”
Of course the truth is that experts and fans are usually way off with most of their predictions. You never know who is going to reach on a prospect, when a certain position will go on a run, or when a team will suddenly trade up to get a player. But the biggest reason why fans and experts don’t get it right? Because we think about it from our own point of view, and not that of the team’s general manager.
“I know of no other philosophy but that … Hopefully, I’d like to implement that type of similar system here within the Kansas City Chiefs.” ~John Dorsey, Chiefs GM
Case in point is Dorsey. Average supporters and analysts are scattered on how the Chiefs will draft. There was a consensus that the Chiefs would take a receiver until Dorsey signed Jeremy Maclin. Now there is division on whether the Chiefs will take an offensive tackle, cornerback, or perhaps still pursue a wide receiver. However, the underlying theme in most of these projections is drafting based on what the Chiefs need, even though Dorsey told us as early as his second day on the job that he intended to “Pick the best player available.” But that’s nothing new. NFL general managers have been saying that for years in spite of evidence to the contrary. Why would Dorsey be any different? Well, because that was how he was brought up in the NFL.
Dorsey talked about his viewpoint on the draft in an interview with CBS’ Will Brinson back in 2013.
"“I know of no other philosophy but that … We have been doing the same model and concept for the last 20 years. We have kind of refined that and tightened it up to where it is today. We started in 1992 … now we’re in 2013, and it’s a little bit tighter. Hopefully, I’d like to implement that type of similar system here within the Kansas City Chiefs.”"