Chiefs seven-round mock draft: Going QB
By John McCarty
With the aftermath of the Super Bowl begin to fade, we turn our attention to Major League Baseball and the NFL Draft. So, on that topic, this is an idea of the Kansas City Chiefs draft before free agency fills and creates holes.
Round 1: Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
Yes, I’m serious about this pick and no, I’ve not been paid to make this selection. Hackenberg is a guy who, in my opinion, has the tools to be a very good quarterback. While he certainly struggled this past season at Penn State, the potential is there.
Also, the Chiefs won’t need Hackenberg to play in the 2016 season, allowing the true junior to basically spend his senior season learning what it’s like to be a professional, and hone and refine his technique. The Chiefs will have some salary constraints and issues in the 2017 season and will have to make some tough decisions, and having a quarterback in place could allow the Chiefs to move Alex Smith in a trade.
For reference, when I look at Hackenberg, I see a guy who could be a Carson Palmer-type player. He’s the runner in the mode that we saw with Smith this past season, but is able to escape pressure and can pick up a first down. The arm strength is there to make all the throws in the playbook. What Hackenberg really needs is to work on his footwork through out the throwing process, which will help his accuracy.
Allowing him to sit as the backup provides him the opportunity to work on technique. He is likely the fourth quarterback to come off the board, and I won’t be surprised if he ends up with the Houston Texans at 22.
Also, in a note that really isn’t all that serious. The last time the Chiefs drafted a quarterback, as well know, was 1983, with Todd Blackledge. If you’re going to draft a quarterback in the first round, why not draft a guy that went to the same school as Blackledge (Penn State) and wore the same number (14). Time to exorcise the quarterback demons, let’s do it.
Next: Rounds 2-4