Chiefs won’t draft a quarterback in early rounds
By John McCarty
Historically, this organization has been very conservative, taking someone that fills an immediate need or positional depth over star potential. If this organization is faced with the proposition of moving up to draft a 2017 backup quarterback, I can’t see them doing it. No, they will stay at 27 and address needs such as the ones mentioned above.
Next, and this may get the emotions flowing, but look at the resume of their current starter. In four years as a starter with the Chiefs, he’s lead the team to three playoff appearances in four years, their first playoff victory in over two decades, a division championship and over 40 victories since being traded. Why in the world would this guy be replaced? Shouldn’t the Chiefs be thinking about getting a new contract done for their current QB, since he’s done so well? Why the rush to get rid of a guy that’s won a lot of games.
One can argue that had the Chiefs had their compliment of guys as they had constructed it (namely MLB Derrick Johnson on the field for the Steelers game) that instead of talking about moving on from the QB, Chiefs fans are talking about the possibility of a rematch with the nemesis of the NFL, the New England Patriots. Can you really blame Alex Smith that LeVon Bell rushed for 170 yards, or the the defense was unable to get the Steelers off the field on third down?
Next, and this is why I’m not sure the Chiefs will use a pick on a quarterback anywhere close to early (first or second round) is simply where the Chiefs are drafting will put them in a weird spot for quarterbacks. If the top guys don’t fall to them in the first, Kansas City will be in a weird position of hoping a guy falls to them in round two.
For those teams that don’t pull the trigger on a guy in round one, they may be willing to do so in round two, leaving Kansas City literally and figuratively out in the cold. As Kansas City has not shown a great willingness to over draft players, especially under this regime, drafting a QB could be an interesting proposition. Remember, when the Packers landed Aaron Rodgers, they did so by sitting and letting him fall to No. 24. Green Bay sat around and waited hours and hours until it was their turn on the clock.