Chiefs' 2011 Draft Recap

The 2011 NFL draft is over, and most experts felt that Kansas City did a decent job. While the Chiefs' first pick was somewhat of a surprise, Kansas City addressed areas that had to be upgraded, and did a good job of building quality depth.

Kansas City had two primary goals entering the 2011 NFL draft - find another pass catcher to compliment Dwayne Bowe and another outside linebacker to take some of the pressure of Tamba Hali. Jonathan Baldwin will hopefully be the receiver the Chiefs need, but it was Kansas City's next picks that impressed the draft experts. The offensive line got some much-needed depth with the arrival of Rodney Hudson, and finding OLB Justin Houston in the third round was a steal. Houston was projected by many to be a first round selection, however a failed drug test gave Houston a red flag, and he fell into Kansas City's lap in the third round. The character issues are a bit concerning, but Houston has the talent to be a star. He was certainly worth a gamble with a third round pick.

The Chiefs's later round selections were also quality picks. Massive NT Jerrell Powe has the potential to be a run-stopping machine, and adds depth and competition to a position of weakness on Kansas City's defensive line. QB Ricky Stanzi should add solid depth, and teams have often grabbed quarterbacks late in the draft, developed them, then traded them later for a higher draft pick.

While on paper the Cheifs' draft looks good, one must be concerned with character issues. Baldwin has been described as a potential diva and Houston failed two drug tests last year (a failed test in the NFL will lead to an automatic suspension). Kansas City addressed the areas it needed to, and hopefully gambles like Houston pay off.

Chiefs Select Jonathan Baldwin

As predicted, Kansas City ended up trading down in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft to select Pittsburg WR Jonathan Baldwin. Kansas City passed on some talented defensive players and a few offensive lineman to get Baldwin, which has led to some debate as to whether or not this was the right move.

Whether you agree with grabing Baldwin or not, Kansas City's first round strategy was sound. The Chiefs likely sold themselves on getting Baldwin and giving their wide receiving corps a much needed boost, and knew he would be available later on in the first round. The Chiefs' trade not only gives them help at WR, but also allows them to address depth issues on the offensive line with an extra third round pick. I would be surprised if the pick Kansas City aquired from the Browns isn't used on a guard, which could be a valuable addition in the third round. Yes, there were a lot of other routes the Chiefs could have taken, and Baldwin has been labled one of the biggest "boom or bust" candidates in the draft, but credit Scott Pioli with finding the player he wanted and getting an extra third round pick.

As for Baldwin, he appears to have the tools to be a quality NFL receiver. He has great size and should provide Matt Cassel with another red zone target. Drafting a wide receiver in the first round is always a huge gamble, and teams have been able to find outstanding NFL wideouts in the second round in previous drafts.

The Chiefs could have added much-needed help to its defensive front seven or offensive line, but Pioli addressed a need, and was smart to trade down and acquire an extra third round pick. Look for Kansas City to add a guard with its upcomming picks and try to find a sleeper it can develop at outside linebacker.

Nate Solder goes to Patriots 17th pick 2011 nfl draft

After trading up from  the Raiders, The New England (not a real place) Patriots select Nate Solder, one of the biggest men in the NFL Draft at 6'8'' 319, an OL from  Colorado.

Ryan Kerrigan goes to Redskins 16th pick 2011 NFL Draft

With the 16th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, The Washington Redskins select Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan.  This was the pick that the Redskins got from their trade down with the Jaguars.

Mike Pouncey goes to Dolphins 15th pick of 2011 NFL Draft

With the 15th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, The Dolphins select Mike Pouncey, the monstrous OL from Florida.

Robert Quinn goes to the Rams with the 14th pick 2011 nfl draft

With the 14th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select DE Robert Quinn from North Carolina.

Nick Fairley goes to the Lions 13th pick in the 2011 nfl draft

With the 13th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Lions select Nick Fairley, a DT from Auburn.

Christian Ponder goes to Vikings with 12th pick in 2011 NFL Draft

With the 12th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select Christian Ponder, the QB from Florida State.

Tyron Smith goes to The Cowboys with their first pick - 9th overall

With the 9th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, The Dallas Cowboys select Tyron Smith, the massive OT from USC.

Atlanta Falcons trade up to get Julio Jones WR

Trading up from 27th pick to the 6th pick, The Atlanta Falcons select Alabama wide out Julio Jones.  The trade will involve the Cleveland Browns and will mean that the Falcons will give up their second and fourth round picks this year, and their first and fourth picks next year.

It is rumored that the Falcons were very interested in Georgia wide out A. J. Green, but of course he was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 4th round.  This makes it very appearant that the Atlanta Falcons were desperate to get a wide receiver in the 2011 NFL Draft.

I'm thinking that this was probably NOT a good decision by the Atlanta Falcons, but they do have a lot of talent at QB with Matt Ryan.

During the 2010 season with Alabama, Jones had 78 receptions, 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns. For his career, Jones caught 179 passes for 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns.

NFL Draft Schedule

The 2011 NFL draft is only a few hours away. While ESPN and sports radio will be providing analysis and coverage for hours this afternoon, the draft will officially begin at 7:04 p.m. when the Carolina Panthers are officially on the clock. The draft has a much more positive feel to it with the news that the NFL lockout has been lifted, and fans can enjoy the selections with the knowledge that these guys might have a season in the fall.

The Chiefs have the 21st selection, which means they will not have a shot at the top prospects on the board. Kansas City still has plenty of needs, and will try to build off a strong 2010 draft to shore up several holes, most notably at wide receiver, outside linebacker and the line.

Kansas City also has an opportunity to make a trade, as many teams drafting at the end of the first round or early in the second round may want to move up to grab a player they covet. The Chiefs could swap their first overall selection for more picks later if there isn't a player they are really sold on with the 21st pick, or they could bring in a veteran with a pick swap. The Chiefs could use immediate help at receiver and outside linebacker, so don't be surprised if Kansas City trades its top pick to immediately upgrade those positions with a proven veteran.

NFL Draft Round One - Will Kansas City Select a Defensive Lineman?

With the 2011 NFL draft fast approaching, the Chiefs are running out of time to evaluate the team's needs and formulate a strategy. Unlike recent years, the Chiefs will not be one of the first teams selecting a player, which makes it harder to predict what direction Kansas City will go with the 21st pick.

Many analysts predict the Chiefs will take a defensive lineman, and one name floating around the internet is Muhammed Wilkerson. The former Temple star will likely be around when the Chiefs make their pick, and has been noted for his run stopping ability. Kansas City already has a pass rush specialist at OLD in Tamba Hali, so improving a run defense that struggled at times makes sense.

Sports Illustrated has also bought into the idea of Kansas City adding a defensive lineman, predicting that the Chiefs will grab DT Stephen Paea of Oregon State. Paea had a monster combine and would provide a boost. Another DT SI mentions as a possibility for Kansas City is Illinois' Corey Liuget. The team has struggled to find a playmaker on the defensive line, as Tyson Jackson has underperformed early and often in his career. The Chiefs may yet again draft a defensive lineman with its first round pick, despite addressing this area several times recently.

Kansas City has several needs, so it will likely grab the best talent it can get rather than reach for someone to address a specific weakness. If a talented defensive lineman is on the board, don't be surprised if the Chiefs grab one in hopes that its 3-4 defense will continue to make strides in 2011.

Chiefs Should Consider Plaxico Burress

With the NFL draft only two months away, many Chiefs fans have voiced that the club needs to find an impact WR to go with pro bowler Dwayne Bowe. The Chiefs struggled mightily to find a complement to Bowe last year, which hurt the team's passing attack down the stretch. Bowe's breakout season means more teams will be keying on the young wideout, which means finding another quality receiver or two a priority.

However, the Chiefs should be weary of drafting a wide receiver in the first round. Often, wide receivers are a bad investment in the first round, and Kansas City has other areas of need it could address with its top pick. Looking at the WR's drafted since 2000, and you can see there are as many (if not more) busts than good players. Plus, many teams have been able to find and develop pro bowl wideouts drafted in the later rounds. The Packers just won the superbowl with one of the best wideout tandems in the league, and its WR corps features two second rounders, a third rounder and a seventh rounder.

The Chiefs best bet would be to immediately address the position via free agency. So here is a crazy idea - why not sign Plaxico Burress? Burress has proven he can play at a high level, and he will be released from prison in June. Michael Vick proved this year that guys can stay in playing shape while in prison, and the Eagles were rewarded by being the only team to take a chance on the troubled former star. Burress can be signed for almost nothing, and what do the Chiefs have to lose?