KCMB Kansas City News: Chiefs mock draft

Showing posts with label Chiefs mock draft. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Chiefs Sign More Players, Awarded Compensatory Draft Picks

The Kansas City Chiefs have already had an extremely busy offseason, making bold moves to upgrade its front office, coaching staff and roster. The team hasn’t slowed down yet, making more free agent signings and receiving good news regarding its compensatory draft picks.

The special teams unit has been a priority for the new coaching staff, as the Chiefs added coordinator Dave Toub and made punter Dustin Colquitt the highest paid punter in football. Kansas City decided to resign the man who has been snapping Colquitt the ball, inking Thomas Gafford to a new contract. Gafford has been with the team since 2008, snapping on punts, field goals and extra points.

The team also received good news regarding left tackle Branden Albert. Albert has told the team he plans on signing the Chiefs one-year offer worth $9.83 million. Albert was not happy about having the franchise tag placed on him, and has been vocal about both receiving a long-term deal and staying at left tackle. It is unclear if the team plans to keep Albert, given that the team has been linked to drafting an offensive lineman with its top overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. For now, Albert is in Kansas City’s immediate plans.

The team will enter the draft with two extra picks as well, earning a third and sixth round selection when the NFL announced its compensatory picks yesterday. The extra third-round pick is especially good news considering Kansas City lost a second round pick in its trade to acquire quarterback Alex Smith. The Chiefs now have a total of eight draft picks in the upcoming draft.

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Chiefs Free Agency Overview

The NFL free agent signing period has opened, and the Kansas City Chiefs will be looking to fill several holes on its roster. The team has already been busy this offseason, acquiring new players while releasing several veterans.

The Chiefs have made two big acquisitions already this offseason – trading two draft picks for 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and signing defensive back Dunta Robinson. Smith should be an instant upgrade at quarterback, while Robinson will bring experience to a defensive backfield that struggled last season. The team also resigned wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, tackle Branden Albert and punter Dustin Colquitt. To clear up cap space for these signings, the team released tackle Eric Winston, tight end Kevin Boss and wide receiver Steve Breaston.

Kansas City has already done a good job of addressing some glaring needs, but the team still has several holes to fill. The Chiefs could use some help at wide receiver, especially after letting Breaston go. Former first-round pick Jonathan Baldwin has been a bust so far in the NFL, and the team will need to find another target to pair with Bowe for Smith to throw to. Losing Boss makes the tight end position thin as well, and the team could use some insurance behind Tony Moeaki, who has struggled with injuries in his career.

Defensively, the Chiefs could use more depth in the secondary and will have to find a capable starting inside linebacker next to Pro Bowler Derrick Johnson. Despite spending several early draft picks on defensive lineman over the past several years, the team could also still use an upgrade there.

New general manager John Dorsey could have a lot of flexibility in how he will build the Chiefs’ roster, as the team has several unrestricted free agents. Dorsey will need to figure out which players to bring back first, and then start finding free agents that can address some glaring needs on the roster, particularly at wide receiver, tight end and linebacker.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Chiefs Release Tackle Eric Winston

Just days after placing the franchise tag on left tackle Branden Albert, the Chiefs have released right tackle Eric Winston. The release may signal that the team is heavily leaning towards drafting a tackle with their first overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft.

Winston had signed a four-year, $22 million contract with Kansas City a year ago, and this move saves the Chiefs $5.5 million in cash and $3.5 million in cap space. Winston, who was originally selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft, became one of the better right tackles in the league before the Chiefs made a move for him in last year’s free agency period. Winston had a decent season for Kansas City, but the Chiefs are looking to get younger, and Winston may not be a strong fit for new head coach Andy Reid’s man-on-man blocking system after spending his career in a zone scheme.

Winston became famous in Kansas City for criticizing Chiefs fans for cheering when quarterback Matt Cassel got injured in a game last season. Winston told the media he understood Kansas City’s decision, and was appreciative that they released him quickly so he could catch on with another team.

In response to his release, Winston called the move “philosophical” and also suggested that the team will likely draft an offensive lineman with its top overall pick. Most draft experts believe that Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel or Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher could be likely targets for Kansas City.

One issue the Chiefs may face if they draft Joeckel or Fisher is dealing with Albert, who has made it clear he does not want to move to the right side of the line. The team could try to trade Albert to a team that is desperate for a good left tackle, or convince him to move to right tackle or guard. The Chiefs also could keep Albert at left tackle and use Joeckel or Fisher on the right side of the line.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Chiefs Sign Bowe, Colquitt To Long Term Deals

The Chiefs were busy yesterday, reaching long-term agreements with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and punter Dustin Colquitt. The team has also decided to place the franchise tag on tackle Branden Albert.

Bowe’s deal is for five years and $56 million with $26 million guaranteed. The contract makes Bowe the second highest paid receiver in the NFL behind Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. During the season, it appeared that Bowe’s days as a Chief were numbered, as he suggested that he would like toplay for a winner and it was clear that the Chiefs were about to enter a massive rebuilding project. Despite all that, Bowe has been very productive in his career, and the team is extremely thin at WR without him in the lineup.

Bowe wasn’t the only Chief who hit it big yesterday – Dustin Colquitt became the highest-paid punter in the NFL when Kansas City inked him to a five year, $18.75 million deal with $8.9 million guaranteed. There is no denying that Colquitt is an elite NFL punter – last season, he placed 42 punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line (two short of the NFL record) and he has continuously bailed the team out of bad field position when the offense stalls. Despite Colquitt’s talent, that is a lot of money to give to a punter – especially when the Chiefs are rebuilding for the future and not in a “win-now” mentality.

The third and final big move the Chiefs made was placing the franchise tag on left tackle Branden Albert. The former first round pick has started 71 games for Kansas City and has slowly developed into one of the better tackles in the league. It was rumored that the Chiefs were strongly considering drafting tackle Luke Joeckel, and it is unknown at this time if resigning Albert will change that.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Chiefs Complete Deal To Acquire Alex Smith

It is official – the Chiefs and 49ers have reached a deal that will send quarterback Alex Smith to Kansas City. In the deal, the Chiefs gave up their second round pick (No. 34 overall) in this year’s NFL draft as well as a conditional pick in the 2014 draft.

Smith’s career got off to a rough start, but he has played well recently. In the 2011 season he threw 17 touchdowns against only five interceptions, leading the 49ers to the NFC title game. Smith was having an even better season in 2012, with a 104 QB rating through nine games before suffering a concussion against the St. Louis Rams. After he got hurt, Colin Kaepernick played well, and 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh stuck with the talented Kaepernick through the team’s run to the Super Bowl.

There is no question that the Chiefs needed help at quarterback, and Smith provides an upgrade to the position. The big question Chiefs fans are now wondering is this: did the team give up too much to acquire Smith?

The answer is yes. Smith is a good player, but the Chiefs are not in win-now territory. The team was the worst franchise in football last year, and will need a year or two of rebuilding to get back to playoff contention. The 34th pick in the draft is extremely valuable, as well as a mid-round pick in 2014.

The move to get Smith makes sense – there aren’t any great QB prospects in this year’s draft. The staff likely felt Smith gave them the best chance of winning over Geno Smith or Matt Barkley, and Alex will be 29-years-old when the season starts (so he has several years of football left in him). It just seems like the Chiefs could have acquired Smith at a cheaper price, especially since it has become clear he is firmly the backup to Kaepernick in San Francisco.

The Chiefs could still take a quarterback in the draft and groom them for the future. The team may gamble on Geno Smith with the top pick, or attempt to trade down several spots in the first round and take a quarterback then. Kansas City also could take a chance on a project later in the draft, but losing their second-round pick gives the team less flexibility. Most feel that the team isn’t sold on any QBs in this year’s draft, and will instead take a player like Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel and attempt to find a young QB in the future.

With the acquisition of Smith, it appears that Kansas City will release Matt Cassel. Cassel is due $7.75 million in 2013.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Chiefs Close To Acquiring 49ers Quarterback Alex Smith

According to multiple reports, the Kansas City Chiefs have a deal that is nearly completed to acquire San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith. Any deal involving Smith cannot officially take place until March 12, when the new league year begins.

Smith’s story was well documented this past season due to the emergence of Colin Kaepernick during the 49ers run to the Super Bowl. After a strong 2011 season in which he threw 17 touchdowns against only five interceptions, Smith was having an even better season in 2012 – enjoying a 104 QB rating through nine games before suffering a concussion against the St. Louis Rams. Kaepernick played well in Smith’s absence, and head coach Jim Harbaugh stuck with the young QB instead of Smith all the way up through the 49ers loss in the Super Bowl to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Chiefs’ most glaring need is at quarterback, and many thought the team would draft a QB with its top overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. However, this draft does not have any quarterback prospects that deserve to go number one overall, and many reports have indicated that Kansas City is moreinterested in drafting Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel.

If the Chiefs trade for Smith, there are two paths the team can take. Kansas City could make Smith the starting quarterback and still draft a QB like Geno Smith or Matt Barkley with the top pick, grooming the young signal caller for the future similar to how the Packers brought along Aaron Rodgers. The Chiefs could also make Smith the starter and spend its top pick on an impact offensive or defensive lineman, and select a QB later in the draft or next season. Acquiring Smith certainly gives the team options.

Is Smith a good fit for Kansas City? He rarely turns the ball over and has excelled in a scheme in San Francisco that emphasizes conservative passes and running the football. With the dynamic Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs are built to be a run-first offense, and Smith could give the Chiefs just what they need – a steady quarterback who limits mistakes. The downside to Smith is that he struggled his entire career in San Francisco until a championship-level team was built around him. As Matt Cassel proved, an average QB can look good with a strong team around him, and Smith will not have the talent supporting him that he enjoyed in San Francisco.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Why The Chiefs Should Sign Alex Smith

Alex Smith, the San Francisco 49ers’ former starting quarterback, has asked for his release before the NFL’s free agency period begins on March 12. Smith was enjoying a strong season for the 49ers before being benched in favor of Colin Kaepernick. The Chiefs are rumored to be one of several teams who are interested in pursuing Smith, which makes sense. Signing Smith would be a great move by new general manager John Dorsey.

First, let’s look at Smith. The former top overall pick struggled early in his career, often getting benched and never living up to his lofty draft status. However, over the past few seasons, he has grown into an efficient quarterback who rarely makes a big mistake. In the eight games he played this season, Smith compiled a 104.1 passer rating. Had that held up for an entire season, it would have finished as the third highest rating in the league this past season behind only Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning.

Smith has been labeled by many as a glorified game manager, but that wouldn’t be a bad fit with Kansas City. With the dynamic Jamaal Charles in the prime of his career, the Chiefs should be a run-first team in the near future. Matt Cassel’s turnovers completely derailed the offense last season, and Smith can provide the Chiefs with efficient, mistake-free football.

Many Chiefs fans feel the team should draft a quarterback with its top overall draft pick, but this simply is not a good draft class for quarterbacks. The team could massively upgrade its offensive or defensive line with the firstoverall pick if it gets Smith in free agency, and then decide to draft a quarterback next year or in the later rounds of the draft. Kansas City could also sign Smith and still draft its quarterback of the future. Smith will likely be available for a decent price, and his presence would allow the Chiefs to bring along its new quarterback slowly.

One of the biggest mistakes Scott Pioli made during his reign of terror as Kansas City’s GM was not investing into the quarterback position apart from his initial signing of Matt Cassel. The Chiefs may or may draft their QB of the future in April, but either way, they should sign Alex Smith.

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Monday, January 21, 2013

Chiefs Sign Free Agents

New Chiefs general manager John Dorsey has hit the ground running in his new role, signing two free agents recently. Kansas City has acquired defensive tackle Daniel Muir and offensive tackle Steven Baker.

Muir began his career with the Green Bay Packers – where Dorsey spent the last 21 seasons – as an undrafted free agent. He is best known for his time in Indianapolis, where he played for four seasons with the Colts and started for them in Super Bowl XLIV. Muir spent last season with the New York Jets, where he failed to gain any significant playing time. In his six year career, Muir has appeared in 46 games while making 26 starts.

Kansas City also signed offensive tackle Steven Baker, who was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent last season but was released just before the regular season began. Baker played his college ball at East Carolina, and spent last season on Arizona’s practice squad.

The signing of both players, especially Muir, seems like an attempt to add some depth and competition. It is unlikely that either player will become a significant contributor for Kanas City next season. New Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton was a defensive assistant for the Jets last season, so it is possible that he saw something in Muir that made him worth pursuing. At the very least, Sutton will have an experienced player who knows his scheme and can help bring the other defensive lineman up to speed.

Many expect the Chiefs to begin addressing several other positions of need via free agency, including wide receiver, cornerback and possibly quarterback. The players the team signs in free agency may also provide Chiefs fans with a more clear picture in regards to who the Chiefs will target in the 2013 NFL draft.

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Thursday, January 17, 2013

NFL Draft Analysts Predict Chiefs Will Trade Down Or Select Texas A&M Tackle Luke Joekel

With the end of the NFL season only a few weeks away, draft talk is starting to heat up. Holding the top selection in the draft, the Chiefs have been the center of a lot of speculation regarding who they may pick. While many fans think the team should draft its quarterback of the future with the top pick, several draft experts are now predicting that Kansas City will trade down or select Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joekel.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper believes only four players are worthy of the top overall selection: Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones, Texas A&M OLB Damontre Moore, Utah DT Star Lotulelei and Joekel. Kansas City already Tamba Hali and Justin Houston as pass rushers in the team’s 3-4 defense, and has drafted a defensive lineman in the first round three of the past five years.

It is also unknown at this time if the team plans on resigning left tackle Branden Albert. If the Chiefs draft Joekel, they could release Albert or resign him and move him to right tackle or guard.

The biggest question new Chiefs GM John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid will have to make is whether the top two quarterbacks available – Matt Barkley and Geno Smith – are worth the top overall pick. Most draft analysts think the two quarterbacks are top ten material, but not worth the top pick in the draft. This presents the Chiefs with an interesting option - the team could potentially trade down a few spots in the first round and still get either Barkley or Smith. While they wouldn’t get a ransom mirroring what Washington gave up to move up and select Robert Griffin III, the team could end up with its quarterback of the future and an extra draft pick or two. The Chiefs would have to find another team desperate for a pass rusher or left tackle to make a deal.

There will also be several veteran quarterbacks looking for a starting opportunity this offseason and the Chiefs may opt to go with one for the next couple of years and wait to see if it can find a quarterback in a future draft.

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

2013 NFL Draft - What If The Chiefs Don't Take A Quarterback With Their Top Pick?

With only two games remaining in the 2012 NFL season, Kansas City is guaranteed to have one of the top two picks in the 2013 NFL draft and is a heavy favorite to land the top overall pick. Many draft experts feel the Chiefs will take a quarterback with their first-round pick, as the team desperately needs an upgrade over Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn.

While the Chiefs will certainly address the QB position this off-season, they may not do it via their top draft pick. Geno Smith and Matt Barkley are the consensus top two QBs in the draft, however many feel that both are not worthy of being the top pick in the draft. The combination of Smith and Barkley doesn’t appear to be in the same league of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the quarterbacks who went one-two last year and are both enjoying fantastic rookie seasons.

So what are the Chiefs’ choices? For starters, they could bring in a veteran QB for this season and take a shot on a QB later in the draft or wait until next year. Seattle used this strategy last off-season, signing veteran backup Matt Flynn from the Green Bay Packers and drafting Russell Wilson in the third round. Several veteran quarterbacks such as Alex Smith or Michael Vick will be looking for a new starting opportunity this off-season, and the Chiefs might feel better about grabbing one on a bargain deal and finding a QB later in the draft or taking a chance on one next season.

If the Chiefs do elect not to take Smith or Barkley at number one, they would have several options. First, they could attempt to trade down and a quire more picks, however it might be hard to find a suitor. The team could massively upgrade both its offensive or defensive line with Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel, Utah DT Star Lotulelei, Ohio State DT Johnathan Hankins or Florida State DE Bjoern Werner. The team could also acquire a pass rusher, although this may be a lower priority with former pro bowler Tamba Hali and Justin Houston on the team (the latter has developed into a good NFL starter).

The question for the next Chiefs General Manager will be this: Is Smith or Barkley worth taking with the top pick in the draft? Chiefs fans will have to wait until the end of the season to see which direction the team is leaning.

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Friday, November 30, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Carolina Panthers Preview

The Chiefs march towards the top overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft continues on Friday, when the team hosts the Carolina Panthers at home in Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff for the game is 12:00 p.m.

While the Chiefs have had an absolute disaster of a season, Carolina’s hasn’t gone much better. The Panthers currently have a 3-8 record, held back by a poor offense that is only averaging 19 points per game. Quarterback Cam Newton has struggled this season after a very impressive rookie year, struggling with inconsistency and turnovers. Newton is also the team’s leading rusher, and the team’s entire offense rests on his shoulders. If the young QB struggles in this one and commits some turnovers, the Chiefs are going to have a very good shot to pick up their second win of the year.

While the Panthers’ offense has struggled this year, it has been nowhere near as bad as the Chiefs’ anemic attack that is averaging 10 points per game in its last seven contests. Kansas City has 32 turnovers this year and only 94 red zone points, and both stats rank last in the NFL. After Matt Cassel’s poor play this season – he threw for six touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions – Chiefs fans demanded to have him benched. Unfortunately, his replacement, Brady, Quinn, has not been any better. Quinn has yet throw a touchdown pass this year, and has four interceptions of his own. It appears that neither quarterback is the long term answer, and the odds of the Chiefs selecting a QB with their first round pick in the 2013 draft are increasing.

The lone bright spot for the Chiefs this season on offense has been Jamaal Charles, who has rushed for 928 yards and boasts a healthy 4.8 yards-per-carry average. It is a shame that one of Charles’ prime seasons was wasted this year, but the back should be one of the few offensive players on this current team that is a part of Kansas City’s long term plans.

Despite how terrible the Chiefs have played lately, this is a winnable game. The Panthers played well and picked up a win last week, yet they have been inconsistent all year. If Newton plays well and can put some points on the board, the Chiefs won’t have a chance. However, if the Panthers’ young QB commits some turnovers, this might be a low-scoring affair that comes down to the wire.

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Monday, November 19, 2012

Chiefs Lose To Bengals

The Chiefs only fueled their reputation as the worst team in the NFL on Sunday, getting hammered by the Cincinnati Bengals, 28-6. The loss drops Kansas City to 1-9 on the season, and the team keeps moving closer towards acquiring the top draft pick in next year’s NFL draft.

Arrowhead stadium was only about half-full for this one, and many fans dressed in all black in attempts to send a message to ownership to clean house in the front office and coaching staff. Chiefs fans are right on the money – Scott Pioli has completely failed as the Chiefs GM and Romeo Crennel is a failed NFL coach who should have never been given another opportunity to lead an NFL franchise. Kudos to Kansas City fans for taking strong measures to voice their displeasure and making a stand.

The game itself was pretty much what most expected – Kansas City’s passing offense completely bombed and failed to complement another strong game from Jamaal Charles. Matt Cassel put up poor stats in the first half, and Brady Quinn failed to do any better in the second half. The Chiefs only committed one turnover all game – a Peyton Hillis fumble that didn’t cost the team any points when the Bengals missed a long field goal. The problem was Kansas City didn’t force any turnovers, and this team simply cannot be competitive when it loses the turnover battle.

Defensively, the Chiefs let Andy Dalton pick the secondary apart all game, consistently moving the chains with quick throws to his talented receivers. A.J. Green had a big day receiving, and running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis had his best game of the season. Kansas City’s special teams even let the team down, as the Bengals converted a fake punt early in the game that lead to their go-ahead touchdown.

Kansas City is getting closer and closer to the top pick in the 2013 NFL draft. Not only are the Chiefs bad, they are banged up – both wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and left tackle Branden Albert left Sunday’s game with an injury. It looks like Chiefs fans now need to be concerned with three things: who will coach the team next year, who will be the team’s GM and which quarterback will the team select early in the draft?

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Monday, November 5, 2012

Will The Chiefs Take A QB In The First Round Of The 2013 NFL Draft?

With both the college football and NFL seasons past their halfway point, Chiefs fans can begin to think about the upcoming draft. Currently, Kansas City is one of three teams with only one win this season (tied with the Jaguars and Panthers) and appear to be a lock for a top pick.

The biggest position Kansas City fans will be focused on is quarterback. Matt Cassel has been a disaster this season, and Brady Quinn failed to play any better in his limited playing time. In today’s NFL, you simply cannot win without a good quarterback – the most recent Superbowl winners include Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Really in the last 20 or so years, the only two quarterbacks who won the Superbowl that weren’t considered “elite” were Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer, and both were efficient, mistake-free players who had the top defense in the league. The Chiefs haven’t drafted a quarterback in the first round since 1983, when the team famously picked Todd Blackledge over future hall of famers Jim Kelly and Dan Marino. While Kansas City has had some success bringing in veterans, such as Joe Montana and Trent Green, many feel it is time for the team to draft and develop a quarterback.

At QB, two names have dominated the discussion – Geno Smith and Matt Barkley. Earlier this season, it appeared that Smith was the frontrunner for the Heisman trophy, however West Virginia has struggled since getting blown out by Kansas State. Still, Smith has completed an astonishing 74 percent of his passes while only throwing two interceptions, and his athleticism could be a weapon at the next level. While there are some questions about his accuracy, Smith is extremely talented and will go early in the first round.

Barkley is considered to be more of a finished product, playing in what is his third season as USC’s starting quarterback. Barkley has played well, however many believe he should have done more this season with a bevy of future NFL players around him. USC has struggled this season and Barkley has been given a lot of blame for the team’s failure to meet expectations.

If the team picks up a few wins down the stretch and can’t get either Smith or Barkley, Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson would be an option. Wilson has become arguably the best quarterback in the SEC and has good size and an NFL-caliber arm, and is expected to go somewhere in the top 10 after Smith and Barkley.

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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

What the Chiefs Need in the 2011 Draft

The Chiefs had a very successful 2010 draft, putting the organization in a strong position to contend for the next several years. Many of Kansas City's picks ended up contributing to the team right away; Eric Berry lived up to his high draft status, Tony Moeaki was productive at tight end and Dexter McCluster added some explosiveness to the return game.

A successful 2011 draft would give Kansas City a young nucleus as good as any team in the league. The Green Bay Packers have proved that teams can win championships by stockpiling and developing young talent through the draft, and Chiefs GM Scott Pioli would like to follow the same blueprint. Despite taking a huge step forward last year, Kansas City still has some holes to fill before it is ready to compete for a title. The following are areas the Chiefs must address in the draft:

Wide Receiver

Dwayne Bowe finally broke out last season and put up Pro Bowl numbers. However, it is crucial that Kansas City find another big time wideout to open up the offense and take some pressure of Bowe. Some of the top wideouts in the draft like Julio Jones will likely be gone by the time Kansas City is up, and drafting a WR in the first round is always a risk. Kansas City may elect to grab a WR through free agency or a trade, and grab a wideout in the later rounds it can develop.

Outside Linebacker

Tamba Hali is as good as they come, but the Chiefs could use another playmaker outside in the team's 3-4 defense. There seems to be a lot of options here in the draft, and I wouldn't be surprised if this is where the Chiefs go in the first round. An outside linebacker likely provides Kansas City an opportunity to get the most bang for its buck in round one.

Nose Tackle

A good nose tackle is essential for a 3-4 defense, and the Chiefs could use a playmaker at this position. I would be surprised if Kansas City didn't take a nose tackle at some point in the draft.

Offensive Line

While the Chiefs have done addressing this area recently, there is still room to improve. The line got beat soundly towards the end of the last season, and giving Matt Cassel more time must be a priority. In the past, teams have found steals in the later rounds with offensive lineman, and the Chiefs may be able to do the same this year. At the very least, this is an area that Kansas City could use more depth.