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.

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.