Kansas City Chiefs 2012 NFL Draft Recap

The 2012 NFL Draft is over, and the Kansas City Chiefs have added eight new players to its roster. Most draft experts have pegged the Chiefs draft as below-average, and ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. gave Kansas City a C+ grade overall. Despite the pessimism, the Chiefs have added several players who could start as early as next season and addressed several areas of need.

Most of the criticism Kansas City is facing revolves around the Chiefs first round selection of DT Dontari Poe. While he was a workout freak at the combine, Poe did not have much of a career at Memphis, which plays in Conference USA. The Chiefs needed help at NT, but many feel that Poe was a reach and that the Chiefs may have once again whiffed on a defensive line draft pick. Poe certainly has all the physical tools to succeed in the NFL, and the criticism leveled at Scott Pioli may be a bit premature.

The Chiefs needed to add depth to the offensive line, which is precisely what Kansas City did with its second and third round picks. Jeff Allen appears to be a very strong candidate to start next season, and could hold down a guard spot on the Chiefs’ offensive line for the next decade. Kansas City nabbed Oklahoma’s Donald Stephenson in the third, who could develop into a starting tackle in the future while providing some much-needed depth and youth at the position in the meantime.

Allen and Stephenson were not the only additions the Chiefs made to their offense via the draft. Kansas City added WR Devon Wylie in the fourth round, RB Cyrus Gray in the sixth round, and WR Junior Hemingway in the seventh. Wylie projects to be a useful slot WR, while Gray will add depth to a RB rotation that has seen its share of injuries over the past couple of seasons.

Apart from Poe, the Chiefs also added some depth to its defense in the later rounds of the draft. Alabama CB De’Quan Menzie was drafted in the fifth round, while San Diego State DT Jerome Long was drafted in the seventh. Menzie may be a step too slow to play CB at the NFL level, but has great instincts, and could be a candidate to move to safety. Long should push Poe and the rest of Kansas City’s underachieving defensive line.

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Chiefs Select Dontari Poe In First Round - Kansas City News

The Chiefs took Dontari Poe with their first round pick in the 2012 NFL draft, addressing a need at nose tackle with a talented, but raw prospect. While Poe was projected to fall into the later portion of the first round, Scott Pioli felt that the Chiefs need for a NT was too high, and grabbed the former Memphis standout.

Poe is a bit of a mystery coming out of college. He had an insane combine, showing off strength and speed that would merit a high draft choice. Despite all the physical tools, Poe did not produce at a high level in college. Considering that Memphis plays in lowly Conference USA, that has to be somewhat concerning for Kansas City fans.

The big question now is did the Chiefs grab someone they could have gotten later? It is hard to say; after his extraordinary combine, many thought Poe would be a top 5 pick. However, after scouts dissected his college game and saw his on-field struggles, many thought he would fall to the 20-30 range. It is very possible that Pioli could have traded down 5-10 spots and still been able to select Poe, while picking up an extra second or third round pick in the process.

The Chiefs have had some big whiffs at defensive tackle in the past, and Kansas City fans have to be concerned with Poe’s lack of production in college. However, the team addressed a glaring weakness and nabbed a player that has all the physical tools to play at a high level in the NFL.

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How Does Ryan Tannehill Affect The Chiefs Draft Strategy - Kansas City News

Chiefs GM Scott Pioli has made several headlines recently with his comments on Kansas City’s draft strategy. First, Pioli made it known to the press that the Chiefs were strongly considering taking Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, then Pioli followed those comments up by mentioning that he would like to draft a quarterback ever year. If Tannehill does fall to the Chiefs, they will have several options.

Quarterbacks have fallen in drafts before, and Tannehill could certainly be available when the Chiefs are on the clock with the 12th selection in the first round. In 2005, Aaron Rodgers fell all the way to 24 in the 2005 NFL draft before the Packers took a chance on him, and obviously that worked out well for Green Bay. You need a championship-caliber quarterback to win titles, and Matt Cassel hasn’t inspired a lot of confidence. While the Chiefs have other needs, Tannehill may be too good for Pioli to pass up.

The Chiefs may also trade up to ensure they get Tannehill. While this seems unlikely, Pioli may get an opportunity to trade picks to move up and get his quarterback of the future. While the Chiefs have a few holes, they could address them later in the draft or via free agency.

If Tannehill is available when the Chiefs select, Kansas City may also opt to trade down to get additional picks later in the draft. Pioli may decide to stick with Cassel now and find a quarterback of the future next year or in the later rounds of the draft. Teams will be interested in Tannehill, and the Chiefs could use that to their advantage. Several players that Kansas City could use at NT, LB or OL may still be available later in the first round, and trading down will give the Chiefs an opportunity to build more depth.
Tannehill may likely be gone by the time Kansas City makes its first round selection, but it appears that he could be a significant factor in Pioli’s draft strategy. Will Kansas City find its QB of the future, or move up or down the board? We will know Thursday evening.

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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.

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.