Getting Over the Top With Draft Picks
How Will the Chiefs “Change-up” the WR corp and get over the top in 2022? Today’s piece covers two such possibilities. With Twelve Draft picks, Brett Veach will certainly package picks. It is not the number of players brought aboard. Instead, Veach is focused on the quality of players that he does draft. I can see bringing six to eight rookies to the new roster. The emphasis will be on starter and impact players at key positions. One of those will be a wide receiver.
Trading picks will be a feature of the 2022 draft for the Chiefs. The Who, What, and Where in the pick order and what round the draft positions will be aligned for trade remains unknown. Cleary, I would like to see the 7th round picks utilized in trade scenarios. This topic will be a separate article. Draft picks can be used before the draft to obtain a veteran player.
Two Possibilities
Once again, I am posting about Brett Veach trading up to get a top WR in one case(Once Again, Jameson Williams is the chosen), and in another, standing pat and selecting George Pickens.
I am opposed to such a trade. If I were Brett Veach, does any one of the top five WRs in this draft provide the reason to use three draft picks? Two? The list appears to be: Williams, Wilson, Burks, Olave, and London. I also see the potential of using two choices to move up to the 20th pick or earlier. I would not use a 1st and a 2nd round picks to move up near pick 10. Such a trade-up in the draft is too costly.
Nate Taylor’s recent Mock Draft suggested that the Chiefs use the 30th and 94 picks to trade up and select Alabama WR Jameson Williams.
If that were the condition, AND if Veach & his Staff, in accord with Reid and the Coaching staff’s input, were both saying “yay,” I could understand such a trade. They would still have four additional picks in or near the top 100. You have also read that I propose George Pickens as the target WR and that Pickens could be chosen with one of the two first-round picks.
Jameson Williams Game tape, here: https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-nfl-draft-film-room-150443408.html
Perhaps you have a different list of the top receivers. I’d say the list of five receivers is accurate.
Pete Schrager of Good-Morning Football provided a look at what the situation appears to be. Those Five players would be selected before pick 25. Even the Green Bay Packers, who will surely draft a WR in round one, might have to trade up to ensure that they get their target. The Packers select in front of the Chiefs with picks 22 and 28. But if their chosen WR on the Packers board will go in the top ten, would they trade up?
I found it interesting to watch Pete Schrager’s Segment on GMF. If Pete’s details are accurate, the Chiefs would likely not have a shot at any five.
Watch the Good Morning Football Segment here: https://twitter.com/gmfb/status/1513514705914109958?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1513514705914109958%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arrowheadpride.com%2F2022%2F4%2F11%2F23020293%2Fchiefs-will-likely-need-to-trade-up-for-first-round-receiver
Okay, what is the reality of Schrager’s proposition? I think none of the top five receivers may fall into the Chief’s draft range at pick #29 or #30. Not long ago, I wrote an article on trading up to select Jameson Williams. See the April 2nd article here: https://arrowheadone.com/is-a-boost-and-scoot-trade-up-possible/
Indeed, Nate Taylor’s recent Mock provides an example of making just that selection. In his Mock, Nate’s target among the five was Williams. So sure. It’s possible that Veach could make that trade happen.
My Choice? George Pickens
Once again, I assert that George Pickens would be a
superb fit. He is a physical, fast receiver to fit the ideation of the Chiefs getting bigger, faster, and more aggressive. The Chiefs have already moved in that direction by signing the Pittsburgh Free Agent WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and Green Bay Free Agent WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Both receivers can go deep. Both are aggressive players who can make contested catches in traffic. Adding George Pickens would add to that meme change that appears to be going on with the Kansas City Chiefs WR Corps. At the same time, the Chiefs still have the serious over-the-top speed threat with Mecole Hardman’s presence.
George Picken’s Draft Profile – Georgia’s Wide Receiver sold me on his selection in the National Championship game.
- DOB: 03/04/2001
- Ht: 6’3”
- Wt: 195
- Vertical: 34.5”
- Broad Jump: 10’5”
- 40-Yard: 4.47
Pickens over-all assessment is his value in the aerial attack. The Overall Pickens Assessment: His get-off is sudden and violent if contested. Pickens closes with any DB cushion quickly. He is a fluid mover with body control in his route running. Pickens attacks any leverage by the defender in man-up coverage. Pickens has a very good catch radius with long arms, and his athleticism allows him to use his body to make catches with a great catch radius. George has the ability to adjust to off-target passes and receives the ball with his hands. Perhaps his negatives come in the blocking game–blocking for other WRs or downfield in front of screen pass or for a RB carrying the ball. This is likely due to his height and weight, someone gangly. The blocking task can be coached in. He has the attributes that cannot be added.
George Pickens is a perimeter W . YAC is one of his primary traits. He possesses good long speed and is a serious Long ball threat at all times in the aerial attack. A Scout’s notes indicate that his ball skills are excellent, and “… He does an excellent job tracking the deep ball in the air. He also shows strong mitts to pluck the football in contested-catch situations. Football IQ: His football IQ wouldn’t be classified as a glaring weakness. He has moments of adjusting his route depending on coverage and down/distance.”
View Picken’s Highlight video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQdRgKSqBrM
I think Pickens fits the direction that the Chiefs are headed. I believe he will be an excellent fit for the receiver corp. Andy Reid observed about the shift to what Nate Taylor called a Hybrid WR group with more height and physicalness:
Nate Tyaor wrote in an article at “The Athletic” about Andy Reid’s recent observations. In the process, he paraphrases Reid and then quotes him:
“…Reid, though, understands that the league goes through its usual
cycles when it comes to offensive styles, a process of rival teams
chasing contenders, a series of transactions in which the copycat
attempts to emulate or improve the philosophical idea that led the
original team to a championship. In the Chiefs’ circumstance, it hasn’t
been about opponents copying their style on offense, but rather
the solutions opposing defenses have come up with the past few years to
nullify Reid’s speedy playmakers.
Thus, the Chiefs offense’s need to undergo alterations was necessary
and welcomed by Reid.
The early results of the Chiefs’ decisions this spring have led them
to replace Hill, and other veterans on offense, with newcomers who are
bigger in stature: receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster
and running back Ronald Jones. Reid and general manager Brett Veach believe
they are renovating the Chiefs’ offense by acquiring skill-position players who are
fast and big.
“Over the years, we’ve gotten a little bit smaller,” Reid said Monday
during the NFL owners’ meetings. He added of Valdes-Scantling and
Smith-Schuster: “These two that we brought in, they’re good with
good size and can run. I’m excited to see them play and how they’ll fit
in. (Receiver) Mecole (Hardman) is coming off a good year. We’ll have
different flavors, and I think that’s important.”
It really comes down to how Veach and Reid see any of the top five WRs. Jameson in today’s case and a later selection with Pickens.
As I write this, I hope that after last year’s growth, Mecole Hadman’s contribution will continue to Expand his role. His deep speed was fractionally behind Hill’s though top drawer. Recall the 40 the pair ran against one another, near mirror images at the finish.
Hardman’s numbers in 2021 showed growth but showed signs of his typical defects. I continue to harp on the fact that Mecole needs to be targeted on quick turn-in and slant routes where his speed gets him immediate separation. Then, every so often, Mahomes can hit a strike with an over-the-top pass to Mecole? If Hardman can add that to his repertory, along with the crossing routes, the passing game would have something! I can see this crew really well: “the 2022 Draft pick, Georgia’s George Pickens”, MV-S, JS-S and Mecole Hardman as the Top Four Wideouts deployed as weapons for QB Patrick Mahomes. The depth might be: Josh Gordon, Cornell Powell, and Daurice Fountain, as well as any PTBNL’s. That’s my view of what the Chiefs are seeking.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne