Cheifs: Four Post Combine Thoughts

The window for negotiating with free agents

begins at 11:00 AM Central Time today.

The NFL Combine has come and gone and it is what it is: a prospects’ pointless pajama party held in front of coaches and analysts. We did learn a few specifics like: John Ross is really, really, really, really fast — a 4.22- 40-yard dash — and Myles Garrett is a beastly man and Haason Reddick is one freaky dude and the defensive backs in this draft are deep and excellent.

That last one is actually my first… my first post combine thought.

Post CombineThought #1

While the Chiefs took three defensive backs — KeiVarae Russell, Eric Murray, and DJ White — in the 2016 draft and four in the past two drafts combined, including Marcus Peters, you can expect the Chiefs to take at least one more DB in this draft and possibly even with their first overall selection. For that to happen, one of the best DBs would have to drop to where John Dorsey has decided to pick. Since Dorsey decided to trade back in 2016 and select the “Superstar, Chris Jones” — Chris Collinsworth’s words, not mine — then we can assume there is a good likelihood that Dorsey will trade up or down the board, especially with ten picks in his pocket. I have given each DB an approximate ranking below and with that in mind… the top DBs in this draft who could be taken by the Chiefs include (some DBs are crossed out because of a “will be gone” designation),

FS Malik Hooker, 6-1, 206, Ohio State- will be gone (top 10 ranking)

SS Jamaal Adams, 6-0, 214, LSU- will be gone (top 10 ranking)

CB Marshon Lattimore, 6-0, 193, Ohio State- will be gone (top 15 ranking)

SS Jabrill Peppers, 5-11, 213, Michigan- should be gone (top 18 ranking)

CB Marlon Humphrey, 6-0, 197, Alabama- could be available (top 25 ranking)

CB Sidney Jones, 6-0, 186, Washington- could be available (top 25)

CB Quincy Wilson, 6-1, 213, Florida- could be available (top 25)

CB Adoree Jackson, 5-11, 185, USC- should be available (top 25)

CB Desmond King, 5-10, 201, Iowa- should be available (top 35)

CB Gareon Conley, 6-1, 195, Ohio State- should be available (top 40)

CB Jourdan Lewis, 5-10, 178, Michigan- should be available (top 40)

CB Teez Tabor, 6-0, 199, Florida- should be available (top 45)

I’d be glad for the Chiefs draft Humphrey, Jones, Wilson, Jackson or even King in the first round. I like Humphrey best in this group of “possibilities” for the Chiefs. Conley, Lewis, and Tabor are each a step behind the others in my book but could all have good NFL careers.

Now, I’m not saying a prospect like Jabrill Peppers could not fall to the Chiefs, however, the probability is incredibly low for a player who Chad Reuter — NFL.com — says is comparable to Eric Berry and we all know that Berry was a 5th overall selection. Also, Buck Brooks says Peppers upside is in the top ten and I would not disagree with that assessment.

Of course, Mike Mayock thinks Jabrill Peppers would be a good fit for the Patriots but then again Mike Mayock thinks every excellent player who comes along would be a good fit for the Patriots… because of his inappropriate loyalty to Bill Belichick (I say that because if your going to be hired to be a national pundit for a league channel you should at least attempt to show some fair-handed respect for other teams not named the Patriots. Rant over… my apologies).

I’m not saying a prospect like Jabrill Peppers could not fall to the Chiefs, however, the probability is incredibly low for a player who Chad Reuter says is comparable to Eric Berry and we all know that Berry was a 5th overall selection. Also, Buck Brooks says Peppers upside is in the top ten and I would disagree with that assessment. Of course, Mike Mayock thinks Jabrill Peppers would be a good fit for the Patriots but then again Mike Mayock thinks every excellent player who comes along would be a good fit for the Patriots… because of his inappropriate loyalty to Bill Belichick (if you’re going to be hired as a national pundit for a league channel you should at least attempt to show some fair and even-handed respect for other teams not named the Patriots. Rant over… my apologies).

Post CombineThought #2

For those fans who… wish the Chiefs would pick a QB in the first round and if it doesn’t work out then choose another one next year and then keep it up until they get a great QB… I say poppycock. When looking at this year’s crop of QBs it has now become widely recognized that there is no one QB who is ready to start on day one in the NFL. A possible “grow-into-the-position guy?” Yes. Now, since “that” guy just doesn’t exist this year, the Chiefs choices are to look into the mid-rounds and take a QB — much as they did in 2016 with Kevin Hogan — then get that guy to camp and see what they’ve got.

I know there are a number of fans that won’t be happy with that approach because they may believe it is the road to mediocrity. However, as much as that might be the case, it is not the case in… Washington with Kirk Cousins who was a 4th rounder in 2012… or Seattle with Russell Wilson who was a 3rd rounder in 2012… or in Dallas with Dak Prescott who was a 4th rounder in 2016. The point is, there are several quality QBs in the NFL who were not taken in the first round beginning with Tommy B but also including: Tyrod Taylor (a free agent who will be starting somewhere in 2017 and that’s probably for the Jets who are waiting for Taylor to get cut by Buffalo), Colin Kaepernick, and a list which also includes some very good backup QBs in A.J McCarron, Chase Daniel, Jimmy Garoppolo (untested for sure yet, highly desirable), Josh McCown and Mark Sanchez (just checking to see if you’re still awake). Now, I understand the trepidation because, for every good QB taken outside of the first round there are a half dozen Mark Sanchez’s out there (not the Butt-fumble kind, but oops… he was drafted in the first round… and now that just proves my point about first rounders, that there are no guarantees)… but I get it, the chances aren’t as good with non-first round QBs. So, why waste a first rounder when you know a particular draft is devoid of high percentage QB guys.

Post CombineThought #3

I like this draft as much as any in recent memory from an overall standpoint especially on the defensive side of the ball. Which means, an overall improvement for every team who selects a player in the first two rounds.Take a team like the Dallas Cowboys who everyone knows needs defensive help. If they can draft two defensive starters in the first two rounds, they’re going to challenge for the NFC title… and since they’re already right there, it could put them over the top depending on how things fall for them on draft day.

For K.C. it’s true, every player can’t turn into a Pro Bowl player… however, the Chiefs have selected three such players (Peters and Alexander and Hill and Jones — he’ll be there one day) in the past two drafts who should end up with plenty of those awards by the end of their careers and what I’m thinking about this overall collection of talent is that there are a lot of players with that potential… more than I’ve seen in a good long while. In other words, this draft is going to help every team make a quantum leap forward. Here’s hoping the Chiefs are one of those teams… especially in their weak spots.

Post CombineThought #4

The Los Angeles Rams — aka the St. Louis Rams — are going back to the blue and white helmets. So naturally, Andy Reid’s name comes to mind. Right? Be sure and listen to this video all the way to the end.

So… what else would be appropriate to watch next but, Andy Reid’s punt, pass, and kick competition in — what else — the Rams blue and white helmet.

Reid was tall a little bit earlier in life than the rest of us, wasn’t he?