Josh Kingsley
The 2023 draft is a wrap. Most all accounts tout K.C. as a wonderful host. I know a ton of people who attended many portions of the festivities with similar reports: total blast. They connected with CHIEFS fans from all over, met a ton of new people, and got little sleep. Sounds perfect.
A quick shout goes to the Toronto Maple Leafs for winning their first playoff series since 2004. Toronto is one of my favorite cities. They are a great sports town and support any success, but the Leafs are their top priority. It’s fun to see them have nice things happen.
Also, have to give a shout to my daughter who turns 10 years old this Monday and will not read this.
.
Day 3 Notes
The NFL is a media master. Production is of a three day, four hour each, tight-as-heck broadcast carries landmines of complications. The NFL executes it masterfully. I find myself impressed with every on time choice and moment in every one of their productions. You can set your clock to it. More than anything, I appreciate professionalism and production is the NFL’s true 10K hour skill!
Seven teams picked double digit players (Rams, Jags, Packers, Colts, Patriots, Bears, Seahawks) with the Rams leading the way with a whopping 14. The Rams, Packers, Colts and Bears are rebuilding and the haul should help. I have my eye on the Jags, Pats and Seahawks for improvement and/or identity change. Doug Pederson turned the Jags from Urban joke to legit threat in a year. He has 7 defensive, 2 OL, and 4 weapons to continue the process. They are the class of the AFC South. Bill is Bill in NE. Seattle went 5/5 O v D.
On the other hand the Broncos, Panthers and Dolphins added five or less players. Carolina picked first overall, the Dolphins lost their first rounder due to potential corruption and the Broncos lit theirs on fire burning dinner. The margin of error for the 2023 draft is nonexistent for these teams. Carolina methodically went all in for the QB they have chased since Cam washed up. Miami went from pick stockpile and draft control to almost sitting out. Denver keeps burning meals and I love making jokes about it.
I made a spreadsheet and will dive way deeper this week.
.
Total Draft Winners
Okay, maybe a little more spreadsheet action. The big winner is the passing game dominance and thus the NFL and it’s current direction. I will sanitize the list more, but here are some quick total pick numbers:
.
.
So, 64 of the 259 or 25% of the draft picks went to WR and anti-WR (CBs), and 42 of 259 or 16% went to QB and anti-QB (EDGE). Passing game runs the NFL.
.
Draft Losers
Running backs got a first round renaissance, but only accounted for a total of 19 picks. The first and only FB went 240th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That position is dead. The NCAA ran an excellent commercial many years ago (see below). I sum it up, that competing and learning skills sports provide is lifetime valuable. Let’s get real: most college FB are going pro… in something other than football.
.
.
I have to compound this. The Lions drafted a RB early leaving 2020 pick D’Andre Swift, so expendable that a 4th round and 2025 pick became the price for him. Armies of analysts argued over his immense upside mere years ago. Tough times for the RB position.
.
CHIEFS Draft Notes
Again, more depth coming this Thursday with my weekly piece. The most notable thing was the total count. Veach entered the draft with 10 picks, but the roster does not have 10 rookie attainable holes. Our final tally ended at 7 with one pick, the first of the 6th round, leaving for a 2024 pick. This tells me Veach likes his 2023 incumbents. I am a huge believer in continuity, so this is great news.
All my pre-draft centered around the principle that early picks should target weapons, elite D players and a Patrick protector. Round 1 = edge, Round 2 = WR and Round 3 = OT. Murdoch, Veach and I love it when a plan comes together. Conner profiles a S moving to slot CB, Thompson an athletic freak and Coburn a run stuffing steal. Nic Jones adds another lengthy CB to live in this passing league.
My initial reaction: well done, Brett Veach and team. I cannot wait to dig deeper into all our new guys, but I totally see a plan in place. It makes sense, our team will be great again, and I like it.
.
Josh Kingsley — ArrowheadOne and Arrowhead Kingdom
.