If It’s Wednesday It Must Be Round 2

If It’s Wednesday, It Must Be Round 2

by David Bell | November 28, 2018

In the previous article I focused on the NT and 34 DE. I set this up as if it were the likely #1 pick by the Chiefs. Almost anyone who has followed my thoughts, knows that I have focused on the ineptness of the defense through two seasons and more.

Let’s make the presumption that I got my guy (meaning Veach did so) in the first round — a starter at Nose Tackle or 34 DE. Or a player who could play either position and allow the Chiefs to make a decision where to put him. That contingency is lodged in 2 or 3 of the top contenders that I addressed, or Ransom Hawthorne did, in his brief on things a couple of three articles ago.

That said: Pick Number 2 in the second round is a shift up — swapping to draft an Offensive Lineman. I am playing Brett Veach here now and I have three primary problems: depth, Eric Fisher is too costly and Mitch Morse suffers a problem of sustaining concussions. I need to keep adding depth to the front five group of players on a continual basis. One thing that happened in the 2018 season that hurt was that LDT broke his leg and Mitch Morse missed 6 games due to the concussion protocol. However, it also helped because I (Veach), had fed two young players to the mix in the persons of Austin Reiter and Andrew Wylie. Reiter came from the Browns where he was a starter out of the gate, suffered a knee injury losing a year, then was out of favor and picked up by the Chiefs. Wylie was a signee who sewed up a roster spot out of nowhere. Both players were tossed to the Wolves and got a heck of a lot of NFL speed snaps because they were tossed into the meat mixer and essentially played pretty well. Sure they missed some blocks and didn’t get to the second level at times and occasionally this missed a pass block or handing off a block to another player or receiving one, but in general learning a new playbook and system… they held up.

Worse comes to worse, I have two players who could be assigned as depth along with Jordan Devey who played well substituting for Morse until he was knocked this season due to his own injury. Wylie and Reiter fit the Veach profile for Chief’s persona and youth. This means I am a lot more solid over a front 7 or 8 in 2019 if I (Veach) can replace a very high cost, good but not a pro-bowl talent at LOT, namely Eric Fisher.

My aim is to get a replacement that would fit the bill by making a trade or signing a veteran free agent (of the Mitchell Schwartz level of player) or drafting such a player. Since I can’t address 2019 Free Agents logically yet, but can look at a forecast of offensive linemen, I want to cast my eye to potentials that I can take in the 2nd round, or trade down with my 2nd Second Round Pick to get an early 3rd round choice and maybe add a draft pick in the process. Or I am willing to trade up with that 2nd pick in the second round and couple that with a 5th round pick and I will look later at using my 6th and 7th round picks to trade for a position down into the 5th. Like that.

POTENTIAL CANDIDATE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

A limited view

Previously I focused on the NT and 34 DE and I set this up as if it were the likely #1 pick by the Chiefs. Almost anyone who has followed my thoughts, knows that I have focused on the ineptness of the defense through two seasons and more.

Let’s make the presumption that I got my guy(meaning Veach did so) in the first round — a starter at Nose Tackle or 34 DE. Or a player who could play either position and allow the Chiefs to make a decision where to put him. That contingency is lodged in 2 or 3 of the top contenders that I addressed or Ransom Hathorne did in his brief on things a couple of three articles ago.

That said: Pick Number 2 in the second round is a shift up — swapping to an offensive Lineman. I am play Brett Veach here now and I have three primary problems: Depth, Eric Fisher is too costly and Mitch Morse suffers a problem of sustaining concussions. I need to keep adding depth to the front five group of players on a continual basis. One thing that happened in the 2018 season that hurt was that LD-T Broke his leg and Mitch Morse missed 6 games due to the concussion protocol. But it also helped because I(Veach), had fed two young players to the mix in Austin Reiter and Andrew Wylie. Reiter came from the Browns where he was a starter out of the gate, suffered a knee injury and lost the year and then was out of favor and picked up by the Chiefs. Wylie was a signee who sewed up a roster spot out of nowhere. Both players were tossed to the Wolves and got a heck of a lot of NFL speed snaps because they were tossed into the meat mixer and essentially played pretty well. Sure they missed some blocks and didn’t get to the second level at times. Occasionally this missed a pass block or handing off a block to another player or receiving one. But in general, learning a new playbook and system, they held up.

Worse comes to worse, I have two players who could be assigned as depth along with Jordan Devey who played well substituting for Morse until he was knocked out of the season due to his own injury. Wylie and Reiter fit the Veach profile for Chief’s persona and youth. This means I am a lot more solid over a front 7 or 8 in 2019 if I(Veach) can replace a very high cost, good but not a pro-bowl talent LOT namely Eric Fisher.

My aim is to get a replacement that would fit the bill by making a trade or signing a veteran free agent(of the Mitchell Schwartz level of player) OR Draft such a player. Since I can’t address 2019 Free Agents logically yet, but can look at forecasted offensive linemen, I want to cast my eye to potentials that I can take in the 2nd round or trade down with my second Second Round pick to get an early 3rd round choice and maybe add a draft pick in the process. Or I am willing to trade up with that 2nd pick in the second round a couple that with a 5th round pick and I will look later at using my 6th and 7th round picks to trade for position down into the 5th. Like that.

POTENTIAL CANDIDATE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

I am going to pass on a player projected to round 1, David Edwards of Wisconsin. His pass blocking is not a strength and that is a primary problem that I have with Eric Fisher so Edwards, in my mind is not an option. Also, I think he will drop into round 2 most likely.

Yodny Cajuste, West Virginia OT, 6-5,315: Cajuste is probably the best pick in this draft for the OL. He is very good OT will likely go in the top of round one so I am not going to look at him either except with a bit of lust for a good player, a great pass protector of size and speed. Solid pick but a “first” round pick for teams needing a pass-blocking offensive tackle so he is going in round 1 and probably early. I don’t think Veach would try to move up to take him. He would be a solid round one pick.

Dalton Risner — OT, KSU 6-5, 310: Risner has the size and length of an NFL Offensive Lineman. He will need seasoning and it’s possible he could start out of the gate but strength will be an issue and the learning curve the constant issue with Reid’s playbook. Risner is a very good pass blocking OT. He slides well, has lateral speed and is able to block defenders both pass blocking and for the run. He is able to pull and get to the 2nd level. This says he has the quickness of feet to play in Andy Reid’s offensive scheme. His ability to move and slide will fit well blocking the blind side for Patrick Mahomes. However, I think he is a player who needs seasoning against the speed and power of NFL OLBs and DEs. It’s just almost a universal truth. I see him as a 3rd round type selection for the Chiefs but on who could work quickly to a starting role as he is intelligent and “trainable.” He could move up into the 2nd round in reality but let’s just aim at a 2nd round choice right now. What would be great about this pick is to get him with my 2nd Second Round Pick.

Kaleb McGary – Washington OT – 6-7, 324: McGary is too tall for an OG. He is tall for an OT. I question this potential draft choice for the Chiefs but right now he is one of the top 5 OL prospects so I have to take a hard look. Maybe as much as that? He is a converted Defensive Tackle. That fact may be a reason to consider him. At any rate, he is a pass for the Chiefs.

There are more players to consider but I am stuck on most of them, and certainly at this point I cannot foresee them in the 2nd round. If I run onto that situation where none are available, then it probably means that Veach is going to use both second round picks for defense. Defense is the Chief’s weak point, and if anything can be done with the draft then as a GM, my hand might be forced in the first 3 selections. For right now? I would like to get an OT with the front end pick in the 2nd round, then go back to defense with the next pick in the 2nd round. I am  certainly open to trading up for the right player as well. I consider that the needs of the Chiefs this way: Nose Tackle, 34 Defensive End, ILB, CB and OT to be the top needs, in a non-priority order.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne