Re-Drafting 2017: Time Travel and a Parallel Universe

If you would have told me two years ago that the face of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise, running back Jamaal Charles, would be playing for the Denver Broncos in 2017, I would have replied, “In what universe?” Just as we have to live with the reality that the Chiefs didn’t pick Russell Wilson but instead — one pick earlier — selected Donald Stephenson in 2012.

However, I’m now going to reveal one of the universal timeless truths: that we don’t have to live with such dastardly degradations as these because, as I have been assured by “legitimate” scientists… doing scientist things… that one day, time travel, will be possible. So, if that’s the case, we can simply go back and change a few choices that would not have been made otherwise. Bill Buckner would have fielded that ball cleanly… the Chiefs would have drafted Jim Kelly or Dan Marino in 1983. Ali would never have spent a day in jail…. the Kings would still be in Kansas City and have hoisted an NBA trophy by now… there would never have been race-relations problems in our country.

Hmm, maybe time travel can’t fix everything we’d like.

Well, I’m not so sure about the time travel thingy, but I’m sure there must be parallel universes out there since there are so many planets — countless numbers I am told — where others, just like us, could be living, or have already lived, and made much better decisions. In that reality, I’m sure the Chiefs beat the Packers in Super Bowl I and that the Trophy is called the Lamar Hunt Trophy while the “Lombardi” is just the NFC trophy.

So, let’s retro-journey to a distant date, going all the way back to… last weekend… and take a whack at the players we woulda-coulda-shoulda drafted instead. Why? Because in our universe… WE CAN. 

Who Could They Have Chosen Instead?

Even if JARD had chosen an ILB or a NT with their first two picks there was no guarantee that they’d be ready to contribute in 2017. Of course, in our new universe, they help us win a Super Bowl.

The One’s That Won’t Get Away at #27… in our new universe

OL- there were no offensive linemen worth taking at #29. The 2017 OL draft class was weak… in every universe.

TE- David Njoku was available but not high on the priority list for JARD. Would have been an immediate upgrade.

OLB- T.J Watt was there but gaining a QBOTF, even giving up the extra picks was not a priority. The Chiefs tied up Dee Ford with their fifth-year option. Could have worked himself into the rotation if the starters faltered

ILB- Reuben Foster was there. Probably not on the 150-170 list of player on JARD’s board because of off-field questions. Would have been an eventual upgrade at ILB… 9 times out of 10 in my world.

DT- Malik McDowell was someone I wanted but was not deemed — a high — priority by JARD… I guess. Could have been a Pro Bowl caliber performer but had too much boom-or-bust-ability… I guess.

OG- Forrest Lamp was the best of the OGs in this draft class but didn’t have enough value for a 27th pick in the draft even if the Chiefs stayed there. After seeing how Kpass threw him on the ground like a rag doll. N-O-T.

RB- Dalvin Cook was my favorite RB in this draft class but I’m not sure he would offer a significantly greater upside than Kareem Hunt who JARD selected at #86. SI says, “Hunt is a talented, almost Dalvin Cook-like back who can help on all three downs. The Chiefs traded up for this selection.  Grade: A”

The One’s That Won’t Get Away at #59… in our new universe

OG- Dion Dawkins would have been a solid pick here but then the Chiefs would be in a “must-cut” situation with Zach Fulton or Jah Reid. Neither of those options makes the OL stronger during a championship run.

RB- Alvin Kamara was high on many K.C. fan’s wish list and would have been an excellent RB in Andy Reid’s system. Better than Kareem Hunt? Probably not much if any… but he’s awfully cute.

DT- Larry Ogunjobi could have provided another very good rotation nose tackle. Lance Zeirlien says of Ogunjobi, “Size and below-average length will work against him for some teams, but others who covet disruptive defensive tackles who can play in the backfield and generate some pressure will be studying him closely.”

OLB- Jordan Willis was high on my wish list but I’ve come to trust in the JARD process enough to know that if Willis wasn’t a fit… then he wasn’t a fit. Why might he not have been a fit? Dane Brugler says of Willis, “Stands up at times, stalling his rush. Streaky ball instincts, misreading zone reads and taking himself away from the play.” Brugler doesn’t know everything… ya know.

ILB Alex Anzalone– not really on my radar but I’ve heard pundits mock him to the Chiefs and wonder why he wasn’t considered at #59? However, he played in only 8 games with 53 tackles in 2016 with a history of injuries. Don;t think I want him in most universes.

DE/OLB- Tarell Basham is a 6-foot-3, 269-pound tweener that JARD would have to decide what to do with. He played with his hand in the dirt as well as standing up but would have to drop at least 15 pounds to get down to Justin Houston’s weight. Could have been an excellent upgrade at OLB… if it’s needed.

The One’s That Won’t Get Away at #91… in our new universe

CB- Jourdan Lewis was a good one out of the many solid CBs in this draft. However, he wasn’t going to crack the starting line-up or help win a trophy this year… shhh, there is an NFC scout who said, “If Lewis was bigger, he could have gone in the first round.” See… in my time machine Lewis runs a faster 40 too.

DT- Montravius Adams was in many of my mocks to the Chiefs but he would have been a rotation inside at best. His upside has him grow into an inside force in a couple of years.

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The New… Load-n-Lock-Shock-Jock, Mock-a-Lot-Around-da-Clock… Reality

Going back through these possible picks for the Chiefs reminds me of what a horrifically long draft-season it was. Along with this “reality” comes the recognition that many fans — including moi — study the draft picks more than they ever have, while utilizing all the deep media coverage availability and mock generators at our fingertips.

A lot is lost, or unknown, when mocking prospects — based on their numbers — to one team or another. While some sites keep track of “Visits” and “Interviews” that teams have had with specific prospects… an eHarmony–style match-up of prospect’s-and-coaches’ personalities is never known to the public… until it’s too late sometimes, as was the curious case of KeiVarae Russell.

As it is, the players the Chiefs have chosen, one day — in a future reality — could each be excellent and essential parts of the team’s core moving forward. I just think it’s strange that I never even heard of a couple of them before the draft. I’ll bet that in another universe I knew all of them.

So…….. in another reality………. or by time travel………….. who would you have taken?

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