Wow, the day has finally, finally arrived… but where are the Kansas City Chiefs? Will we hear a peep out of them or will they roar back into the first round of the NFL draft, which is the only round to take place tonight? The real question is, will Brett Veach be that aggressive? BJ Kissel put the question to Veach, “What are the chances, at the end of this draft, you come away with 8 players? It’s a telling question because that’s how many picks the Chiefs have in this weekend’s draft, so far. Here’s what Veach had to say to that:
I asked #Chiefs GM Brett Veach what the chances are that they end up drafting eight players with the eight picks they currently have. pic.twitter.com/AEeibRhumc
— BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) April 25, 2018
“We’re going to be aggressive” have become the bywords for this fledgling Brett Veach regime, much as “we’re going to take the best-player-available” were the bywords during John Dorsey’s reign.
In any case, the NFL Draft has become like three glorious days of Christmas morning gift unwrapping for 32 teams, times seven (rounds), at least, coming at the end of April every year. Plus, now the league has finally begun to shuttle the Draft weekend event around to other NFL cities which means… it may be coming to a city near you in the future.
In some “possible” AFC West news which I’m not too happy to hear, there is a groundswell, among those who cover the draft closely, that the Buffalo Bills could trade up with Denver for the Broncos 5th pick in the draft therefore giving them a boatload of picks including: #12, #22 and #65 for… the fifth overall pick. Add those picks to the Broncos other draft picks and their draft would look like this:
- R1 – #12
- R1 – #22
- R2 – #40
- R3 – #65
- R3 – #71
- R3 – #99
- R4 – #106
- R4 – #113
- R5 – #149
- R5 – #160
Peter Schrager has a Mock Draft that takes a possible Broncos/Bills trade in to account. While Broncos GM John Elway has not had the best drafting record it’s much harder to mess it up when you have 8 of the first 113 picks in a draft. Schrager’s mock covers three rounds and his picks for K.C include: Arden Key (LB) at #54, plus Nathan Shepard (NT) at #78, and Deon Cain (WR) at #86. I can see the first two picks but, a WR in the Chiefs top three? I’m not buying it.
The Scouting-Drafting-Coaching process is complex. BJ Kissel has done a wonderful job of interviewing Chiefs coaches, leaders and scouts and grills down hard on area scout Pat Sperduto. Sperduto’s response reveals the intricacies of the whole process from finding a prospect… to finding out what makes that prospect tick… to how he might fit in the team dynamic:
“You’ve got to find out what’s the best way for that guy to learn, to understand…what’s the best way for that guy to retain.”
– #Chiefs area scout Pat Sperduto explains relationship & dynamic with college coaches & evaluating players. pic.twitter.com/Y8wvHWCbRa
— BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) April 24, 2018
If you have 51 spare minutes and want to hear the K.C. Star’s four all-star writer’s take on the draft go –> here, but you’ll have to have Facebook. Terez Paylor echos something I’ve said before, that he can see the Chiefs moving up from #54 to 40-to-49 to get a guy that may have fallen a bit on the Chiefs draft board. He also says that the Chiefs could stay at #54 and be alright, and I would agree.
Chiefs have more cap flexibility in the future, if they want to trade next years draft picks to move up this year, that's something they could absolutely do.
— ChieflyBacon (@3GravyCats) April 25, 2018
Ransom Hawthorne presents this possibility of trading a high pick next year to move up this year and I think it has some merit. On Tuesday he asked, “If there’s a guy that Chiefs really love at the end of the first, would you be willing to trade next year’s first round pick, plus a late round pick, this year, to get him?” If you missed it, my response was supportive,
“Since that kind of trade would mean delaying the loss of a first round pick… and the cost of delaying that painful loss would only cost a late round pick this year… and the Chiefs have an extra 4th and an extra 6th… I’d say yes. Especially since that would mean the Chiefs draft position next year would increasingly be lower in the first round, because the addition of a starter who just might be a star this year likely helps them win right away.
Intriguing idea. If that’s what Veach has pre-arranged with Philly… I likey. Philly should like it too since they get to delay another high paid player which they don’t need right now and can secure their future with an extra first round pick next season.”
So, if you’re wondering what to expect tonight and the rest of this weekend, just look back to last year’s draft where the Chiefs moved around to get the players at the value that they have them slotted on their draft board.
Be sure to tune in tonight for our OPEN THREAD. See ya then! -Laddie
Don’t miss “2018 NFL Draft OPEN THREAD – Thursday” which comes out at noon today. The OPEN THREAD will be up all evening so drop in and catch up with the draft if you have the time. I’ll be here all evening.
-Laddie
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