Round 3
This pick I had a hard time with, because I love Ryan Broyles potential, but the Chiefs already have three guys coming off ACL injuries, so I can’t see Pioli wanting to take a risk there. So the other guy I really like with this pick is Mike Martin, defensive tackle from Michigan. Martin is a little undersized for your prototypical 3-4 nose tackle at 6’1 306, but what he lacks in size he makes up for with technique and tenacity.
Martin is a skilled wrestler who uses great hand technique that goes a long way in the trenches getting around lineman. When watching him at Michigan you could see that he is a guy that never takes a play off and has that drive that you can’t coach. At over 300 pounds he put up a 4.88 40 and 36 reps of 225. His quickness and technique allows him to penetrate the interior of the line and will get more pressure on the quarterback than most nose tackles.
Sleeper Pick: Tommy Streeter WR Miami or Josh Chapman DT Alabama
Round 4
In the fourth round, if the Chiefs haven’t addressed the quarterback situation then now might be the time to do so. I think Brock Osweiler would be who I would go with if I were going quarterback in this slot. The Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said its good business to draft a quarterback every year, so expect at some point a QB to come off the board to us. I am more in favor of waiting for next year to draft a franchise quarterback, specifically Tyler Wilson from Arkansas, but that’s just me.
Instead of going quarterback here I could see us getting another weapon at receiver and I like Nick Toon out of Wisconsin. He has the size and speed at 6’2 215 and ran a 4.43 40 at his pro day. Toon also has the pedigree that often translates to success in the NFL, his dad is a hall of fame wide receiver, Al Toon who was drafted in front of Jerry Rice and had his career shortened by injuries. Something about having a kid his whole life getting that kind of coaching makes me think he has a little advantage. Nick is a strong route runner and I feel would fit in nicely with the Chiefs.
Sleeper Pick: Nate Potter OT Boise St or Orson Charles TE Georgia
Round 5
Another player who has fallen down draft boards that was projected as a first rounder had he came out last year was Arizona St linebacker Vontaze Burfict. I’m not projecting he plays like a first rounder, but if the Chiefs didn’t draft Kuechly, it wouldn’t surprise me if they took a flyer on Burfict. Although the Chiefs would probably be wise to address depth in the backfield with this pick.
I like Vick Ballard, running back from Mississippi State to come off the board and join Jamal Charles, Dex and Peyton Hillis in the backfield. Ballard reminds me a lot of Thomas Jones, likes to pound the ball between the tackles. He is not a speedster that is going to burn NFL corners in the open field, but runs very strong and physical. He averaged 6.2 yards a carry this year playing in the SEC.
Ballard is 5’10 about 220 and would be a nice compliment to the Chiefs group of backs they have and is a big body you could use on special teams early on. I tend to favor SEC running backs, because they are used to going up against quality defenses.
Sleeper pick: Bernard Pierce RB Temple or Terrance Ganaway RB Baylor
Round 6
Again just touching on the quarterback situation here late in the draft by taking a flyer on Russell Wilson wouldn’t be a terrible idea, but we could also look at some guys who might go undrafted in Case Keenum, GJ Kinne or Kellen Moore. Instead though, I look for the Chiefs to add on some bodies for the defensive line with this pick. Dominique Hamilton from Missouri is an interesting guy to me. At 6’5 305 pounds, he strikes me as a guy that would be a good 3-4 defensive end.
Hamilton could be a steal at this stage in the draft and could be the next Missouri defensive lineman to go on and have a nice NFL career. I like his versatility with his size that he can slide over and play tackle as well and he would likely help our rush defense.
Sleeper pick: Nicolas Jean-Baptiste DT Baylor or Matt Conrath DE Virginia
Round 7
With two picks in round seven the Chiefs will most likely draft a TE with one pick, even though they brought in Kevin Boss and have Tony Moeaki coming back off injury, they might want to sure up depth. I would go James Hanna from Oklahoma to fill that void. He reminds me of a lesser Moeaki in that his strengths are being more of a receiving threat than a great blocker.
Hanna at his career at Oklahoma had 52 receptions for 720 yards and 9 touchdowns. He is a big bodied guy who can get down the field pretty quick for his size and would also be a contributor to special teams.
With the last pick you look at what names are left that nobody gambled on. I would gamble on Cliff Harris if he is still available. He runs just as fast as he drives. By that I’m referring to his traffic situation where he was pulled over in a car that smelt of marijuana that he was going 118mph in. There you have the reason he is falling down draft boards, but what is the likely hood that you find Tom Brady with this pick? It’s a bigger gamble drafting someone with less potential than it would be to roll the dice on Harris maturing.
So review time:
- Luke Kuechly LB Boston College or David DeCastro G Stanford
- Janoris Jenkins CB N. Alabama
- Mike Martin DT Michigan
- Nick Toon WR Wisconsin
- Vick Ballard RB Mississippi St
- Dominique Hamilton DT/DE Missouri
- James Hanna TE Oklahoma 7. Cliff Harris CB Oregon
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