Rate the draft for the rest of the AFCW...

[Sassy]

Oakland Raiders

Positions Of Need:WROLDLLBS
Needs Analysis: The Raiders drafted their quarterback last season, now they must find a No. 1 receiver (despite acquiring Javon Walker). The team has long had a need at offensive line and should address that early. The team spent some money on the defensive line in free agency, but could still use some youth at defensive end and defensive tackle. The Raiders have two stellar cornerbacks but could use an upgrade at safety to play opposite of the excellent Michael Huff.

Pick Player Pos Ht Wt College
Round 1, Pick 4 (4) Darren McFadden RB 6'2" 210 Arkansas
Pick Analysis:Arguably the most talented player in the draft, McFadden brings a big-play threat to Oakland. He will offer a compliment to quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who was the first overall pick in 2007. In three years at Arkansas, he carried 785 times for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns. He has exceptional acceleration and upper body strength.

Round 4, Pick 1 (100) (From Dolphins through Cowboys) Tyvon Branch CB 6'0" 204 Connecticut
Pick Analysis:Branch is strong, fast and has started for four years. His measurables have been exceptional. Branch's strong workout numbers compare to only five other players at his position and four have played in the Pro Bowl, while the fifth is a quality contributor in the NFL.

Round 4, Pick 26 (125) (From Jaguars through Ravens) Arman Shields WR 6'1" 194 Richmond
Pick Analysis:Shields did not have as good a senior year as he did as a junior, but he's still tall and he's fast. He ran a 4.37 40 and also had impressive cone drill numbers. He's a guy who can amass yards after the catch and make plays.

Round 6, Pick 3 (169) Trevor Scott DE 6'5" 256 Buffalo
Pick Analysis:Scott is a tall defensive end, with speed. He has great workout numbers, but his production on the field was somewhat lacking. He needs to demonstrate on the field the talent that his workout numbers indicate he could be capable of.

Round 7, Pick 19 (226) (From Vikings through Jets)


San Diego Chargers

Positions Of Need:RBOLDLS
Needs Analysis: The Chargers don't have many needs, but will be looking to add some depth at certain positions, including a backup for running back LaDainian Tomlinson. The team also looks to add some depth on both the offensive and defensive lines. Most notably, offensive tackle. The club also could use a backup defensive back who can play multiple positions.

Pick Player Pos Ht Wt College
Round 1, Pick 27 (27) Antoine Cason CB 6'0" 190 Arizona
Pick Analysis:The Chargers go with a cornerback, looking to replace Drayton Florence, who left in free agency. Cason was one of the late risers of the draft. Teams began to appreciate how much talent he had after some impressive workouts. Among the corners in this draft, Cason is ready to make a significant impact as a rookie.

Round 3, Pick 6 (69) (From Raiders through Patriots) Jacob Hester FB 5'11" 230 LSU
Pick Analysis:The Chargers get a winner in Hester, who is a strong dual back who can play both fullback and tailback. He's an inside runner and good around the goal line. With Michael Turner gone to Atlanta, Hester will be a good third down option as well as an excellent special teams player.

Round 5, Pick 31 (166) (Compensatory selection) Marcus Thomas RB 6'2" 215 Texas-El Paso
Pick Analysis:Thomas is not a burner, but has good enough speed to compliment his size. He's good at finding a hole and getting through it. With Michael Turner gone as a free agent, Thomas could be asked to spell LaDainian Tomlinson on occasion.

Round 6, Pick 26 (192) DeJuan Tribble CB 5'9" 190 Boston College
Round 7, Pick 27 (234)


KC Chiefs
Positions Of Need:QBWROLDLCB
Needs Analysis: The Chiefs have never really overcome the retirement of two Hall of Fame offensive linemen in consecutive years. The team nearly ignored the offensive line in last year's draft. The Chiefs could get younger at cornerback with Ty Law and Patrick Surtain each in their 30s, and would like to find a replacement for the departed Jared Allen as well. Dwayne Bowe was nice for the Chiefs as a rookie, but the team could still use another receiver. The Chiefs say Brodie Croyle is their future QB, but don't be surprised if they take a quarterback in the first two rounds.

Pick Player Pos Ht Wt College
Round 1, Pick 5 (5) Glenn Dorsey DT 6'2" 316 LSU
Pick Analysis:Dorsey's dominance should go a long way toward helping Kansas City rebuild its defense. He should command double-teams and the Chiefs become better up the middle instantly. There were some concerns about problems with Dorsey's tibia stress fracture, which may have been the reason he was still on the board at this point. His best traits are outstanding agility and a great motor.

Round 1, Pick 15 (15) (From Lions) Branden Albert OG 6'6" 309 Virginia
Pick Analysis:Albert has the versatility to play guard or tackle in the NFL. He finishes blocks down the field and in space. He started 37 games (35 games at left guard, two at left tackle) for Virginia over three years. Has great overall athletic ability for a big man and could develop into the best offensive lineman in the draft.

Round 2, Pick 4 (35) Brandon Flowers CB 5'10" 189 Virginia Tech
Pick Analysis:With better speed, Flowers would have been a much higher pick. He plays the game faster than his timed speed indicates (4.55). Best traits are good instincts and physical play.

Round 3, Pick 10 (73) (From Broncos through Vikings) Jamaal Charles RB 5'11" 200 Texas
Pick Analysis:The Chiefs take a guy that is likely the best player on their board right now in Charles. He likely fell to the third round due to his lack of strength, but when it comes to speed, he's a break-away back. His playmaking ability makes him a potential situational player that can also catch the ball.

Round 3, Pick 13 (76) (From Lions) Brad Cottam TE 6'8" 270 Tennessee
Pick Analysis:Cottam's problem was the fact that he only started 10 games in five years at Tennessee. He has very impressive size and skills for a tight end to go with speed in the 4.6's. The Chiefs may be looking for a future starter with Tony Gonzalez nearing the end of his career.

Round 3, Pick 19 (82) (From Vikings) DaJuan Morgan S 6'0" 205 North Carolina State
Pick Analysis:Morgan was a one-year starter and raw, but has good athletic ability and potential. He is the type of player who can get better in the pros with good coaching, because of his measurables and potential to develop. He is an excellent special teams player who originally made his mark in the kicking game.

Round 4, Pick 6 (105) Will Franklin WR 6'1" 214 Missouri
Pick Analysis:At over 6-feet and 214 pounds, Franklin has impressive speed (he ran a 4.3 40) for a guy his size. He is extremely explosive and was generally graded as a third rounder, so Kansas City gets good value in the fourth round.

Round 5, Pick 5 (140) Brandon Carr CB 6'0" 207 Grand Valley State
Pick Analysis:Carr went under the radar as a Division II All-American for Grand Valley State. He has good size for a cornerback, but looked more like an athlete than a football player at times. He needs to work on his technique.

Round 6, Pick 4 (170) Barry Richardson OT 6'7" 320 Clemson
Pick Analysis:He's a huge guy who runs well and has talent, but it has been said he lacks passion for the game. If a coach can motivate him and get him excited about playing football, he may well wind up being a find at the guard position.

Round 6, Pick 16 (182) (From Vikings) Kevin Robinson WR 6'0" 190 Utah State
Pick Analysis:Robinson is the best return man in the country out of Utah State. The competition isn't great in the WAC and it could be tough for him to adjust to the pro game. Still, he's very good at what he does and is an excellent special teamer.

Round 7, Pick 3 (210)

[FantomForce]

I hate to admit it but I think that the Chefs won out. They did good on their selections. Those Bastards! Welcome to my world, Utah State ranked #117 out of 119 D-1 schools. Our only bright spot, Kevin Robinson, who just got drafted by the Chefs, this really hurt. Oh well one day we celebrate K-Rob, now we just hate him:~ohyah!:

[Dagmar]

KC had the best draft in the league, cannot deny it.

[kmartin575]

Add DE Brian Johnston, Gardner-Webb to the Chiefs draft.

[KcMizzou]

KC had the best draft in the league, cannot deny it.I'm ecstatic. Can't wait for preseason.

[snowspot66]

They had a good draft but at the cost of Allen. We'll see in a few years how well it pays off and if King Carl will be willing to pay for it all.

[kmonty]

They had a good draft but at the cost of Allen. We'll see in a few years how well it pays off and if King Carl will be willing to pay for it all.

Exactly. The Allen trade is part of the draft, there's no denying it. And they used a 3rd rounder to move up and take Albert. Which is worth more?

Jared Allen... OR ... Branden Albert and a 3rd round pick.

They could have kept Allen, drafted Dorsey and Flowers and completely improved their defense. Would have been top 5 defensive lines in the league, easy. I still think they blew it.

[MechanicalBull]

The Chiefs had a very good draft and probably the best in the whole NFL. The Raiders also should have DeAngelo Hall thrown in cause he was pretty much their 2nd round pick just like Walker was for us a few years ago.

[kmartin575]

Exactly. The Allen trade is part of the draft, there's no denying it. And they used a 3rd rounder to move up and take Albert. Which is worth more?

Jared Allen... OR ... Branden Albert and a 3rd round pick.

They could have kept Allen, drafted Dorsey and Flowers and completely improved their defense. Would have been top 5 defensive lines in the league, easy. I still think they blew it.

We didn't trade a 3rd to move up for Albert. We swapped 3rds with Detroit and gave them a 5th.

[Sassy]

Chief, Raider and Charger fans...rate our draft! (Try to be objective here!)

[kmartin575]

Chief, Raider and Charger fans...rate our draft! (Try to be objective here!)

Ryan Clady-Kind of raw but still a very good pick and can be a good left tackle in the NFL.

Eddie Royal- Didn't really understand the pick but I guess if he can be a good kick returner and even halfway decent as a receiver I think it will be a solid pick.

Kory Lichtensteiger- Wonder if he is a guard or a center for you. I would have thought you guys would have pursued a zone blocking type center like Steve Justice. Solid depth though.

Jack Williams- He was a mid round cornerback I liked. Was hoping the Chiefs could get him. Should be good depth.

Ryan Torain- Don't know a whole lot about him but I have heard he could be a steal and you guys did need another runningback.

Carlton Powell- A sleeper who I wanted if we didn't take a DT early. Should be a good pass rusher and is surprisingly good against the run despite his small size.

Spencer Larsen- Solid depth at inside linebacker. Perhaps he can challenge Niko for a starting job.

Joshua Barrett- Don't know a whole lot about him but I know you guys need some youth at safety and he seems like a steal this late in the draft.

Peyton Hillis- Great pick. I wanted the Chiefs to take him. Would rather take him than give up a 2nd and 3rd for Jacob Hester, lol.

[no-pseudo-fan]

Chiefs got better this weekend. They have a lot of holes, so that wasn't too hard. Hate that they got Albert and Dorsey.

Raiders, got flash early, but nothing else.

San Diego, didnt get much, didn't need much.

[kmonty]

We didn't trade a 3rd to move up for Albert. We swapped 3rds with Detroit and gave them a 5th.

Oh. My bad. Still don't like it though.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

Atlanta made the Chiefs draft. How in the world do you pass up Glen Dorsey for Matt Ryan? I think they would have taken Clady at 5. Instead, they get Dorsey as a gift, and use the stockpile of picks to get Brandon Albert.

[Dedhed]

You cannot deny that the Chiefs killed this draft. Dorsey and Albert gave me chest pains. Jamaal Charles is the one pick where I thought they blew it. I think he's a Tatum type RB. Other than that though, there isn't a team in the league that improved more than the Chiefs. They made the most of trading their best player, but they did trade their best player. We'll see if it pays off. On paper, it's the best draft in the league. Overall: A

Oakland set their franchise back another ten years because Al drafts based only on a stopwatch. I don't think McFadden will be an impact player in the nfl, and investing that much money in a RB in today's NFL is a waste. Especially when you've just spent way too much money on mediocre talent, including a RB. They're screwed. Overall:D


Sand Diego got a good player in Cason, but the rest of the draft seems like a yawn to me. Hester may end up a good FB, but Thomas seemed like a needy pick to me. Overall: C

[kchero]

Exactly. The Allen trade is part of the draft, there's no denying it. And they used a 3rd rounder to move up and take Albert. Which is worth more?

Jared Allen... OR ... Branden Albert and a 3rd round pick.

They could have kept Allen, drafted Dorsey and Flowers and completely improved their defense. Would have been top 5 defensive lines in the league, easy. I still think they blew it.

Yea, the ESPN crew got it incorrect. The Chiefs gave a 5th rounder, a 3rd rounder and their 1st round (17 overall) to get the 15th overall pick and the Lions 3rd rounder pick. So I thought in all it was a good swap.

[kchero]

Sorry I didnt read all the way down to see that someone already mentioned that.

[400HZ]

As far as the Chargers go, this is what I think:

Rd 1 - #27(27) Antoine Cason (CB) Arizona
Should fit right in at the nickle spot. All three of our corners are over 6 feet tall now, so our pressure D should get even better. Cason has a lot of experience and is a super high character guy, and I'm pretty stoked about him. Ideally I would have liked one of the upper echelon OTs to fall to us, but oh well. Last season, the Chargers ranked #7 in the NFL against number one receivers, #1 against number twos, and I think #31 against 3rd/4th receivers, so Cason could really boost our D, especially against Indy and NE.

Rd 3 - #6(69) Jacob Hester (FB) LSU
Reminds me of the Eric Weddle pick last year in that AJ probably fell in love with him and decided not to take any chances with him getting stolen. Just like Weddle, he's a high character guy with a lot of versatility. I don't know if this is an indictment of Andrew Pinnock or not, but Pinnock did have offseason microfracture surgury so at the every least we needed depth at FB. Even if he doesn't immediately start at fullback, he'll probably become the primary change of pace runner. I hate giving up a second rounder to get him, but AJ did get good value on the trade, and the Chargers have two extra picks coming next year from Michael Turner and Drayton Florence.

Rd 5 - #31(166) Marcus Thomas (RB) UTEP
This pick was really surprising since I figured that Hester would be the change of pace back, so maybe Pinnock really is in trouble medically. I've never seen him play, but his scouting profile sounds pretty similar to Michael Turner's.

Rd 6 - #26(192) DeJuan Tribble (CB) BC
He's small, slow, and has serious character issues. Wtf. His college stats were ok, but c'mon, the Chargers needed O line depth here. I despise this pick. It must have been that fabled Best Player Available.

Rd 7 - #27(234) Corey Clark (OT) Texas A&M
It sounds like he could be a decent backup if he bulks up. Maybe Merriman can loan him some supplements. It definitely sounds like he needs a year on the practice squad. I'm really not digging our lack of depth on the o line right now. Either Clark, an udfa, or one of our ps guys needs to step up this year. Jeromey Clary came off the practice squad last year and did pretty decent, but I'm still nervous about the situation.

[400HZ]

Chief, Raider and Charger fans...rate our draft! (Try to be objective here!)

I thought the Broncos added some good players, but some of them were confusing. Your first pick on D is a cornerback? That's the only area on your defense that didn't need help! Same situation with Eddie Royal. There's some concerns about the #1 spot with Marshall's situation, and the #2 spot is open. The only spot that was firm was Stokley in the slot...and the Broncos add a slot receiver. I thought that was weird. If he's being added primarily as a returner, that's sort of dumb. The Broncos have bigger needs than a returner right now. I felt like it was a mistake to wait until the 5th round to address DT. I really liked your two 7th round selections. The success of your draft really hinges on whether or not Clady works out. His intelligence level has to be somewhat concerning, but he'll probably be ok. I think Shanahan made the right move addressing the tackle position first.

[nickademus]

We didn't trade a 3rd to move up for Albert. We swapped 3rds with Detroit and gave them a 5th.

I know they teach redneck out there but out here in the normal usa swapped and traded are the same things.

[Ray Finkle]

I really liked the chiefs draft... I see them hitting on their two first which would make the draft alone since 45% of all 1st bust....

[kdissette]

chiefs-A+
chargers-B-
raiders-B
broncos-D-

[kmartin575]

I know they teach redneck out there but out here in the normal usa swapped and traded are the same things.

No need to be an asshole.

And no, they are not the same thing. Saying we traded our 3rd pick would suggest we just gave up our 3rd round pick. But we didn't. We swapped 3rd round picks with Detroit allowing them to move up 7 or 8 spots but we still kept three 3rd round picks.

[Drek]

My AFC West breakdown across the board:

Broncos: B+
Clady and Lichtensteiger show that we're finally updating our OL to NFL standards. Both are mobile enough to let us keep the ZBS run blocking scheme, but both also have the power to dominate in pass blocking.

Eddie Royal is a great pick to me, we grabbed him just when the run on slot WR/KR/PR guys started and I think we got the best one. Real good value.

Jack Williams, Ryan Torien, and Spencer Larsen make up a group of "meh" picks for me. Williams seems like a special teams attacker, which we need, and Larsen should be a solid ST contributor and backup LB with good character. Don't really care for the Torien pick but who am I to second guess our FO taking RBs?

Love the 7th round though. Josh Barrett could be a stud if the motivation from his benching stick with him and gets him to play up to that amazing talent level. Hillis immediately improves our FB position significantly and I wouldn't be surprised if he puts up 6 a half dozen times or more next season for us. Basically Super Hape.

Chiefs: A-
First day was great. Got great value with Dorsey, moving back up for Albert was worth it, and Flowers is a good CB for Cover 2.

Not so sold on Charles, Texas guys have horrible fundamentals, so he needs to develop significantly both physically and mentally before he's more than a change of pace speed back/return guy.

Cottam was an ok pick as well, but scary injury history and limited collegiate production when healthy makes you wonder if he was really worth a 3rd.

Dajuan Morgan was a return to good value in the 3rd though, solid pick and he should be at least a league average starter in a little while for KC.

After the 3rd round though their draft starts to lose some of its appeal to me. Three guys weren't even combine invitees. Will Franklin was solid but then they took a DII guy who "looks more like an athlete than a football player at times", an OT who "lacks passion", a WAC return man who ran a 4.69 40, a D1-AA DE who lacks strength, conditioning, and technique, and a TE who is strictly a blocker.

The TE was the best pick of the bunch. Left a lot of better options on the board. I really liked what they were doing until they went reaching for lower league talent for basically the majority of day 2.

Chargers: C

Didn't have a lot of picks but also didn't have a lot of need. Underwhelming draft though because after a solid first round pick they spent two picks on bigger backs when even without Turner RB isn't a major need for them. Followed it up with an undersized CB and an OL that even NFL.com, which is grossly over-positive, called a potential practice squad type.

I guess they had the luxury of hitting a couple spots hard though, just isn't nearly as impressive a draft as AJ Smith has had in the past.

Raiders: D
Typical Al Davis draft. Nothing but athletes, McFadden is the only productive high level collegian in the lot. Getting a bunch of athletes can at times be a good move, but when your HC wants out of town, your owner is a meddler, you've got a mindset of losing, and the rest of your staff hasn't shown a whole lot in terms of developing these athletes into something worth having, well, I just can't see a lot of hope for any of them being solid contributors.

Wouldn't surprise me if McFadden is the only player who sticks in the NFL for any real length of time, and I don't think he's an every down back. They also already had good RB depth. Just complete failure to actually improve their team through the draft with what picks they had to work with.

[summerdenver]

Hands down Chiefs had the best draft. I am glad that they traded Allen if he were still with Chiefs, their defense would be scary good.

If you consider the offseason additions, Oak also got nuch better. If Russel turns out to be a real deal they will also be very good.

Chargers picked up a good player in cason but they probabl reached for Hester who was projected as FB.

As far as Broncos go I give them c-. In the long run Kory, Powell and clady could turn out to be good but we will have immediate impact from royal(returns) and Hills. Not enough impact players for the next year.

[Broncoman13]

I think Drek had a pretty good break down of the drafts.

KC's first 4 or 5 picks were solid.. including Jamaal Charles. He doesn't have to be the every down guy for them. 10 carries a game to spell LJ. He should be very good in that role and if LJ goes down with injury he will do fine carrying the ball 20 times a game. After the 3rd round though they really went down hill. With Dorsey, Albert and Flowers, it's hard to say they didn't upgrade their team in a big way. It will take a few years, but Albert is a replacement for Shields and those are big shoes to fill!

Loved the Broncos draft as well. Not sexy, but a handful of guys that will stick and make us a better team both on the field and off the field. We drafted Eddie Royal over DeSean Jackson for one reason... attitude, and I'm damn glad we did too!

[boltaneer]

Chargers: C

Didn't have a lot of picks but also didn't have a lot of need. Underwhelming draft though because after a solid first round pick they spent two picks on bigger backs when even without Turner RB isn't a major need for them. Followed it up with an undersized CB and an OL that even NFL.com, which is grossly over-positive, called a potential practice squad type.

I guess they had the luxury of hitting a couple spots hard though, just isn't nearly as impressive a draft as AJ Smith has had in the past.

I disagree with the RB not being a need statement. Most teams in the NFL today need a capable backup and the Chargers had a huge void there when Turner left.

Sproles will never be a backup RB. He is what he is: a change of pace guy and a return guy. Pinnock is a huge question mark because of his microfracture surgery and even if he recovers, he's still a decent fullback with the capability of being a situational power back. He's not someone you want as a long term backup in case your starter goes down.

I absolutely love the Hester pick. Hybrid back who can block (though he does need work there) run, catch the ball and play special teams. 400 is right in that he does have some traits that remind you of Weddle because he can do a variety of things for you. There seems to be a recent trend going on with AJ's picks with versatility in mind. Naanee is a hybrid TE/WR/H-back, Oliver is a hybrid CB/S as well as Weddle. Hester is a hybrid FB/RB/H-back.

I don't think Marcus Thomas will be as good of a runner as Turner will be but he looks to be a better threat in the passing game. With Lo Neal being phased out, it's pretty clear that Norv is putting his stamp on this offense. It sure looks like the Martyball style offense isn't going to be as predominant any more.

As for the rest of the AFC West, I think the Chiefs obviously had a good draft. When you have that many high picks and the number of picks that they had, it's pretty obvious they're going to be the focus of attention for most people. I will say this though, I think they might be getting a little bit too much love especially because no one is factoring in the loss of Jared Allen with the draft grades. Dorsey was an absolute gift and it was a no-brainer to take him so good move there. But I don't know about the Albert pick. Everyone says he has the potential to be the best lineman in this draft but it's curious that everyone is already putting him at left tackle when he's only played two games there. I'm curious as to what Chief fans think their starting o-line will look like.

I think the Broncos finally made some good moves by getting some o-linemen. I'm not down on the CB pick like 400 is because as San Diego knows by drafting Cason, you need at least three good corners. The Royal pick was a little curious because he projects as a slot guy but Stokley isn't getting any younger. At least he can be a return guy. I'd say overall it was a pretty safe draft, which is what Denver needs to do at this point.

And I can't remember the last time I've been impressed with a Raider draft. The streak certainly didn't end this weekend.

[socalorado]

chiefs-A+
chargers-B-
raiders-B
broncos-D-

TROLL ALERT!!!

[skpac1001]

Not sure how legit this is, but if it is, the Chargers are bringing in a QB to compete with Rivers, and he has quite a famous brother. Does this raise the grade?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brady_Leaf

[boltaneer]

Not sure how legit this is, but if it is, the Chargers are bringing in a QB to compete with Rivers, and he has quite a famous brother. Does this raise the grade?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brady_Leaf



You gotta love Wikipedia sometimes!

Someone out there has a sick sense of humor! ROFL!

[nickademus]

No need to be an a-hole.

And no, they are not the same thing. Saying we traded our 3rd pick would suggest we just gave up our 3rd round pick. But we didn't. We swapped 3rd round picks with Detroit allowing them to move up 7 or 8 spots but we still kept three 3rd round picks.

Saying you traded your 3rd round pick would be exactly frickin right, you traded it for a different third round pick. And I am not an a-hole I am just sensitive to stupidity.

[Ugly Duck]

Just complete failure to actually improve their team through the draft with what picks they had to work with.

This was a one-pick draft for us - to get McFadden. Traded away picks for players before the draft. After the offseason moves & DMAC's salary, we won't have any money to pay anyone else. So, in a way, you're right. Oakland did fail to improve through the draft - because they decided to try signing NFL players instead of draftees this time around. KC did the opposite... traded players for picks. We traded picks for players.

[manchambo]

They had a good draft but at the cost of Allen. We'll see in a few years how well it pays off and if King Carl will be willing to pay for it all.


I totally agree. It looks like a good draft, but you better damn well have a good draft when you trade your best player for picks. If the Broncos traded Champ for picks, what would you want out of the draft?

[NW Bolt Fan]

Chief, Raider and Charger fans...rate our draft! (Try to be objective here!)Chefs draft was incredible. You guys were next with a very solid draft. You got better. turds... while I like McFadden, I'm afraid they actually took a couple steps back because they didn't address the O-line, though honestly they didn't have the picks to do it.

Our draft = so so. We needed to get an OT and didn't do it til the 7th...

[nickademus]

Chefs draft was incredible. You guys were next with a very solid draft. You got better. turds... while I like McFadden, I'm afraid they actually took a couple steps back because they didn't address the O-line, though honestly they didn't have the picks to do it.

Our draft = so so. We needed to get an OT and didn't do it til the 7th...

I agree that the Chefs had an amazing draft as hard as it is to admit. I liked our draft on the first day the second day was strange I am not complaining there was just some odd choices in the rounds they were chosen. Bolts could have done better than an ot in the 7th but honestly after the run in the first there wasnt a whole lot left to choose from. and as for the Faid I am not sad to report that McFadden will be a waste of space with your o-line. Unless this guy channels his inner Barry Sanders he will get eaten by the large holes that were not adressed in the offseason which happen to reside on the O-Line.

[NW Bolt Fan]

I agree that the Chefs had an amazing draft as hard as it is to admit. I liked our draft on the first day the second day was strange I am not complaining there was just some odd choices in the rounds they were chosen. Bolts could have done better than an ot in the 7th but honestly after the run in the first there wasnt a whole lot left to choose from. and as for the Faid I am not sad to report that McFadden will be a waste of space with your o-line. Unless this guy channels his inner Barry Sanders he will get eaten by the large holes that were not adressed in the offseason which happen to reside on the O-Line.The irony in McFadden's pick is that they are at least partially responsible for the chefs draft being so stellar... If they pick Dorsey, Gholston doesn't project to be quite the best fit- assuming they can't deal the pick.

[Ugly Duck]

as for the Faid I am not sad to report that McFadden will be a waste of space with your o-line.

Why is that? Oakland was the #6 rush team last year led by Justin Fargas. What makes you think McFadden will do worse than Fargas?

[Bob's your Information Minister]

We're winning the next 20 Super Bowls.

[s0phr0syne]

The irony in McFadden's pick is that they are at least partially responsible for the chefs draft being so stellar... If they pick Dorsey, Gholston doesn't project to be quite the best fit- assuming they can't deal the pick.



LoLz, The Faid may have made our draft too, as the Chefs may have gone with Clady if Dorsey was absent.


As much as we talk about removing Al Davis for the betterment of the league, it looks like he might have helped several teams out by taking DMac.

8')


Of course, there's always the slight chance that all of us McFadden naysayers will be eating crow in 9 months. I doubt it, but it's possible.

[Northman]

Raiders- C+

Although the Raiders added more power to their running game they didnt do anything to help their pass protection. They made a trade for Hall and yet still drafted two CB's and one DE and no DT's. Al Davis strikes again.

Chargers- B+

San Diego didnt have a lot to really work on but in the areas that they did need help they did very well for themselves. Adding a great FB who will help their already elite running game to another level. And adding DB help which came to bite them in the ass against 4 and 5 spread offenses. They probably should of tried to get a WR at some point just for depth instead of RB but with Turner gone and limited picks you cant really fault them.

Chiefs- A+

Chiefs made out like bandits with their first 7 picks which will probably bring immediate impacts to their team. They sorely needed a good draft and they got it. The loss of Allen may still prove to be a bad move only time will tell. Out of the remaining picks only Brian Johnston stands out to me but he will be a sleeper i think as the rest of their draft is pretty much depth. But overall, great draft for them.

[Florida_Bronco]

KC had the best draft in the league, cannot deny it.

They did have a good draft, but that team was nothing short of horrible. Even with the draft, they are still years away from competiting.

[NW Bolt Fan]

Chargers- B+

San Diego didnt have a lot to really work on but in the areas that they did need help they did very well for themselves. Adding a great FB who will help their already elite running game to another level. And adding DB help which came to bite them in the ass against 4 and 5 spread offenses. They probably should of tried to get a WR at some point just for depth instead of RB but with Turner gone and limited picks you cant really fault them.We needed an O-Tackle. Starters are fine, but the only other one on the roster was Tony Pape (PS last year). As for wideout, I figure we're fine: Chambers, Jackson, Parker back from IR, Davis 1st last year, Naanee 5th last year, and Osgood...

[Los Broncos]

KC has already won the super bowl, just ask them.

[nickademus]

Any line with Robert Gallery needs help. while last year wasnt bad you did go through three different backs. and your qbs were sacked a total of 41 times and we thought we had a rough year with our line. while this would seem to indicate that your team is a better run blocking team than pass blocking but I think that the #6 overall rush ranking is an aberation.

[Tom A Hawk]

Ryan Clady-Kind of raw but still a very good pick and can be a good left tackle in the NFL.

Eddie Royal- Didn't really understand the pick but I guess if he can be a good kick returner and even halfway decent as a receiver I think it will be a solid pick.

Kory Lichtensteiger- Wonder if he is a guard or a center for you. I would have thought you guys would have pursued a zone blocking type center like Steve Justice. Solid depth though.

Jack Williams- He was a mid round cornerback I liked. Was hoping the Chiefs could get him. Should be good depth.

Ryan Torain- Don't know a whole lot about him but I have heard he could be a steal and you guys did need another runningback.

Carlton Powell- A sleeper who I wanted if we didn't take a DT early. Should be a good pass rusher and is surprisingly good against the run despite his small size.

Spencer Larsen- Solid depth at inside linebacker. Perhaps he can challenge Niko for a starting job.

Joshua Barrett- Don't know a whole lot about him but I know you guys need some youth at safety and he seems like a steal this late in the draft.

Peyton Hillis- Great pick. I wanted the Chiefs to take him. Would rather take him than give up a 2nd and 3rd for Jacob Hester, lol.

I like the Clady pick. Carlton Powell and Peyton Hills are good value picks that could be good contributors. I was confused by the Royal pick. But, you do have Sammie Parker and Royal me be able to replace him....after camp.

[Tom A Hawk]

KC has already won the super bowl, just ask them.
Not hardly.......Chiefs will win possibly 6 games this season.
It will take a couple more drafts like this last one to get good enough to get to the playoffs, let alone win a superbowl.
I think we have a new 5 year plan:rofl:

[Ugly Duck]

your team is a better run blocking team than pass blocking but I think that the #6 overall rush ranking is an aberation.

Dang it! You've made the case that we'll be a worse running team by taking the best athlete in the draft! Shoot.... whooda thunk that taking the consensus #1 RB would make our run stats go down? Worse part is - we made this mistake right when we were catching up to the Broncos. Only one Ratface TO away from sweeping Denver last year, and now we've ruined everything by signing a phenominal athlete to the team. Drat!

[nickademus]

Dang it! You've made the case that we'll be a worse running team by taking the best athlete in the draft! Shoot.... whooda thunk that taking the consensus #1 RB would make our run stats go down? Worse part is - we made this mistake right when we were catching up to the Broncos. Only one Ratface TO away from sweeping Denver last year, and now we've ruined everything by signing a phenominal athlete to the team. Drat!

Actually I do think D-Mac will help I just dont think it will be enough to offset your O-Line. And while it seems pretty obvious that you upgraded your RB position I expect a slide from the OL as there becomes more pressure to protect last years no1. over all pick in the passing game. I actually like some of the players you guys took in the draft but your FA signings were horrible (mostly due to salary and injury not to mention over hyped). And as far as catching up to the Broncos we will see. I like our D-Line upgrades more than your O-Line and it will be hard to beat us when Doomerville has 4 sacks per game against the siev that lives in Jokeland.

[Old Dude]

The Chiefs had what looks like an outstanding draft. Especially getting Dorsey.

But it may be a few years before we really know.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2005/04/12/ramblings/nfl-draft/2514/

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2006/04/07/ramblings/nfl-draft/3808/

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2007/04/24/ramblings/nfl-draft/5096/

[Mountain Bronco]

Chiefs got the best player in the draft in Dorsey IMO.

I am one of the McFaden naysayers. I think he is going to be pure trouble in a league that is not tollerating trouble and I am not sure his upright running style and chicken legs are going to fit the pro game as well. I see him getting lit up by middle linebackers, making for a short career. Plus, with runnings backs being used, abused and discarded in this league these days it isn't a great value IMO. Hopefully I am right, but could be wrong.

Oh, I continue to be impressed by the Chargers front office as I think they got some guys under the radar that will make solid contributions.

Broncos, I like the trend going for quality guys. I hope Clady isn't a major bust coming from a team like Boise State, I hope he isn't overwhelmed with the pressure of protecting Jay's backside. Royal is exactly what we need in the return game and I think a guy we will be looking for ways to get the ball in his hands, because he is so explosive and not a total D'bag like DeShaun is.

[dbfan21]

Chiefs got better this weekend. They have a lot of holes, so that wasn't too hard. Hate that they got Albert and Dorsey.

Raiders, got flash early, but nothing else.

San Diego, didnt get much, didn't need much.

Agreed. Hopefully, they selected the "Ryan Leafs" of 2008 and we will be laughing at this time next year.

[kmartin575]

Not hardly.......Chiefs will win possibly 6 games this season.
It will take a couple more drafts like this last one to get good enough to get to the playoffs, let alone win a superbowl.
I think we have a new 5 year plan:rofl:

I would be happy with a 6 win season. It would be an improvement on last year and it would mean we likely have another top 10 pick in every round which gives us one last draft to reload with some elite talent.

[Drek]

I disagree with the RB not being a need statement. Most teams in the NFL today need a capable backup and the Chargers had a huge void there when Turner left.

Sproles will never be a backup RB. He is what he is: a change of pace guy and a return guy. Pinnock is a huge question mark because of his microfracture surgery and even if he recovers, he's still a decent fullback with the capability of being a situational power back. He's not someone you want as a long term backup in case your starter goes down.

I absolutely love the Hester pick. Hybrid back who can block (though he does need work there) run, catch the ball and play special teams. 400 is right in that he does have some traits that remind you of Weddle because he can do a variety of things for you. There seems to be a recent trend going on with AJ's picks with versatility in mind. Naanee is a hybrid TE/WR/H-back, Oliver is a hybrid CB/S as well as Weddle. Hester is a hybrid FB/RB/H-back.

I don't think Marcus Thomas will be as good of a runner as Turner will be but he looks to be a better threat in the passing game. With Lo Neal being phased out, it's pretty clear that Norv is putting his stamp on this offense. It sure looks like the Martyball style offense isn't going to be as predominant any more.

Its not that SD couldn't use another big RB, its that they used two fairly early picks on the exact same need.

Hester isn't a good enough blocker to step in and take the place of Pinnock, let alone block like Neal ever did. He's realistically an H-back type who can carry the ball some.

Taking Thomas with their next pick is basically addressing the exact same need with a less flexible player.

Hester in the 3rd is ok, though in retrospect he probably could've been had much later (Hillis is the superior all around FB type and we got him in the 7th), but taking Thomas immediately after when there were other areas needing more depth help that could've been addressed instead is what makes me question the draft.

Same with taking a CB with their 4th pick. Highest pick went into CB, second went into RB, they then used their 3rd and 4th highest picks to readdress those spots when some good OL and DL value was still there for the taking.

SD can afford it for sure, but they could've done better if they'd spread it around to other needs and took some better value choices.

[boltaneer]

Its not that SD couldn't use another big RB, its that they used two fairly early picks on the exact same need.

Hester isn't a good enough blocker to step in and take the place of Pinnock, let alone block like Neal ever did. He's realistically an H-back type who can carry the ball some.

Taking Thomas with their next pick is basically addressing the exact same need with a less flexible player.

Hester in the 3rd is ok, though in retrospect he probably could've been had much later (Hillis is the superior all around FB type and we got him in the 7th), but taking Thomas immediately after when there were other areas needing more depth help that could've been addressed instead is what makes me question the draft.

Same with taking a CB with their 4th pick. Highest pick went into CB, second went into RB, they then used their 3rd and 4th highest picks to readdress those spots when some good OL and DL value was still there for the taking.

SD can afford it for sure, but they could've done better if they'd spread it around to other needs and took some better value choices.

I think Hester is a perfect compliment to LT. Sproles is the scat back, change of pace guy. Hester can get short yardage or can come in and wear down a defense a bit like Turner did but he also has other things to offer. He's not a slug or anything. While he's not a guy that will probably be the best at anything he does, he's a guy who appears can do things you might have two or three spots devoted to and do it at a pretty high level.

Thomas is the more conventional running back IMO. And the scouting reports I've read is that he's got great hands.

Initallly, I was imagining that if LT were out for an extended period of time, Thomas would be the one getting most of the carries but they're already saying in the local paper that he's gonna be LT's primary backup, not Thomas. They haven't even lined up for one practice yet. There's still a ways to go to see how the depth chart pans out.

They're two completely different types of backs and I like the decision to get both of them. It really looks like Norv has phased out the pure FB thing around here. I think Manumaleuna can step in and do that if need be (he did it last year on occasion) but like I said before, it looks like Norv wants to evolve the offense into something more than what it has been. He's got a number of guys who are very versatile on offense now.

The only need that wasn't addressed "early" in the draft was OT. Clary played decent at RT last year, better than Olivea that's for sure. The depth is what is concerning. They did draft a guy in the seventh round so maybe he'll stick. I could see AJ going after a training camp cut or make a trade for a guy if he feels it's necessary.

[Inkana7]

I think Hester is a perfect compliment to LT. Sproles is the scat back, change of pace guy. Hester can get short yardage or can come in and wear down a defense a bit like Turner did but he also has other things to offer. He's not a slug or anything. While he's not a guy that will probably be the best at anything he does, he's a guy who appears can do things you might have two or three spots devoted to and do it at a pretty high level.

Thomas is the more conventional running back IMO. And the scouting reports I've read is that he's got great hands.

Initallly, I was imagining that if LT were out for an extended period of time, Thomas would be the one getting most of the carries but they're already saying in the local paper that he's gonna be LT's primary backup, not Thomas. They haven't even lined up for one practice yet. There's still a ways to go to see how the depth chart pans out.

They're two completely different types of backs and I like the decision to get both of them. It really looks like Norv has phased out the pure FB thing around here. I think Manumaleuna can step in and do that if need be (he did it last year on occasion) but like I said before, it looks like Norv wants to evolve the offense into something more than what it has been. He's got a number of guys who are very versatile on offense now.

The only need that wasn't addressed "early" in the draft was OT. Clary played decent at RT last year, better than Olivea that's for sure. The depth is what is concerning. They did draft a guy in the seventh round so maybe he'll stick. I could see AJ going after a training camp cut or make a trade for a guy if he feels it's necessary.

Doesn't that concern you a little? A lot of what made SD's running game so dominant for the past 4 years has been the bulldozer-like blocking of Lorenzo Neal. It seems like every time they ran a power-I off-tackle play, LT got 12 yards, if not a TD.

[Bronco Jamus]

Eddie George was on fire, and then Neal left town.

[boltaneer]

Doesn't that concern you a little? A lot of what made SD's running game so dominant for the past 4 years has been the bulldozer-like blocking of Lorenzo Neal. It seems like every time they ran a power-I off-tackle play, LT got 12 yards, if not a TD.

It does concern me a lot.

I think there are two reasons why: I think they want to save LT from any additional wear and tear. And I think they want Rivers to be able to carry this team. From what he showed late in the season and in the playoffs, I think he's on his way there.