Chiefs Draft Needs

Two weeks from now we will know who the Chiefs drafted with their number one overall pick and will be preparing for the second and third rounds of the draft. Whether or not the Chiefs will be drafting in the second round of the draft is still to be seen but we do know the Chiefs will have two picks that day and five more picks on the final day if the draft had started yesterday. Given what we know about the Chiefs post the first round of free agency, let’s take a look at what positions are of the biggest need to the Chiefs.

Note: This assumes the Chiefs DO NOT trade Branden Albert.

Dec. 9, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (82) makes a catch while being defended by Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) in the first quarter at Cleveland Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

WIDE RECEIVER

Where do the Chiefs go after Dwayne Bowe?

The signing of Donnie Avery is not going to be enough to solve the wide receiver problem for the Chiefs. Kansas City has plenty of options for a third, fourth, and fifth wide receiver but all of them will need open space to run in that won’t exist if Kansas City can’t find another threat opposite of Bowe.

Andy Reid and John Dorsey have a long history of taking wide receivers in the first three rounds and hitting. And by “hitting” I mean exploding.

Since 2007 Dorsey has selected Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, and James Jones, while Reid has selected Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson. Whatever it is about drafting wide receivers, Dorsey and Reid have figured it out. Taking a wide receiver in the second day would fill the Chiefs largest hole on the offensive side of the ball should the Chiefs select Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher with the first overall pick.

Jan 20, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson (23) reacts during the second quarter of the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

CORNERBACK or SAFETY

If the first goal is to win your division then the Chiefs need as much secondary help as possible. Denver is loaded with receiving threats and have a quarterback who knows how to find the open man. If the Chiefs are going to compete for the division then they need to be able to beat Denver and their passing game.

Dorsey has made a strong effort through free agency to sure up the second cornerback spot and potentially a starting safety spot depending on your view of Dunta Robinson. But as of now the fragile Kendrick Lewis is the starting safety opposite of Eric Berry should the Chiefs choose to use Robinson as a corner, and if Robinson is moved to corner then Javier Arenas is left to cover either Damaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, or Eric Decker in the slot. Neither one of those match-ups would be optimal.

Drafting a corner or a safety would put the Chiefs in a better position to cover Thomas, Welker, and Decker, as well as give the pass rush more time to get to the quarterback.

DEFENSIVE END

Along the same lines as the secondary, the Chiefs need to develop a stronger pass rush to get to Peyton Manning and other opposing quarterbacks. While the Chiefs have the outside linebackers at their disposal to rush the passer in Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, they lack anything along the line to generate pressure.

Nov 18, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is pressured byKansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Dontari Poe (92) in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Dontari Poe has the best shot at becoming a pass rushing force for the Chiefs but counting on a nose tackle for sacks is not the best of philosophies. Kansas City needs to find a pass rushing defensive end in this draft, even if that is all he can do. Kansas City has the personnel to stop the run especially with the addition of Mike DeVito, but don’t have the pass rushing equivalent of DeVito.

Even the most reasonable of a pass rushing threat from the defensive line will mean opponents will not be able to cheat on Hali and Houston, which should allow for more sacks for the defense and the ability for the revamped secondary to make more plays on the ball.

Yes, the Chiefs could use depth at running back and along the offensive line, and most fans would like to see and upgrade to the middle linebacker position next to Derrick Johnson. But none of those upgrades are going to help the Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos.

It may be oversimplifying things to say Kansas City should focus on beating Denver but that should be the focus. If Kansas City can beat Denver then Kansas City is a playoff team. And that’s what we all want, right?