2013 NFL Draft: Best Available Entering Day Three
By Ben Nielsen
It has been two days but the Kansas City Chiefs still are not halfway through the draft. Armed with five picks heading into the final day of the draft the Chiefs can add a lot of depth to their roster with a few good moves.
One thing about the 2013 version of the NFL draft is that while it did not have elite, high end talents, it is a very deep draft for adding middle of the roster contributors. So even though a lot of Kansas City’s picks are in the final day there are still going to be some very quality players still available to them in each round.
Here are some of the best the Chiefs will have access to heading into day three.
Nov 24, 2012; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback
Tyler Bray(8) during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won by a score of 37 to 17. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
THE QUARTERBACKS
Many were upset the Chiefs did not select a quarterback in the second day of the draft, but whee you look at what still remains available to the Chiefs it begins to makes sense why John Dorsey did not go quarterback with either of his third round picks.
Matt Barkley – USC
Ryan Nassib – Syracuse
Tyler Wilson – Arkansas
Tyler Bray – Tennessee
Zac Dysert – Miami (OH)
Depending on what kind of quarterback you prefer or who your favorite draft analyst is any of these quarterbacks could be listed as the best quarterback available in the draft. Nassib and Barkley were each mocked in the first round by some, Bray has first round tools while Wilson has first round intangibles, and Dysert could be the next great quarterback from the MAC.
The question with these five quarterbacks, as well as Geno Smith, E.J. Manuel, and Mike Glennon is if they can conquer the red flags that surround them all. None of these quarterbacks are sure-fire franchise quarterbacks but all of them have some level of intrigue to them. Of the top five remaining quarterbacks, Kansas City couldn’t go wrong with any of them, but none of them are an immediate solution to the Chiefs franchise quarterback issues.
September 22, 2012; East Lansing, MI, USA; Eastern Michigan Eagles quarterback
Tyler Benz(12) is sacked by Michigan State Spartans defensive end
William Gholston(2)during 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 23-7. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
BIG MEN
There are several big men the Chiefs could look at with there picks in the fourth and fifth round that would be of great value.
DT Jesse Williams – Alabama
DT Kwame Geathers – Georgia
DE Alex Okafor – Texas
DE Brandon Jenkins – Florida State
OT Oday Aboushi – Virginia
OT Reid Fragel – Ohio State
DE Quanterus Smith – Western Kentucky
DE William Gholston – Michigan State
DE Joe Kruger – Utah
OG – Barrett Jones – Alabama
The two most interesting names here for me are Gholston and Jones. Gholston is a 6-7, 280 defensive end who could be the pass rushing lineman Kansas City has needed for so long. He needs to work on technique and add a little more weight, but his potential is very high given his size and athleticism.
Jones is a monster of a man who could start guard on day one for the Chiefs and could be the center of the future if Rodney Hudson cannot stay healthy. At 6-4, 306 pounds, he isn’t necessarily the most athletic but he is very smart and has a great deal of versatility.
If the Chiefs go interior defensive line then both Williams and Geathers could be potential picks. Williams has a significantly better resume but Geathers could have the better upside.
Oct 6, 2012; Fort Collins, WY, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs safety
Phillip Thomas(16) intercepts a pass against the Colorado State Rams during the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs beat the Rams 28-7. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
SKILL POSITIONS
CB Jordan Poyer – Oregon State
CB Tharold Simon – LSU
SS Phillip Thomas – Fresno State
FS Tony Jefferson – Oklahoma
SS Zeke Motta – Notre Dame
SS Shamarko Thomas – Syracuse
WR Quinton Patton – Louisiana Tech
WR Da’Rick Rogers – Tennessee Tech
WR Cobi Hamilton – Arkansas
WR Josh Boyce – TCU
WR Tavarres King – Georgia
WR Chris Harper – Kansas State
WR Denard Robinson – Kansas State
RB Marcus Lattimore – South Carolina
RB Joseph Randle – Oklahoma State
RB Andre Ellington – Clemson
RB Johnathan Franklin – UCLA
There are plenty of options for the Chiefs in the secondary, at wide receiver, and, if they want to double-up, running back.
I’ve expressed my love fo9r Chris Harper and Robinson mocking them to the Chiefs (and Kniles Davis, too) before the draft. I would love for the Chiefs to get both but there are plenty of good options out there for the Chiefs outside of those two players.
Phillip Thomas of Fresno State, Quinton Patton, and Tavarres King are three guys to watch in the fourth round. Thomas would be an excellent addition if you are looking for a playmaking secondary addition. In his senior year he had 84 tackles (12 for loss), four sacks, five pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and eight interceptions, of which he returned three for touchdowns. Thomas seems to fit the theme of tenacious football players that is so far developing out of this draft but he also fits the theme of another player who has missed a full season due to injury.
Again, the draft is loaded with a bunch of high potential guys but there are also a ton of red flags up and down this draft. And once you get into the later rounds, there will only be more red flags. Dorsey has a history of finding good players late in the draft so lets hope that trend continues.