2012 NFL Draft! Kansas City Chiefs select

LT Rielly Reiff , Iowa.

By Matt Conner - Editor


A closer look at the retooling of the Chiefs offensive front should bring a smile to Scott Pioli's face.

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Jul 10, 2011 - In some ways, we're worlds away from the 2012 NFL Draft and, with it, any real understanding of where a team like the Kansas City Chiefs may choose in the order or what potential roster needs they might have. However, given the dearth of actual player movement as every fan and front office await the resolution of the NFL Lockout, it cannot hurt to have a look into the crystal ball of sorts and see what a site like Drafttek has developed.

With their recent first round mock draft for next year, the initial response to their choice of Kansas City choosing left tackle Riley Reiff from Iowa really doesn't sound far off:

Finally! A good, rock-solid midwestern farm boy to anchor the left side of the Chiefs' OL. This one selection resolves a variety of ills, as Branden Albert can finally move inside to his more natural OG position. Hopefully 2010 draft choice Jon Asamoah has progressed to starter status, and now the Kansas City OL has a nucleus of strength that will rival those great OL's of the late 60's and early 70's. This pick could actually happen, based on the Pioli/Ferentz pipeline of communication.

As good teams continue to progress, the early draft picks often go to linemen on both sides to keep the team strong on the foundations. The Eagles, Steelers, Giants and Packers have been highlighting this trend in recent drafts. The Chiefs still have holes along their offensive line given the age at some positions, with Brian Waters probably retiring after this year or next, allowing Asamoah to step into a starting slot. Yet the tackle positions have gone unaddressed by the draft contrary to interior picks like Rodney Hudson and Asamoah, so selecting Reiff would certainly make sense.

With the addition of another top flight young tackle, Reiff or not, Scott Pioli could have pulled off the near-impossible -- completely retooling a young line with versatility while also rebuilding the rest of a team. If the Chiefs can continue to win while also turning over one position at a time across the offensive front, that's a good sign that the success in the AFC West and beyond will only continue.

Damn the LT talk has started early for the 12 draft. They are not going to shut up until Pioli takes a LT. I dont really think there is a need for a LT. It is really interesting though about the draft. This will be the 1st draft where the Chiefs really dont have a standout need unless one of the 4 guys that should be signed long term gets let go or someone gets seriously hurt. O line just might make sense but I dont know if it will be LT. Probally would be RT unless Abert just completely flops this year. I would like to think if there is a stand out ILB in that draft that they might go that rout. Any thoughts or to early for draft talk?

Assuming we pick late in the first, I would LOVE Kelechi Osemele. He is going to be a dominate RT.

These draft 'experts' sure seem to get off every year by convincing themselves the Chiefs are gonna be drafting an OT.

Lol here we go already. I would say ILB or DT depending on how this year shapes up.

2012′s draft could be quarterback nirvana

This lingering lockout makes it silly to think about the 2012 NFL season before we even know we'll have a 2011 NFL season. But at the same time, it also gives us all the time in the world to think about hypothetical things, like the 2012 season, so let's do that.

There are three college quarterbacks out there who have people pretty stoked for the 2012 draft, and if you buy into this fine Rob Rang column from CBS, you could argue that they all project to be as good or better than this year's No. 1 pick, Cam Newton(notes).

Newton's unholy physical skills give him a really high ceiling, no question, but there are also a lot of questions with him (just one season against top competition, his ability to read NFL defenses and schemes, and his stated, now recanted, desire to be an entertainer and an icon).

Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley and Landry Jones aren't perfect, either -- well, except for Luck -- but it seems like their question marks aren't as big.

Also, keep in mind that none of these three are going to be seniors, either, might not want to be in the 2012 draft, and have yet to take a snap in their junior seasons. You have to be willing to accept some ridiculousness for the purposes of this post. Just play along, OK?

On to the snippets of little scouting reports. First, Luck:

The 6-4, 235-pound Luck boasts the strong arm, Pro Bowl-caliber accuracy and leadership -- he's a virtual coach on the field -- to be a cinch as the first player drafted whenever he ultimately opts to leave Stanford.

He has the mental aptitude to rival Peyton Manning(notes), evident in his pre-snap reads and audibles to plays more likely to gash an opponent. And unlike Manning, whose lack of mobility outside of the pocket is an obvious shortcoming, Luck is quite athletic and can hurt defenses with his feet.

So, Peyton Manning with wheels, then? That sounds pretty good.

I've no quibbles with Luck's ability or any assessments of it, but I would say that it's sometimes easy to forget just how special Peyton Manning is. His work ethic for studying and ability to absorb and process information is legendary; maybe the best ever. Even if things go as well as they possibly could for Luck in the NFL, it'd still take years to get to Peyton's mental level.

More from Rang, this time on Matt Barkley:

"First off, you have to love the intangibles with [Barkley]," one general manager told me on the condition of anonymity. "The first guy to ever start [at quarterback] at USC as a true freshman? The first sophomore there at any position to be named a team captain? Are you kidding me? He's a winner. He's Andy Dalton(notes), but with significantly more natural talent. I've heard the comparison to Troy Aikman and I think it is valid."

So the second-best quarterback in the 2012 draft could be a Troy Aikman clone? That, too, is pretty good. And lastly, on Landry Jones:

As impressive as he was in 2009, Jones' production ballooned last season, which he entered as the unquestioned starter for the first time. Like Luck and Barkley, Jones' completion percentage (65.6 percent), passing yardage (4,718) and passing touchdowns (38) all rose in his second season as a starter while his interceptions dropped (12).

Clearly, Jones' statistical output warrants a close look from scouts. And, if Bradford can make the adjustment from a spread offense to a more traditional drop-back system in the NFL, why can't Jones?

And depending on how things shake out with this rookie wage scale, they might not require a ginormous financial investment, either.

If nothing else, at least we'll start to get a good look at 2012 prospects soon. I'll take anything at this point.

On 2nd thought, I'm on record for the Chiefs trading the whole fucking draft to select Luck number 1. I'm a fan! Make him ride the pine for a year or two and we have an instant Pro Bowler. With no real needs in the 2012 Draft and a rookie pay scale, it makes some sense.

RustShack wrote:

Assuming we pick late in the first, I would LOVE Kelechi Osemele. He is going to be a dominate RT.

Try RG. But yet, he would be worth a late first pick even for a guard. That guy is massive too.

Well shit they might finally get it right this year. After ten straight years of predicting the Chiefs drafting a tackle, it could happen this year.