2012 NFL Draft and Pro Days

Latest Updates On The Chiefs 2012 NFL Draft Interests

by Chris Thorman on Mar 19, 2012 6:18 PM CDT in NFL Draft 2012

Amidst the rather busy 2012 NFL free agency talk, we have for you the second update to the Kansas City Chiefs draft interests chart of the year.

We've added two players since our last update two weeks ago - Cal DT Vaughn Meatoga and Wisconsin G Kevin Zeitler. The Chiefs checked out both players at their respective college's Pro Days. Chiefs defensive line coach Anthony Pleasant had dinner with Meatoga in California earlier this month and a rep for the Chiefs helped run Zeitler's workout in Wisconsin. The Chiefs are also reportedly working out Western Michigan WR Jordan White recently as well.

Here's the list of Pro Days the Chiefs have reportedly been in attendance at: Wisconsin, Cal, Colorado, Colorado St. Cincinnati, Louisville, Rhode Island, Illinois and Hawaii.

In response to Manning.

"Kansas City -- coached by Romeo Crennel, whose defenses played well against Manning while he was the defensive coordinator in New England -- likely will look to upgrade on the defensive front and at linebacker early in the draft. The Chiefs loaded up on offense in free agency."

Pioli, Crennel, our WR coach, and OL coach were all at Iowa's Pro Day. I wouldn't mind McNutt in the middle of the draft. Hope they are looking at a guard instead of Reiff though, but I suppose they have to cover all their bases anyways...

Allot of talent there though. Reiff, McNutt, Prater, Gettis, Daniels, all could be targets for us.

The Kansas City Chiefs had a heck of a group this week at the Iowa football pro day, which attracted 28 other NFL teams. According to several reports, the Chiefs contingent included GM Scott Pioli, head coach Romeo Crennel, offensive line coach Jack Bicknell and receivers coach Nick Sirianni.

Pioli and others with the Chiefs have a long standing relationship with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz. Whenever there's a coach opening in Kansas City we bring up Ferentz's name for that reason (as do a lot of other schools...the annual "Kirk Ferentz to the NFL" stories).

The top Iowa prospect is OT Riley Reiff, a potential top 10 pick. He could be the second offensive tackle off the board behind USC's OT Matt Kalil. Seems like offensive tackles picked that high usually have a low bust-rate and linemen from Iowa usually have good reputations so I imagine Reiff will be a good pick by someone in the top 10.

Another notable player is Iowa receiver Marvin McNutt Jr. The Chiefs brought Sirianni, their receivers coach, along for the ride so McNutt could've been a potential draft interest. He's a mid-round player.

The Sporting News also notes a strong workout for guard Adam Gettis. He started all 12 games last season at right guard and was "both smooth and fluid in drills" at the pro day. He could be a mid to late round pick.

As usual, we'll be keeping an eye on Iowa players in the NFL draft.

They took about the whole crew.

I highly doubt they were looking at McNutt. He just doesn't have the athleticism to produce very well in the NFL. He doesn't do anything exceptional.

Gettis, Reiff and Daniels could all be solid contributors for the Chiefs.

I wouldn't mind Gettis or McNutt. I don't think McNutt will ever be a top receiver, but I think he could be solid like a Johnie Morton type guy.

I think McNutt could be perfect. He is a sleeper in this draft. He has great hands. He might not be the fastest reciever he isnt slow. He is a physical guy who releases very well from press coverage and is a great blocker. That is a Pioli guy.

Gettis is a guy that we shoudl have interest in in the later rounds.

Daniels is a high motor guy who is very short for a lineman but very powerful and explosive.

Now that we lost Carr, I'd love to get Leonard Johnson! But he might be going to high for us to draft.

We wont be looking CB that high. Leonard Johnson looked like shit at the combine though. I dont know if he got some bad coaching or was just crippling nervous but not good. I know he might be decent in man coverage but they didnt do allot of that at ISU. He needs to be a solid man cover guy in order to make my list.

If I was to draft a ISU player it would have to be Osemele, but even he is ijury prone and terrible for a zone scheme which is most of what we run. He is very physical though.

I like Isiah Fry out of Nevada in like the 4th or 5th round. I think Pioli will target a CB just later in the draft. Fry is a physical guy who given the coaching from Thomas could develop into a great man CB.

LJ wasn't even going to work out at the combine because he was pretty sick for the week before that, but seeing other people compete he gave it a shot. He looked far far better at the Pro Day today, and he was used quite a bit in man coverage. He actually shut down every top WR he played against... and thats with no pass rush.

He is bar none the top ISU player I would take personally if I had to choose one.

I just dont see him being able to handle a ton of man coverage. Maybe with coaching he could improve enough I just think he is better off on a team that runs primarily Zone coverage. I like his motor and physical play against the run though. He will be gone before we take a stab at a corner though I think. Were any chiefs brass even there at the ISU pro day? I didnt hear that we were.

I didn't hear who was all there, I just heard three teams weren't.

Robert Griffin III impresses

Merril Hoge breaks down Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III to see who he would take if he were the Colts.

WACO, Texas -- Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III was smiling, slapping hands with his receivers and making precise throws.

Just what Griffin had planned for his pro day, when he finally threw Wednesday for NFL personnel. That included owner Dan Snyder and coach Mike Shanahan from the Washington Redskins, who traded three first-round picks and a second-rounder for the No. 2 overall pick in next month's draft, presumably to get the dual-threat quarterback from Baylor.

Griffin was sharp throwing a scripted 51 passes he had been working on with quarterback consultant Terry Shea. Only a few balls even hit the ground.

Joyner: Why RG3 Might Go No. 1

JoynerESPN Insider's KC Joyner lays out 10 reasons why Robert Griffin III could be selected ahead of Andrew Luck in next month's NFL draft. Story Insider

"I always said I didn't have anything to prove at pro day. That's why it's so easy," Griffin said. "It's really not stressful. ... The game tape speaks for itself. Really not proving, just show everybody I have been working."

Throughout his 30-minute session, with music playing that he selected, Griffin was at ease while making the kind of throws expected in the NFL. He threw from different drops and on the run.

Griffin finished with a play not listed on the playsheet, but one reflective of the good time he was having. The final play was a throwback when he caught a deep pass from teammate Kendall Wright, another potential first-round pick. It was how they liked to end their throwing sessions at Baylor, and a play they pulled off in a couple of games.

New Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano was among a group from the Colts at Baylor's pro day. Now without Peyton Manning, they are expected to take Heisman runner-up Andrew Luck from Stanford first overall.

Luck's pro day is scheduled Thursday, which had been the original date of Baylor's pro day before Griffin opted several weeks ago to move his up a day to avoid a conflict.

Neither Griffin nor Luck threw at the NFL combine last month in Indianapolis.

I always said I didn't have anything to prove at pro day. That's why it's so easy. It's really not stressful. ... The game tape speaks for itself. Really not proving, just show everybody I have been working.
” -- Robert Griffin III

Snyder and Shanahan met with Griffin and his parents Tuesday night. They spoke to him briefly after he came onto the field before the throwing session Wednesday that was part of a pro day that included about a dozen other players.

"They gave up a lot of picks to be able to move up to that spot to pick a player," Griffin said. "And if it happens to be me, they showed me that I can definitely get along with them."

Griffin grew up watching Shanahan coach the Denver Broncos and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway.

"Since Elway, he hasn't had that guy you would associate him with," Griffin said. "Hopefully, I can be that guy, if I'm available at that spot, and I'll be excited to be that guy. It would be pretty cool to be that guy he can nurture and build up when he gets in the league."

When Griffin was done throwing, Snyder and Shanahan left without commenting. But they had to be impressed with what they saw.

"The throws he made were all bona fide NFL-type throws. He's going to be a superstar at the next level," said former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski, an analyst for ESPN. "He put on a clinical exhibition here today. That Redskins contingency left here all with big smiles on their faces."

Washington completed a deal last week with the St. Louis Rams, giving up a lot to move up four slots to No. 2 overall on April 26.

When asked if his pro day performance put more pressure on Luck to impress Thursday, Griffin responded, "Nah, no pressure. ... He'll go out and dazzle you guys like we hope we did today."

Still, Griffin hasn't completely given up on the possibility of being the No. 1 overall pick.

"It's kind of down to two teams it seems," Griffin said. "It is a sit-and-wait game now, but when you've done all you can and you feel like you put your best foot forward, what else can you ask for?"

Wright had a disappointing 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine but redeemed himself with a time under 4.5 seconds Wednesday. He also had a highlight-worthy one-handed grab during Griffin's session before the on-target throw of his own.

With his pro day behind him, Griffin will keep working out but probably won't throw or lift weights as much in the next few weeks while waiting for the draft. He finally gets time to reflect on his final season at Baylor, including his Heisman Trophy and only the second 10-win season in 112 years of Baylor football.

"It will be a lot calmer," he said. "I think everything will start sinking in. I don't think it's sunk in I won the Heisman. I'll be able to look back on the season and appreciate those things."

Here is the Espn link to clips of RG3s impressive workout. I'm jealous he's not going to be a Chief! I went to a alot of Redskin games when I lived in Northern VA and if that's where RG3 winds up I think I might have to resume that tradition once in awhile.

Hes just getting more and more impressive. I still prefer Luck though. RG3 is a great fit for Shanahan to have though.

they screwed up by winning a handful of games last year. 2-14 is much better than 7-9 unless it wins the division like seattle did. we had the built in excuse with our star talent injured so suck for luck or RG3 should have been top priority. but if it is decastro I cant complain. KC not getting a franchise QB has cost them for years. Marty would have a couple championships if theyd have gotten him one. Now QB is really the only thing that will hold them back once again.

Its hard because we still should have won the division, but this was the year to tank. Elite QB's like this don't come around ever.

Crennel will never be the kind of guy to tank. I would love to be talking about RG3 right now though, and how he is going to look in a chiefs uni.

Both Luck and Griffin are going to be great players and likely top 10 QBs. I think Griffin will get out to the faster start since he has experienced coaches and players around him while Luck basically has Reggie Wayne. Luck is gonna go through hell these first couple years.

Chiefs Seek The Next Jovan Belcher At Maine Pro Day

On Thursday, the Kansas City Chiefs announced that LB Jovan Belcher had officially signed his restricted free agent tender, basically guaranteeing him a one-year, $1.972 million deal in 2012.

Also on Thursday, Chiefs scouts went out looking for the next Jovan Belcher.

The University of Maine held their pro day, the same even where Chiefs scouts checked out Belcher three years ago. If you're looking for a draftable player, safety Jerron McMillian appears to be it.

In February, safety Jerron McMillian participated in the NFL Combine at Indianapolis, where he led all defensive backs with a vertical leap of 36½ inches. On Thursday, he jumped 39½ inches. McMillian (5-11, 203) said he has received interest from a handful of NFL teams and is projected by NFL.com to have "sixth-round value" as a run-support safety.

Also in attendance at the pro day: New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams and Carolina Panthers.

WVU Linebacker Bruce Irvin To Visit KC Chiefs

Courtesy of Aaron Wilson at Scout.com, we've learned that the Kansas City Chiefs are one of seven NFL teams that will be hosting a visit with West Virginia outside linebacker Bruce Irvin. The other teams Irvin will visit with are the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans.

NFL Draft Scout pegs Irvin as a 2-3 round draft pick. The senior is 6'3" and weighs 245 pounds.

Irvin impressed scouts at the 2012 NFL Combine with his speed and athleticism. The Smoking Musket said of Irvin:

We knew Irvin was good and would likely get drafted fairly high despite a moderately disappointing season where he didn't develop into the type of every-down player we hoped he'd be. But really? A 4.43 at 6'3, 245? With those measurables (Irvin also benched a respectable but not freakish 23 reps of 225 lbs), Bruuuuce could probably score a negative 3.14159 on the Wonderlic and still be able to pay cash for a small island nation with the signing bonus he's about to get as a high first round pick.

Irvin comes from a troubled past filled with numerous issues, academic and criminal. Unfortunately, that pattern continued this past weekend, when Irvin was arrested for destroying a sign at a local Jimmy John's.

Athletic Mountaineer with a troubled past? Where have we heard that before?