Ok, I’ll admit it. I got a huge lump in my throat and an uneasy feeling in my stomach as the time neared for the Chiefs to make their first round selection. And when Thomas Davis fell by the wayside at #14, I was more than a little bit nervous. But in the end, Carl and company came through and picked a great player that can come in right away and contribute to the defense. No shocker this year, just a great, solid pick.
I think that the Chiefs filled some needs with a couple of players who can come in and contribute right away, and also took a few chances on some players that may develop into quality pros in the future. Overall, I think it will prove to be one of the Chiefs better drafts in recent memory.
1st Round
LB Derrick Johnson, Texas
Wow! I couldn’t believe that the Butkus Award winner fell into the Chiefs laps at #15. He’s quick and athletic and will step in and contribute immediately. The Chiefs linebacking corps has gone from suspect to the strength of the defense in just a few short months.
2nd Round
No Pick
Technically the Chiefs didn’t have a second round pick – traded away to Miami the day before for CB Patrick Surtain – but they did land themselves a three time Pro Bowler who will come in and solidify the Chiefs secondary.
3rd Round
P Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee
I still think the third round was a little early to draft a punter, and Colquitt probably would have been around when the Chiefs picked in the fourth, but is there any doubt that the Chiefs didn’t desperately need him? Say goodbye to Steve Cheek.
4th Round
WR Craphonso Thorpe, Florida St.
Second round value in the fourth, a great pick-up by the Chiefs. He has durability questions and some dated character issues, but he seems to have grown up, and now appears to be back to 100%.
5th Round
LB James “Boomer” Grigsby, Illinois St.
The new Maz. A fiery, in-your face type player that will captain the special teams and contribute as a quality back-up linebacker.
5th Round
CB Alphonso Hodge, Miami (OH)
A great athlete with superb cover skills and very strong in the weight run, but for some reason he’s not a very physical corner. He was named All-Conference in the MAC despite not recording a single interception the past three seasons.
6th Round
OT Will Svitek, Stanford
A real project, he probably won’t be ready to contribute for a couple of years. Switching from defensive end to offensive tackle won’t be easy, but he couldn’t ask for a better group of lineman to learn from.
6th Round
DE Khari Long, Baylor
Another player destined for NFL Europe.
7th Round
QB James Kilian, Tulsa
I figured the Chiefs would try to draft a quarterback at some point, I was just hoping it would be one I had actually heard of.
7th Round
OT Jeremy Parquet, Southern Miss
Looks like he needs to spend some serious time in the weight room, and less time at the dinner table, but he has the potential to develop into a quaility NFL lineman. You just can’t pass on a 6’7″, 320 lb. guy that late in the draft.
