Here’s a recap of the Chiefs 2011 Draft.
Thursday: 1st Round
The Chiefs started Thursday night off by trading their 1st round pick (21st overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for their 1st round pick (27th overall) and a 3rd round selection (70th overall).
With the 27th pick in the first round, the Chiefs selected WR Jonathan Baldwin from the University of Pittsburgh.
Baldwin caught 53 passes for 822 yards last season for the Panthers and he has the size and skills necessary to be a productive second receiver on the NFL level.
Friday: 2nd & 3rd Rounds
With their 2nd round pick the Chiefs selected C Rodney Hudson from Florida St.
Hudson finished his career as the most decorated offensive lineman in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 2010, he became the Seminoles’ first unanimous All-American first-team offensive lineman since 2004, and he was one of just four down lineman to receive All-ACC honors four times in a career.
The Chiefs wrapped up day two of the 2011 NFL Draft by selecting a pair of defensive ends in the 3rd round, Justin Houston from the University of Georgia, and Allen Bailey from the University of Miami.
Houston was a two year starter for the Bulldogs and received All-SEC honors after his sophomore and junior seasons and named to several All-American teams last year. His stock may have dropped amid reports that he tested positive for marijuana at the NFL scouting combine
Bailey was a two year starter for the Hurricanes and received All-ACC honors each of the last two years.
Saturday: 4th – 7th Rounds
The Chiefs started the action off on Saturday by selecting CB Jalil Brown from the University of Colorado in the 4th round.
Brown has just two seasons of cornerback experience under his belt, seeing action in the nickel package and at free safety during his first two campaigns for the Buffaloes.
With their first of two 5th round selections in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected QB Ricky Stanzi from the University of Iowa.
Stanzi was a four year starter for the Hawkeyes, and a team captain last season.
With their second selection in the 5th round, the Kansas City Chiefs selected DE Gabe Miller from Oregon State University.
Miller was a co-captain for the Beavers last year and was also received PAC-10 Honorable Mention honors.
With their 6th Round pick the Chiefs selected DT Jerrell Powe from the University of Mississippi.
Powe was a two year starter for the Rebels and earned All-SEC honors after his junior and senior seasons. Coming into his senior season Powe was rated as the top nose tackle prospect in the draft, but he had a somewhat disappointing season and watched his stock slip.
The Chiefs wrapped up the 2011 NFL Draft by selecting FB Shane Bannon from Yale in the 7th round.
Bannon was a two year starter for Yale, seeing time at both fullback and tight end. He is a one dimensional blocker yet very effective in that role. He offers ability as a lead blocking fullback or can be used as a blocking tight end in short yardage situations.
stanzi is nice pick up
Comment by Matt — May 1, 2011 @ 3:49 pm
bye bye brodie take a hike
Comment by michael diedrich — May 1, 2011 @ 5:35 pm
We took a few risks this year, which is okay with the core of good leadship we have. Baldwin will be a very good player and I predict better than Bowe. I hope he pushes Bowe. and I hope he can take Haley’s get in your face attitude. Stanzi was a good pick too. There were no great QBs in this draft, but I know he’s better than Croyle and may compete with Cassel in the future. Houston, if he stays out of trouble, is 1st round talent. And we got a nice big guy for the middle of the D. I think we did great. We didn’t get any really big name guys, but I’d rather be picking at the end of the first round every year than early in the first round.
Comment by Jeff in VA — May 1, 2011 @ 5:49 pm
Agreed, Jeff. Some of the football experts are saying the Chiefs took the “character risks” in Baldwin and Houston and lowered their draft grades because of it but I think Haley will stifle those “risks” in a hurry. I would give the Chiefs an A-. Another good draft by Pioli. I think we’ll see more in the future, maybe not every year, but more hits and misses.
Comment by Lloyd — May 2, 2011 @ 10:17 am
the draft is a crapshoot anyways. pioli did a great job addressing some of the holes on this team, so i give them an A. once free agency opens up i would expect to see an offensive tackle signed quickly. i dont really think we needed to get one in the draft with half of the patriots o line wanting out of ne. baldwin will be solid and is going to give cassel another weapon. bowe, baldwin, moeaki, and dexter in the slot is going to be a good offense. add all of that in with our running game and an upgraded defense. this is going to be fun to watch.
Comment by ekplueger — May 2, 2011 @ 4:13 pm
It’s awesome to know that we have a good football team that is very young and we just added some nice pieces that may start or at least add depth. The Center from FSU will be awesome, Baldwin will compliment Bowe well and Stanzi will have the longest career of all the QB’s taken. Also, Houston will be the steal of the draft. He was projected late 1st and slid because of testing positive for marijuana. Lets be serious! What Florida school has any player that is not doing some type of drug???
Comment by DC Chief — May 7, 2011 @ 1:25 pm
Please recall the OL collapse late in the year. Am I the only one who’s surprised that they didn’t target the OL more?
Comment by Charles — May 10, 2011 @ 6:37 pm
Too Charles, we did struggle at the RT position late in the season but I got to believe we have something lined up. Matt Light of the Pats is a free agent and looking for a solid contract. We have money to spend and Light and Pioli were togehter for a good number of years in N.E. Also, the Pats drafted a RT in the 1st round. If we do get Light and the off season training gets started in time, we could have a top 3 O-Line.
Comment by DC Chief — May 10, 2011 @ 6:49 pm
Although the OL showed weakness in the last two games, they did an average job protecting Cassel this year and led the NFL in rushing. It will be interesting to see if we can get some more talent for the right side. I hope we get the season going again soon. I think they did well in the draft.
Comment by Jeff in VA — May 11, 2011 @ 3:46 pm