We now have a little more clarity involving the Chiefs thanks to the Alex Smith, Dwayne Bowe, and Branden Albert deals. There looks to be several different options at #1 for Kansas City in the 2013 NFL draft. Yes, there is still a chance that some type of trade is pulled off with another team, but for now it looks as though the Chiefs will be making the first selection. Here are three options, post Alex Smith deal.
DT – Star Lotulelei
Thanks to his ability to demand a ton of attention, he can make all the players around him better. He is considered to be one of the best players in the draft overall, and his speed and power can alter the passing and running game. He could fill that DE spot on the roster, or move inside depending on other moves made during free agency by the Chiefs and would be worth considering for your fantasy football team. In fact, his stock as the #1 overall pick could still rise or fall prior to April due to other moves.
CB – Dee Milliner
Eric Fisher, Barkevious Mingo and Bjoern Werner are all still in the running to be taken #1 overall, but as of right now, Milliner seems like the slightly better fit. He could instantly pair up at cornerback with Brandon Flowers to give Kansas City a huge advantage there. The Chiefs just need to fill holes in their roster, and the Alabama standout is ready to be an impact player from day one in the right system.
OT – Luke Joeckel
The LOT from Texas A&M has been billed as the favorite at the #1 position for quite some time. He is a safe pick, having no real health issues and being one of the more consistent players in the draft. However, with the Chiefs using the franchise tag on Branden Albert it seems much less likely that we would see the Chiefs use the #1 pick to draft a LT that likely wouldn’t be starting. Branden is only on a 1 yr franchise tag so the possibility of taking a LT is very small, but still exists.
With the Chiefs applying the franchise tag to Branden Albert and signing Dwayne Bowe to a long term contract, the Chiefs now have a lot of options with the #1 overall pick. They don’t have to take a LT, WR, or QB…..but they could. My money is on CB Dee Milliner.
Per his Instagram account, former #Wazzu defensive back Husain Abdullah signed a contract with the KC Chiefs. Atta baby Husain, Go Cougs!
The Indianapolis Colts joined the Green Bay Packers today when it came to cutting ties with veteran defensive stars, this time being Dwight Freeney. According to ESPN on Feb. 15, the Colts release Freeney and don’t plan on re-signing him.
This is an even bigger move than the Charles Woodson release earlier in the day. While Woodson was a star in Green Bay, and a locker room leader, Freeney is the Colts’ all-time leader in sacks. However, as the Colts proved last season when they showed Peyton Manning the door, they don’t have any problems with cutting ties with beloved stars.
Freeney said he was shocked at the release, saying the Colts told him they wanted to go in a different direction. He said he wanted to retire as a member of the Colts, but now will just move on into free agency and try to find a new home. Much like Manning, a Colts’ record holder will finish his career outside of Indianapolis.
Freeney is only 33, but his sack totals have dropped in each of the past three seasons. In 2009, Freeney finished with 13.5 sacks and recorded 10, 8.5 and five over the past three seasons. He has 107.5 career sacks, good for 21st best since the NFL began keeping track of the sack totals.
Offseason Forecast: Chiefs
With the offseason under way, Around The League examines what’s next for all 32 teams. Kareem Copeland tackles the Chiefs. More …
Ian Rapoport reported Thursday night on NFL Network’s “NFL Total Access” that the Kansas City Chiefs are actively pursuing a new contract with Bowe, according to sources close to the situation. Bowe’s representatives have met with the Chiefs, and Rapoport expects conversations to continue in the coming weeks.
This is a bit of a surprise, but perhaps it shouldn’t be. This is a brand new Chiefs regime that clearly could view Bowe in a different light than former general manager Scott Pioli, who didn’t appear willing to give Bowe the long-term deal that he wanted. Rapoport reports that Andy Reid was very high on Bowe coming out of LSU.
The Chiefs need a ton of help on offense, notably at quarterback and wide receiver. Their passing game practically is starting from scratch. Perhaps Reid’s first big purchase as Chiefs coach will be a very familiar name.
UPDATE: Rapoport also reported Thursday that in addiition to Bowe, the Chiefs would like to bring back offensive tackle Branden Albert. The Chiefs have talked with his representatives and should be able to sign both players, according to Rapoport.
Which left them believing that the Chiefs were working on a deal to resign Albert.
Mitch Holthus was also on, stating that the National perception is that the Chiefs are in the front running for Alex Smith, and that news from Alex Smith’s agent is that the Chiefs are top on his list.
Don’t know if any of it is true, but it has me believing that our 1st round draft pick will not be LT or QB, unless that become a plan B. Given the draft history of Reid, I am speculating that our first pick will be a DT.
A few numbers (provided by Reuben Frank of csnphilly.com and Les Bowen of philly.com). Nick Foles is the ONLY rookie QB in NFL HISTORY to throw for more than 240 yards/game AND complete over 60% of his passes. Only one EVER! For people who say they saw him throw interceptions, he ranks 2nd ALL TIME in fewest interceptions per pass attempt for an NFL rookie. EVER! He’s ranked 5th all time in rookie completion percentage behind four QBs who played on teams that mostly ran, and third all time in total yards per game behind QBs he had better QB ratings than and higher completion percentages than. He had a higher QB rating last year than Andrew Luck and many other highly regarded NFL QBs.
A poll was taken by Comcast Philly asking, “Who should the Eagles starting QB be next year?” Amongst the people who watched him play, 48% said, “Nick Foles, 24% said “Michael Vick” and 25% said “some one else”. This from the fan base of a team that also has a very high draft pick (#4 overall) and even more cap space than the Chiefs to find their QB. And btw, it’s also notoriously the most negative and impossible to please fan base, and they love the dude.
There’s a huge movement in KC to reach for a QB #1 just because you can. This guy is better than any QB in the draft and you can get him for much less. When and if Reid/Dorsey decide to trade for Foles, and I suspect they will because they’re bright guys, do NOT be disappointed.
By Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel
Feb. 12, 2013 5:57 p.m.
Green Bay — Too many personal film sessions ran long. When Jake Spavital returned to his office at West Virginia, quarterback Geno Smith was usually camped out watching tape. The quarterbacks coach had no choice but to shag Smith away. The quarterback had class.
So then, Spavital had a solution.“I got him an iPad so he’d go to class,” said Spavital, who is now at Texas A&M. “And then he’d start watching the iPad tape in class, which causes more distractions.”
A constant need for film paid off. Smith is widely considered the top quarterback prospect in this year’s NFL draft class.
Questions dominate the position. Unlike last year, there isn’t an Andrew Luck or a Robert Griffin IIIrampaging into the NFL. West Virginia’s Smith is the headliner and could go as high as No. 1 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs. On Tuesday, Spavital described Smith as the quintessential “film junkie.” Through these last few years, he has coached the record-setting Case Keenum at Houston, Brandon Weeden at Oklahoma State and then Smith.
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- Chiefs part with seven players as rookie minicamp gets underway - Chiefs Wire
- Mahomes' 'Greatest in NFL History' Doesn't Involve Chiefs?! - Athlon Sports
- Adapting to change helped new Chiefs tight end Jared Wiley - Kansas City Star