Dealing From and To the Top

In the last week, the NFL Scouting Combine has come to an end, teams have designated their Franchise Players, trades and free agent signings that will become official on March 12th have been finalized. The one team that has done the most that is going to shake up the 2013 NFL Draft has been the Kansas City Chiefs. Many people (including myself) had Geno Smith tagged at the top of their mock drafts, even in a weak year for quarterbacks in the draft. But Andy Reid and the Chiefs shot down that thought when they agreed to acquire Alex Smith from the 49ers for the Chiefs second round pick this year and a comditional pick next year. After this deal, with the need to take a quarterback not a priority, everyone looked to Luke Joeckel as the presumtive 1st Overall Selection in the upcoming draft. Joeckel is seen as the best player in the draft. Big and can get bigger without losing effectiveness. Quick, agile and mobile to play left tackle from the get-go. Kansas City looked to have a need at tackle, as it appeared that they would not re-sign or franchise tag Brandon Albert, their starting left tackle. Joeckel seemed to be a no-brainer, unless the Chiefs fell in love with Eric Fisher to play the same position. But today, Kansas City placed the franchise tag on Brandon Albert, and agreed to a long term deal with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. When this was announced, I can only imagine the smile on the face of Alex Smith. Smith excelled the past 2 seasons in San Francisco playing behind one of the best lines in the game, handing the ball off to a stud running back, and tossing the ball to a compliment of receivers and a star tight end that any signal caller in the NFL would love to have. Now Smith has Jamaal Charles to hand the ball off to, Bowe and Jonathon Baldwin to throw to on the outside, and Tony Moeaki at tight end. His offensive line could be very good with the addition of Joeckel, and there are a couple of scenarios involved with Joeckel and Albert. One would have Joeckel playing right tackle, and taking over the left side if Albert does not return next year. Another has Albert moving to left guard, where he played in college at Virginia and having Joeckel at left tackle from the start. But it the Chiefs are intent on keeping Albert long term, using the first pick on a left tackle may not come about. If that is the case, then Kansas City may look to the defensive line at the top of the draft. Playing a 3-4, and with a pair of outside pass rushers already in the fold with Tambi Hali and Justin Houston, the pick could either be Star Lotuleili or Sharrif Floyd for the defensive tackle slot, orDee Milliner at cornerback. If he checks out physically, I'm going to say that the Chiefs would take Lotuleili. He is a massive tackle who will plug up the middle in the run game, but he is also athletic, strong and quick enough to get through the line and pressure the quarterback. But however the Chiefs decide to go with the first pick, the last week has gone a long way towards driving draftniks crazy trying to figure out who is going where in the 2013 NFL Draft. Thanks, Kansas City. You have made my draft blog life that much more interesting.