What If Drafting a QB Early is Still an Option?

Chiefs GM John Dorsey & HC Andy Reid

Since the Chiefs have acquired Alex Smith by trade with the 49ers, many Chiefs fans are expressing angst and frustration by the move.  Many feel the Chiefs gave up too much for Smith and many feel its time for the Chiefs organization to draft their own QB to develop into the "Franchise QB." 

In the NFL, anything can happen, and assuming anything can quickly backfire.  Here's 1 theory.  Call it a long shot. Call it crazy.  Call it what you want.

What if the Chiefs still plan on drafting a QB in rd. 1 or 2?  Yeah, rd. 2, even though there is no rd. 2 pick.  I'll get to that.  Here we go.  The Chiefs trade the first pick back into the #4 - #8 range.  Then trade that pick back to the #12 - #16 range and also get 2nd rd. pick.  Now the Chiefs still have picks for all 7 rounds.

Second part to this.  With the Chiefs publicly acknowledging that they are shopping the FA CB market, it's become no secret that Reid/Dorsey want a CB who can immediately be an impact player opposite Brandon Flowers.  There are quite a few big names out there.  Sean Smith (MIA),  Brent Grimes (ATL), Chris Houston (DET), Aquib Talib (NE), and Dominique Rodger-Cromartie (PHI).  Signing a top FA CB would surely guarantee that no CB will be drafted high.  

This opens up the possibility for a DL to be drafted very high.  It's also known that the Chiefs were actively pursuing DE Chris Canty, formerly of NYG.  Being able to sign a quality, consistent DE would drop the need for drafting a DE high (this draft class is loaded with DL and DB, making drafting a DL or CB in rd. 3 still possible).  Therefor acquiring a quality veteran DE, again, decreases the immediate need.

So now this would open the door to focusing on another position in rd. 1 or 2 (the re-signing of Brandon Albert is a must in this scenario).  Is anyone else following where I'm going with this?

Now that Reid/Dorsey have signed their big name FA CB, and solidified the DL with a FA veteran (Dorsey will be free agent, and TJax will have his 2013 $14.7mil salary restructured), the Chiefs can now stick to the "Fan Plan"  and draft QB Geno Smith of West Virginia with the 1st round pick (although in this theoretical scenario, Geno will be gone before the 10th pick).  Or, the Chiefs can draft Tyler Wilson in the middle of rd. 1.  Or draft whomever they want, and address a QB in the 2nd rd, i.e. EJ Manuel, Ryan Nassib, or Matt Barkley.  Anyhow, this would give the Chiefs the ability to draft their QB and develop him behind Alex Smith for at least a couple years (similiar to what happened with Aaron Rodgers in GB when Favre was still there).   

I know this sounds like fantasy or far fetched, but I believe Reid/Dorsey will try and get a 2nd rd. pick in the upcoming draft.  And I'm fairly confident they will trade back the necessary amount of times in the 1st rd. to acquire it.

So even though many Chiefs fans are already throwing in the towel on the new regime, let's just kick back and give them at least 1 year to prove how competent or incompetent they really are.  We may very well be surprised.  After all, this is the NFL, there are no sure things, and anything can happen.


Go Chiefs!


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