Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Kansas City Chiefs select ...
By Tom Carpenter
It may be several months until they have to make a formal decision, but the Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock, as they have control of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. They have a new coach in Andy Reid and a new general manager in John Dorsey, and they have some huge decisions to make through free agency and the draft. Obviously, they need a legitimate starting quarterback, but there aren't any clearly elite options like there were last year when Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III went No. 1 and No. 2.
So who will the Chiefs take with the top pick? ESPN NFL guru Mel Kiper Jr. gave them Texas A&M's offensive tackle Luke Joeckel in his first mock draft:
"He has started every game at left tackle since he arrived on campus, protects the passer with what could almost be perceived as ease and has zero durability questions after three years against very good competition. Joeckel has been so good, a big question about him at this stage might be whether he's truly nasty enough, a point of pride among elite O-linemen. The kid is a gifted technician at left tackle, and the Chiefs could go with the strategy of drafting their left tackle for the next 10 years here, then taking a shot on the best QB available with the first pick in Round 2. Two needs, two picks. We'll see, but QB value at this draft slot isn't in play right now."
We have a long ways to go before the draft, so it's entirely possible the Chiefs will trade the pick away or head in an entirely different direction, but there's no doubt which ever QB ends up starting for them, he would appreciate having a stud LT to protect him.
