Options abound for the Chiefs

We’re just a little over two days away from the NFL draft and no one is really quite sure what the Chiefs will do with the fifth overall pick.  They actually have several options and all of them appear to be good.

While General Manager Scott Pioli professes to have a conservative nature when it comes to first round picks, he certainly reached a little when he took Tyson Jackson last year with the 3rd pick overall.  Jackson wasn’t a bust, but his impact was limited at the defensive tackle position.

This year, the Chiefs could go in one of several directions.  The best likely player available according to many observers is Tennessee safety Eric Berry.  But most GM’s don’t like spending that kind of draft money on a safety and Pioli has indicated he leans to that thinking.  

So the safe pick for the Chiefs is an offensive tackle, of which there are several good ones to choose from.  KC appears to like Ryan Bulaga of Iowa.  But what if Detroit decides to take offensive tackle Russell Okung with the second pick, Tampa chooses defensive tackle Gerald McCoy with the 3rd pick and Washington takes offensive tackle Trent Williams with the fourth pick, leaving one Ndamakong Suh available to the Chiefs?

Would they pass on the possible game changing defensive lineman?  I wouldn’t.  

If that scenario doesn’t occur and Detroit takes Suh, would the Chiefs pass on taking Bulaga or Berry and trade down?  I think yes, given the correct circumstances and offer.  The Browns are said to covet Berry and sitting just two spots back at the 7th slot, they could be willing to swap number one’s and add in a third rounder. KC would like extra picks because they have none in the 6th and 7th round, even though they have eight picks overall.

KC, like a lot of other teams, also appear to like safety Earl Thomas of Texas nearly as much as Berry.  If that’s the case and they can trade down and still get a safety they covet, I’d say go for it.  If, on the other hand, Suh is available for the taking and they Chiefs want to live up to their statement of building with high character, team players, you can do no better than Suh and the defense needs A LOT of help.

At their spring game Saturday, Nebraska announced Suh will be making 2.6 million dollars in donations to the school and he hasn’t even signed his pro contract yet!   It’s the largest gift ever from a Husker football player.  If he’s somehow available, that’s the guy I want.