NFL Draft 2013: Why Kansas City Chiefs Shouldn't Draft a QB with the 1st Pick

The Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock. 

After finishing with the NFL's worst record of 2-14, the Chiefs are rewarded with the number one pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. 

This top choice can greatly help a team with more holes than the Augusta National Golf Course and a busy offseason awaits Kansas City. 

Owner Clark Hunt got off to a quick start as he hired the former Philadelphia Eagle Andy Reid to become the 13th head coach of the Chiefs, replacing the inadequate Romeo Crennel. 

But there are still many more hirings to be made and a long road to the playoffs awaits Reid. He takes over a team that has many question marks at positions like offensive guard, cornerback, linebacker and defensive end. 

The front office has to deal with star free-agent wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, as well. 

Then there is the huge problem at quarterback. No NFL team is in a more obvious need for a signal caller than the Arrowheads. 

As Kanye West would say, the way schools need teachers and the way "Kathie Lee needed Regis," that's the way the Kansas City Chiefs need a quarterback.

Matt Cassel has proven in four seasons that he is not the answer at the position and is not the future of the organization. 

In nine games this season, Cassel threw for 1,796 yards with six touchdowns and 12 interceptions on a 58.1 percent completion rate. He has never come close to how good he looked in New England when he was thrown into action in 2008. 

He probably never will. 

Brady Quinn played like a backup when Cassel went down. He threw eight interceptions but only two touchdowns with a pitiful quarterback rating of 60.1. 

K.C. fans are hungry for an elite player. 

But they need to wait. 

Drafting a quarterback with the first overall pick in the 2013 Draft is not the route this organization has to take. The NFL has been spoiled with Andy Dalton, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III in recent years. 

Most rookie quarterbacks struggle. It makes sense and there is no bona fide star in this year’s class. The best prospect is not a quarterback. 

Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Sigmund Bloom bestows that honor upon Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel and with good reason. Joeckel might be the best college offensive lineman since the turn of the century. 

One could argue that Utah prospect Star Lotulelei or Florida State pass rusher Bjoern Werner deserves consideration at the top spot. 

However, picking a quarterback would be a reach. 

If Kansas City does choose to draft a signal-caller, they would be probably be scouting Geno Smith, Tyler Wilson, Mike Glennon or Matt Barkley.

The West Virginia prospect Smith would be the popular selection in the top slot, but he isn’t the right selection. 

The Chiefs would be better off either trading the number one pick or using it to address a different need.

But how would the team get a quarterback? 

They should turn to the NFC West where backup stars Alex Smith or Matt Flynn could be serviceable for the squad. 

Smith is the best choice and would want out of San Francisco after losing the starting job. He won’t turn this team around but would be good for a couple wins on a roster that isn’t as bad as it seems. 

Smith would require Chiefs fans to be patient, though. 

He isn’t going to take Kansas City to the Super Bowl but neither is Geno Smith. The best option is to use the first pick on the best player and be patient with a quarterback. Reaching for a project isn’t going to solve any problems. 

It is just going to create more. 

Seattle was patient and got Russell Wilson. San Francisco was patient and now have the top seed with Colin Kaepernick. The Washington Redskins are feeling RG3 fever and Cincinnati is going as far as their red-headed star Andy Dalton will take them. 

Teams that reached for a quarterback are still struggling at the position. 

Just ask the Oakland Raiders with JaMarcus Russell or the New York Jets with Mark Sanchez. 

Geno Smith has too many question marks to be trusted as the future of a franchise. Maybe he’ll surprise but, as of now, there is little chance Smith becomes a Luck or a Griffin. 

The team would be better served to upgrade another hole with a bona fide superstar and best player available as opposed to reaching for a quarterback that doesn’t belong first overall.