NFL Draft 2011: Torrey Smith Has the Speed That KC Needs at Wide Receiver

As we inch closer to the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs are in desperate need of a solid wide receiver to pair with Pro-Bowl wideout Dwayne Bowe.

In last year's draft, KC decided to select speedy WR Dexter McCluster in the second round and use him as their main slot receiver during the season.

McCluster played well in his rookie season, but was limited to just 11 games because of an ankle injury.

Veteran WR Chris Chambers was resigned by the Chiefs before last offseason after a very productive '09 campaign where he had over 600 yards receiving, to go along with four TD catches in just nine games with the team.

However, he regressed significantly last year, as he had just 22 catches for 213 yards and found the end zone only one time all season.

Other than McCluster and Chambers, Kansas City had no one else to successfully compliment Bowe.

This could change after Thursday's draft comes to an end.

With many solid, but not spectacular receivers likely in what will be another pivotal draft for the Chiefs, there should plenty of opportunities for GM Scott Pioli and his staff to land a solid wideout.

One of these receivers that Pioli might target is former University of Maryland WR Torrey Smith.

Smith could bring many things to the Chiefs' passing offense, including being another reliable target for Pro Bowl QB Matt Cassel to throw to, and to take pressure off of Bowe each game.

But to many, there is one thing that Smith could provide for the Chiefs that tops everything else: speed.

He ran the fourth-fastest 40-meter dash for wide receivers at this year's combine, clocking in at 4.43 seconds.

His elite speed will help him stretch the field with regularity and could possibly give opposing defenses headaches if they know that they would have to defend Bowe, McCluster, and Torrey Smith.

Right now, Smith projects as a late-first to mid-second round-pick in this weekend's draft and he could be had with KC's 2nd round(55th pick) if they are willing to go after him.

With some claiming that the Chiefs should not pick up a receiver until later, they are likely to get someone who is more raw than Smith and probably wouldn't impact KC's passing game immediately, which is what the team needs right now.

On paper, Smith should be the Chiefs' second-round pick this Friday, but GM Scott Pioli's history says otherwise.

Stay tuned to for the results.