2008 NFL Mock Draft: Kansas City Chiefs

Previous Picks

1) NFL-Miami_Dolphins-2008_NFL_Draft_Strategy_The_Miami_Dolphins-230108">Miami Dolphins: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
2) Rams-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_St_Louis_Rams-250108">St. Louis Rams: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
3) Falcons-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Atlanta_Falcons-290108">Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
4) Raiders-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Oakland_Raiders-040208">Oakland Raiders: DeSean Jackson, WR, California

The Longest Mock Draft in NFL History Continues...

Let’s go over what we’ve learned so far in the mock draft:

1) Raider fans are extremely sensitive.

2) If I’m right about the first four picks, either Darren McFadden or Chris Long will drop all the way to the Jets at six.

3) I shouldn’t write about teams I don’t like within 24 hours of a Patriots Super Bowl loss.

4) Nobody in the Patriots’ secondary can catch a frigging football.

(Might still be a little bitter).

I like the Chiefs—as much as an East Coast guy can like an AFC West team. 

The best thing about the Chiefs is that they’re not the Raiders, Broncos, or Chargers.

The worst thing about the Chiefs is, of course, Herm Edwards.

It’s amazing how an offense can go completely to crud as soon as Herm takes over a team. I know there were other factors—an aging offensive line, a quarterback who had more concussions than touchdowns two seasons ago, and no real wide receivers to speak of until Dwayne Bowe stepped up. 

All that is completely understood.

But I would have bet both my kids' college funds on KC’s offense grinding to a halt the minute they replaced Dick Vermeil with Edwards.

Herm Edwards is to NFL offenses as Michael Vick is to pet dogs.

So, what about the fifth pick in the 2008 draft?

If Herm is going to insist on running Larry Johnson into the ground, he might as well put together an offensive line that can open a few holes.

And if Johnson isn’t healthy next season, they might want to get someone to block for their young QB.

If you look around the web, something like 99% of the mock drafts out there have the Chiefs grabbing Jake Long; he would be the perfect fit here, but we already have him going to St. Louis with the second overall pick.

After Long, I’m not sure there’s a tackle prospect worth taking this high. If Long is off the board, they’ll either address the offensive line later in the draft or trade down. 

We’ll work under the assumption that they’ll address it later in the draft.

Some people have them picking a quarterback here.

I don’t see it. There’s no way they saw enough of Brodie Croyle to decide they need to waste an early first round pick on another quarterback.

If Matt Ryan is still out there, there’s a chance they might reconsider. But we have him coming off the board at three.

The Pick: Chris Long, DE, Virginia

Not bad for a second choice. While the Chiefs' offensive line problems might have stuck out the most, their defensive line was pretty terrible as well. They gave up an astounding 130 yards per game on the ground.

You cannot win in the NFL with a  run defense like that. 

Herm Edwards likes to think that he’s a defensive coach. He knows he’s not winning in Kansas City with the defense he’s currently throwing out there. You play to win the game, and you win games by building from the inside out.

Second Choice:  Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State

The Chiefs need playmakers, and Gholston is a playmaker. 

He can get to the QB, he can drop back into coverage, and he can stop the run. He’s a defensive coach’s dream. 

Jake Long, the guy most mock drafters have the Chiefs taking, was absolutely abused by Gholston. He certainly wouldn’t be a bad choice here by Herm Edwards and Co.

Best Player Available: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

I’m starting to think that my whole draft day plan is going straight to hell because Jerry Jones is going to pull a reverse-Herschel Walker and grab the first pick from Miami so they can draft McFadden.

I’m torn between my wanting to laugh at Dallas for making such a dumb trade and my love of watching prominent NFL draft prospects squirm as they drop further and further down the board.

Until the trade actually happens, McFadden is still my pick for a longer-than-expected draft day slide.

At least for one more pick… 

I’m SeanMC.

SeanMC is a Columnist at Bleacher Report.  His archive can be found here.  You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.