NFL Draft 2012: Top 5 Positions of Need for the Kansas City Chiefs

With just over a week until the 2012 NFL draft, organizations are taking final inventory to help decide how to best utilize their picks.

In years past, the Kansas City Chiefs have had to maneuver the draft in such a way to fill multiple voids on its roster. However, with a few recent successful draft classes under their belt, there is less of a demand to upgrade multiple positions on the roster. Instead, the organization is looking to address a specific position or unit.

Here are the top five positions that the Chiefs should be on the lookout for in the upcoming draft.

5. Wide Receiver

As it currently stands, the Kansas City Chiefs have a slightly above average group of wide receivers that include Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and Jon Baldwin. However, the drop-off on the depth chart after those three is drastic.

While having a duo of pass-catching tight ends in Tony Moeaki and free-agent acquisition Kevin Boss helps to mask that deficiency, the Chiefs are a single injury to the receiving corps away from being labeled a one-dimensional team.

Although an incoming rookie would have to battle his way to gain opportunities on game day, depth is a must at this position, and you can never have too many wide receivers. Furthermore, having veterans like Bowe and Breaston to learn from would go a long way towards the developmental process.

4. Safety

The 2010 NFL Draft provided the Kansas City Chiefs with their current starting safeties in Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis. But after an ACL injury cost Berry the entire 2011 season, what was considered a strength on its roster actually pinpointed an enormous deficiency for the Chiefs.

The subsequent rotation included Jon McGraw and Sabby Piscitelli, both of whom are considered roster fillers or special teams help at best.

With Berry back in the mix, along with an ever improving Lewis, the starters are set once again. But if something similar to last year were to happen for a second time, the Chiefs need to ensure there isn’t a comparable drop-off in talent.

3. Inside Linebacker

Since moving to the 3-4 defense prior to the 2009 season, the Kansas City Chiefs have received a major boost in performance from outside linebacker Tamba Hali and inside linebacker Derrick Johnson.

Having drafted Justin Houston last year—who some consider a steal having slipped to the third round due to off-field issues—to play on the opposite side of Hali with Andy Studebaker and Cameron Sheffield also in the mix, all the Chiefs need is a complement on the inside to Johnson.

Bringing in a more traditional run-stopping inside linebacker to compete with Jovan Belcher and balance out the free-flowing style of Johnson will immediately upgrade the Chiefs’ linebacking unit into the NFL’s upper tier.

2. Interior Offensive Line

The offensive line is constantly on the minds of organizations when it comes time for the NFL Draft. Having talent and depth in the trenches of the NFL is similar to stockpiling pitching in Major League Baseball.

The Kansas City Chiefs are all too familiar with how having a superior offensive line impacts overall team success. In the early 2000s, Will Shields, Willie Roaf and Brian Waters headlined a cohesive unit that regularly sent players to the Pro Bowl while aiding the Chiefs in having one of the better offenses in the league.

In addition to the Chiefs signing right tackle Eric Winston this offseason, left tackle Branden Albert has continued his progression in becoming one of the better pass protectors in the league. Bringing in a mainstay at guard will allow the Chiefs’ offense, with its numerous weapons, to get back to a very productive level.

1. Defensive Tackle

Since trading up to draft Ryan Sims with the sixth pick in the 2002 NFL draft, the Kansas City Chiefs have simply dropped the ball when it comes to finding their guy to man the middle of the defensive line.

Call it what you will, but their inability to evaluate talent (via the draft or free agency) at the tackle position has almost gotten to a laughable point.

The fact that the organization has missed on so many defensive linemen over the years is precisely the reason they will need to continue their mission in doing so. Thus, it is imperative that the Chiefs persist with their quest in quashing their own personal Murphy’s Law.

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