Scott Pioli and Todd Haley: Draft the Best Available Player

When the Kansas City Chiefs select a player with the third overall pick in April's NFL draft there is one thing above all else that new GM Scott Pioli and new head coach Todd Haley should be looking for—the best available player period.

The linebacker from Wake Forest, Aaron Curry, is a possibility. The Chiefs desperately need help at the linebacker position, and Curry appears to be the best 'backer coming out. But he's not the guy.

The Chiefs desperately need a defensive end with some pass rushing abilities. After trading league-leading sackmeister Jared Allen to the Vikings a year ago, the Chiefs finished dead last in the NFL in sacks in '08.

It appears, however, that there are no defensive end candidates coming out worthy of the No. 3 pick. Longhorn Brian Orakpo is pretty solid but had a poor performance in the Fiesta Bowl. Everette Brown out of Florida State is a fine player, but not No. 3 material. 

Georgia Tech's Michael Johnson is a physical specimen at 6'7, 258 lbs. but is still pretty raw. Aaron Maybin of Penn State is a young DE with a lot of upside but he's not ready to warrant No. 3.

I'm not so sure Johnson or Maybin wouldn't fall in the Chiefs' laps when they pick in the second round anyway.

There are several left tackles worthy of a high pick: Jason Smith of Baylor, Andre Smith of Alabama, Virginia's Eugene Monroe, and Mississippi's Michael Oher all look to be top 10 picks. However, Branden Albert looks good for the Chiefs at left tackle and they could get some quality help for the right side later in the draft, like a Phil Loadholt at right tackle.

The Chiefs don't need to draft a quarterback here! Tyler Thigpen deserves to come back as the teams starter and they should be able to pick up a solid QB in round four or so.

Wow, drafting this high really puts a team in a quandary. But what a nice problem to have.

Let's get back to business here, the B.P.A. (Best Player Available) who would hopefully still be available when the Chiefs pick at No. 3 is...Michael Crabtree!

The Texas Tech wideout is the type of receiver that doesn't come around very often, a game changer who is entirely worthy of the No. 3 pick.

I know the Chiefs desperately need help for their horrid defense, but good lord they need help all over. They will be able to upgrade their defense in the later rounds.

Crabtree, along with Thigpen, Dwayne Bowe, and future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (this guy just gets better with age) would give the Chiefs a top 10 offense. And with what Todd Haley did in Arizona, watch out.

The stress fracture issue with Crabtree doesn't bother me; he doesn't need to run a 40-yard dash at the combines—this guy's legit and will be a major difference maker for Arrowhead Nation if Messers Pioli and Haley do the right thing and pick him at three!