What Recent History Suggests About Kansas City's 2015 Draft Plan

The Kansas City Chiefs addressed some of their issues and have at least a couple of new starters going into 2015. By the time the NFL draft is over, the Chiefs hope that their new first-round pick will be a Week 1 starter.

History sometimes indicates what a team might do in the draft. Some noticeable patterns develop, and many think that pattern will continue.

Before general manager John Dorsey came to Kansas City in 2013, he was a director of college scouting from 2000 to 2011 and director of football operations in 2012 for the Green Bay Packers while having a bit of a hand in the team’s draft decision. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was with the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 years prior to being hired by the Chiefs the same year as Dorsey.

Below, I have Kansas City’s first-round picks in the last five years, how the Packers and Eagles drafted in the final five years with Dorsey and Reid, and the history of the 18th pick in the NFL draft the past five years. You will notice some commonalities with the Packers and Eagles.

Kansas City Chiefs in the first round in the last five years

2014: DE/OLB Dee Ford, Auburn

2013: T Eric Fisher, Central Michigan

2012: NT Dontari Poe, Memphis

2011: WR Jon Baldwin

2010: S Eric Berry, Tennessee

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

John Dorsey's last five seasons in the first round with the Green Bay Packers

2012: DE Nick Perry, USC

2011: OL Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State

2010: T Bryan Bulaga, Iowa

2009: DT B.J. Raji, Boston College

2008: WR Jordy Nelson, Kansas State (second-round pick)

Andy Reid's last five seasons in the first round with the Philadelphia Eagles

2012: DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi

2011: OL Danny Watkins, Baylor

2010: DE Brandon Graham, Michigan

2009: WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri

2008: DT Trevor Laws, Notre Dame (second-round pick)

NFL draft's 18th pick history 

2014: S Calvin Pryor, Louisville (NYJ)

2013: S Eric Reid, LSU (SF)

2012: LB Melvin Ingram, South Carolina (SD)

2011: DT Corey Liuget, Illinois (SD)

2010: C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida (PIT)

From 2009 through 2012, both the Packers and Eagles selected either an offensive or defensive lineman. Coincidentally, both teams took a wide receiver in 2008.

Ever since Dorsey and Reid came to Kansas City, the franchise’s first-round picks have been an offensive lineman (Fisher in 2013) and a defensive end/outside linebacker (Ford in 2014).

The fact is, Dorsey and Reid are more comfortable drafting big guys on both sides of the ball early in the draft while addressing other positions for depth later in the draft.

The Chiefs did trade for Ben Grubbs and signed Paul Fanaika, both guards, earlier this offseason. But that doesn’t mean Kansas City’s front office will shy away from adding another offensive lineman in the draft.

With center Rodney Hudson leaving the Chiefs and joining the Oakland Raiders, the team lost its only reliable offensive lineman and have a big hole right at the middle of the line.

In the NFL draft, a safety has been taken with the 18th pick in each of the last two years. It makes sense for the Chiefs, as it is uncertain if Eric Berry will play in 2015. Plus, a new safety for the Chiefs will have a solid rookie season because of Kansas City’s powerful front seven. 

So who will the Chiefs draft? Here are the top four players you can expect to be taken.

1. C Cameron Erving, Florida State

Erving is a versatile offensive lineman who will help the Chiefs. Not only would the Chiefs have a complete interior offensive line, but a strong one as well.

2. S Landon Collins, Alabama

Collins had a good career at Alabama playing under Nick Saban. The Chiefs would have a nice group of safeties with Collins, Tyvon Branch and Husain Abdullah in 2015.

3. WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri/Oklahoma

Many might be against this pick, but Green-Beckham has plenty of talent. He may be seen as the best wide receiver in this draft class, but some teams will pass on him due to his off-the-field issues in the past.

4. WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State

If Green-Beckham is gone by the time the Chiefs are on the clock or if they decide to go with a different wide receiver, it is likely that Jaelen Strong will be available.

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