NFL Draft 2011: Top of the Draft Could Bring Larry Fitzgerald to Kansas City

Okay, I know I seem to have a thing with Larry Fitzgerald playing for the Chiefs.  I wrote an article last October on how Kansas City should broker a trade with Arizona for their star wide receiver.

After this year, it might not be necessary. Fitzgerald is in the final year of his contract with the Cardinals, and will hit free agency if Arizona is unable to sign him beforehand.

That might be a taller bill than some would think. Fitzgerald has made a couple things quite clear in the last year or so. First and foremost, he wants to win. After getting a solid taste of the postseason, it's unlikely he'll want to stay with a team that doesn't look like a strong candidate for the playoffs.

For that to happen, Arizona needs a quarterback. It's no coincidence that the Cardinals went from back-to-back division titles, including a 2008 Super Bowl appearance, to a last place, 5-11 record following the retirement of star quarterback Kurt Warner.

And after first-round bust Matt Leinart was released in favor of journeyman Derek Anderson, the Cardinals found themselves with no present and little future behind center.

If Fitzgerald is going to be successful going forward, he needs a skilled quarterback to put the ball in his hands.

All of this brings us to the opening of the 2011 NFL Draft. With free agency and trades still in murky waters despite the latest court-ordered lift of the player lockout, Arizona needs to get their hands on a solid prospect as a show of good faith for Fitzgerald.

That opportunity might not present itself, however. With Carolina most likely taking Auburn phenom Cam Newton at the top of the draft and Carson Palmer threatening retirement in Cincinnati, both Newton and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert might be off the board by the time the Cardinals are on the clock.

Arizona could draft for need over position, but none of the other quarterbacks rates as a top-five pick. A number of players could be considered, such as TCU's Andy Dalton, Arkansas's Ryan Mallett, Florida State's Christian Ponder, or Washington's Jake Locker.

However, the Cardinals would be best served by trading down or hoping one is available at the top of the second round.

There should be quite a bit of competition for these players, though, as other teams are in dire need of a new quarterback. Teams such as the Titans, Redskins, Vikings, 49ers, and possibly the Seahawks could all be looking for a passer in the first round, which would drastically thin the talent pool when the Cardinals come up again in the second round. Plus, Buffalo picks ahead of Arizona and might look for a second round bargain as insurance for Ryan Fitzpatrick.

If Arizona fails to land a solid prospect and finish 2011 with a losing record, the incentives for Fitzgerald to remain loyal to the Cardinals and their ownership dwindles drastically.

Enter the Kansas City Chiefs, where Fitzgerald's mentor Todd Haley is Kansas City's head coach. After a resurgent 2010 season featuring their first playoff appearance in six years, the Chiefs would be an attractive option for a wide receiver looking to finish career on the upswing.

Kansas City has a rising star in quarterback Matt Cassel, receiver Dwayne Bowe just had a breakout season, and the Chiefs have the best run game in the NFL—something Fitzgerald has never had to his advantage.

Fitzgerald could be the missing piece to the puzzle for Kansas City, just as the Chiefs could be the solution to his playoff problems. They have the tools he needs to be successful, and are led by a person he trusts and believes in.

For Kansas City fans, taking a quarterback with the fourth overall pick might just net them a receiver in 2012.