2011 NFL Draft Results: Chiefs Trade Down, Address Receiver Issues with Baldwin

General Manager Scott Pioli accomplished two important tasks in tonight's opening round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

First, he added another quality pick to Kansas City's stockpile.

Second, he brought in a player who could solve last season's biggest problem.

In a draft night with its fair share of trades, Kansas City gets into the mix by brokering a deal with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns, having already traded their sixth overall pick to the Falcons (who selected Alabama wideout Julio Jones), traded back up with the Chiefs to select Baylor's Phil Taylor, a nose tackle long suspected as a top target for the Chiefs.

In exchange, the Chiefs moved to the 27th overall, picking up the Browns' third round pick (70th overall) in the process. Considering the quality of players available over the next few days, including guard Rodney Hudson and center Stefen Wisniewski, the 70th pick could net Kansas City yet another solid contributor, if not at starter, to their roster.

Then, after a confusing couple minutes where the Ravens passed at the 26th pick, Kansas City quickly stepped in to select Pittsburgh's wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin.

A big, physical player, Baldwin has the size, hands and speed to excel in the NFL. At 6'4" and sporting a 42" vertical, Baldwin should have no problem getting above any defender to go for the ball.

Baldwin comes with a couple marks against him, however, which make him a slight surprise pick for Kansas City. After the 2010 NFL Draft, where the Chiefs selected team captains almost exclusively, Kansas City opens this year with Baldwin, who has been marked as a "character concern" since a disorderly conduct and harassment charge in 2009 which was later dropped.

Additionally, Baldwin hasn't always been consistent in his production. In 2010, he finished three games with over 100 yards receiving and three games with less than 40 yards receiving.

His route running hasn't had the crispness expected out of an elite receiver. For a player with his physical gifts, Baldwin did not make the type of mark on college football one would expect.

While Baldwin has a number of questions coming to Kansas City, there's no denying his potential. And when it comes to coaxing a receiver's potential out of him, few have as impressive a resume as Todd Haley. With references like Larry Fitzgerald and Dwayne Bowe, Baldwin should be in good hands to succeed in the NFL.

Kansas City still has a number of positions to improve and gaps to fill as the draft continues Friday evening. But the largest hole for the Chiefs appears to have been taken care of.