2011 NFL Draft Results: Chiefs Continue to Address Needs, Pick Rodney Hudson

Every season, each team enters the NFL Draft with "holes" in their lineups—positions where a starter has retired, left the team, or maybe just didn't do the job their coaches had hoped they would.

As the draft progresses, some teams make their picks based on those needs, while others focus on the overall talent of a player.

For the Kansas City Chiefs, the 2011 NFL Draft has provided the opportunity to do both with their first two picks.

In the first round, Kansas City took advantage of a trade opportunity, moving down six places in the first round courtesy of the Cleveland Browns. Then, through Baltimore's pass on the 26th pick, the Chiefs select wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin from the University of Pittsburgh.

In 2010, Kansas City had a "good news, bad news" year when it came to receivers. The good news was former first-round pick Dwayne Bowe had a breakthrough season, pulling down 72 receptions for 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Additionally, rookie tight end (not "technically" a receiver, but still counts) Tony Moeaki started his career with 47 catches and 556 yards.

Then comes the bad news. No other receiver for Kansas City caught more than 21 passes. Combined, the remaining receivers only racked up 484 yards (693 if you count hybrid player Dexter McCluster). For Kansas City (especially Bowe) to be successful, the Chiefs needed another threat downfield to limit double teams.

Baldwin can certainly be that type of player. Projected as a late first or early second round pick, Baldwin has all the physical tools to be another big-play target for quarterback Matt Cassel.

The Chiefs continued to address their needs in the second round, selecting Florida State's star offensive lineman Rodney Hudson. Hudson, considered one of the top interior lineman prospects, was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the year's best college lineman.

Hudson could find himself competing with Ryan Lilja for playing time at right guard. Most likely, however, he will shift to center as the eventual replacement for veteran Casey Wiegmann. Both have similar build (Hudson is 6'2", 282lbs; Wiegmann is 6'2", 285 lbs), and Wiegmann can show Hudson the ropes both on and off the field.

While both players are considered a bit undersized for the offensive line, Wiegman has been a consistent and valuable player, with 184 career starts in a 15 year career.

And don't forget, as a pulling center, Wiegmann was a key piece of the Chiefs rushing offense from 2002 - 2007 where he laid in blocks for Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson in their most successful years. Hudson could not hope for a better player to learn from.

Kansas City might still have a ways to go before they are a perennial contender for the playoffs. With the first two days of the 2011 NFL Draft, however, they have certainly maximized the value of their picks and plugged some the "holes" on their team.