Big Hatt’s 2009 NFL Draft do’s and do not do’s!

All right fellas (and grandma), we’re getting close. The draft is 24 hours away. I’ve been waiting for this since, well, last year’s draft I suppose. That’s the one benefit of being ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN you’re going to be terrible: high draft picks!

I forced myself to watch a lot of college football last year to in order to familiarize myself with all the top prospects. Obviously I’m no Mel Kiper, but I have seen most of the best guys play at least once. People say this is a weak draft class. I wholeheartedly disagree. I think the middle of the first round is chock full of future pro-bowlers. In fact, I think picks 10-20 are likely to yield a better return than picks 1-10. One of the many reasons its imperative that we trade down. Another is that there is a lot of talent in the second round, and we should do our damnedest to acquire at least one pick there.

OK, enough foreplay. Let’s get to it. Ladies and germs, I give you, Big Hatt’s 2009 draft do’s and do not do’s. Enjoy.

Do’s:

USC inside linebacker Rey Maualuga- I believe I’ve been quite clear about my love for Maualuga. He’s by far my favorite player in this year’s draft. I watched as many USC games as I could just to watch him play, and I was impressed every time. The guy plays with a reckless abandon that can’t be coached. Come to think of it, the way he plays reminds me a lot of Troy Polamalu. We need a guy like that. His low wonderlic score is troubling, but if we’re going to play a 3-4 we don’t need Maualuga to call the plays. The other inside linebacker can do that, leaving Rey free to instill some much needed attitude into our defense.

Ole Miss left tackle Michael Oher- In my humble opinion, Oher is the best offensive lineman in the draft. 3 months ago he was projected as the first offensive tackle off the board, but has since been passed by Baylor’s Jason Smith and Virginia’s Eugene Monroe. I have no idea why. The fact that Oher can now be had 5-10 picks later means he’s the best value pick if we’re looking to upgrade at left tackle and move Branden Albert to the right side. Additionally, Oher scored very high on the wonderlic. Since intelligence and offensive line are the only two items on Katz’s draft checklist, Oher would be a dream come true for him.

Floride State defensive end/linebacker Everette Brown- Brown is the best pass rusher in this draft class. Even more impressive than is 13.5 sacks last year was his 21.5 tackles for loss. Basically, Brown was making a big play twice a game. We could use some of that. Furthermore, he can likely be had in the middle of the first round. That’s a great value.

Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin- Call me a homer if you will, but I think Maclin is going to be a star. I watched him for 2 years, and the kid is straight-up electric. He’s a danger to score every time he touches the ball. Boom Boom dropped a Ted Ginn comparison on me yesterday, but trust me, Maclin is no Ginn. He will be a great receiver. And, Ginn reference aside, he will also be a great kick returner, something we currently lack. Maclin would inject life into our special teams that we haven’t had since Dante Hall (or Eddie Drummond). What’s more important than that, by far, is that we traded Tony G and Cassel needs another receiving threat. Maclin could be that guy.

Cal center Alex Mack- People say you shouldn’t pick a center in the first round, but I think thats hogwash. The end of the first round is the perfect time to grab an elite center. And make no mistake, Mack is elite. I watched him straight-up handle USC DT Fili Moala, who is projected to be a first-day draft pick. If we take Mack, our center position is set for the next 10 years. With more and more teams switching to the 3-4, we’ll need a big, strong center to handle the elite nose tackles. Center is about to become a position of increased importance in the NFL. I’d like to see the Chiefs be ahead of the curve on figuring something like that out for once.

Oregon center/guard Max Unger- If we can’t get Mack, Unger would be a nice consolation prize. He’s not quite as good, but can likely be had in the second round. If we acquire an early second rounder, Unger would be a great way to use it. He can play center or guard, and would excel in a zone blocking scheme, which we’ll be using if we stick to a spread-like offense.

Virginia outside linebacker Clint Sintim- Sintim is the best pass rusher available in the second round. While he didn’t have the outlandish tackles for loss totals of Everette Brown, he did average a sack per game his senior year. Also, he played linebacker in a 3-4 system in college, so he won’t have to learn a new position like Brown or Brian Orakpo. This could make for an easier transition to the NFL. I doubt Brown or Orakpo were ever asked to drop back into pass coverage in college, which is something a 3-4 outside linebacker will occasionally be asked to do.

Utah defensive end Paul Kruger- I know mormons are creepy, but Kruger reminds me of Jared Allen. Furthermore, he’s perfectly suited to play end in a 3-4. Given that Tamba Hali is going to be used exclusively as a pass-rusher and Glenn Dorsey may be traded (please god), we’ve obviously got a hole at defensive end. I’d rather see us take Kruger than use our first rounder on an end who might not be any better (like LSU’s Tyson Jackson).

Missouri tight end Chase Coffman- I know, another Missouri player. But does anyone doubt Coffman is going to be a stud? If you do, you shouldn’t. Coffman has the best hands I’ve ever seen and he’s a hard worker. He might not be the best blocker, but I honestly don’t care. We’re going to be passing much more than running this year. Cassel needs weapons, and Coffman is going to be a good one. I see him as the next Dallas Clark, only with a potentially higher ceiling. If Coffman is available with our third round pick, we’d be fools not to take him. I think he’d even make a great second round pick.

Stillman nose tackle Sammie Lee Hill- Hill is an interesting sleeper prospect. Obviously Stillman is no football powerhouse, but we shouldn’t let that scare us off. Tank Tyler is likely to fail as our NT. Given the importance of that position, we should have an insurance policy. Hill may have played against inferior competition, but his stats improved every year and by the time he was a senior he was a dominant force. He may wilt against top competition, or he may be a diamond in the rough waiting for a team ballsy enough to take a chance. Granted this would be somewhat of a project pick, but I’d be pretty excited if we drafted Hill. He’d be an intriguing player to watch.

Do not do’s:

Alabama left tackle Andre Smith- This right here is a sure-fire bust. I wouldn’t touch him with a 3rd round pick. Smith had a chance to be a top 5 pick and he just straight-up blew it. To say he has character issues would be the understatement of the century. The guy showed up to the combine fatter than shit, admitted he wasn’t working out, and put up terrible numbers. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he disappeared without completing the process. Just walked out. What a moron. The icing on the retard cake is that he had a chance to redeem himself at the Alabama pro day and he blew that too. I will be havin’ a laugh at whoever picks Smith, no matter where they pick him.

Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry- Curry could be a great player, and I’m not a believer in the theory that linebackers shouldn’t be drafted top 5. I think Curry will probably make some team (Cleveland) very happy. I do have concerns about him playing in an inferior football conference and essentially being a combine guy, but even those issues aren’t why I have him listed in the “do not do’s”. No, the reason I don’t want him is simple: Herm said we should take him. If that idiot likes Curry, then I don’t like him.  Thas it and thas all. And even though Herm does work for ESPN, it made my blood boil to hear him commenting on what the Chiefs should do. You’re done Herm, stay the fuck away from my team. As for Curry, he’s just collateral damage.

Virginia left tackle Eugene Monroe- If Monroe were available at pick 15, I’d say go for it. But #3 seems like a bit of a reach. I don’t see Monroe being any better than Branden Albert. And I definitely don’t see him being as good as Michael Oher. Monroe will be solid, but there are better options that we could pick later. Not a good value.

Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji- For obvious reasons, I don’t want to see us use another top pick on a defensive tackle. It might be irrational, but I guess I’m just gun-shy on that. Plus Raji has some character issues and essentially skyrocketed up draft boards based on an awesome senior bowl performance. I like the senior bowl, but any meteoric rise a month or two before the draft makes me nervous. After all, that is exactly what happened with Ryan Sims.

Texas defensive end/linebacker Brian Orakpo- People I trust have warned me against Orakpo, and I’ve got my own concerns as well. For one thing, huge triceps and great combine numbers do not a pro bowler make. Just ask Vernon Gholston about that. Orakpo reminds me a lot of Gholston actually. I think he’s going to have similar problems making the switch from defensive end to outside linebacker. Everette Brown is the superior player and can be had 5-10 picks later. Let some other team whiff on Orakpo, I think he’s a bust in the making.

K-State quarterback Josh Freeman- I’ve seen Freeman play many times, and I’ve never been impressed. He should’ve stayed in college. It might be moot to include him on this list because the Chiefs aren’t going to draft him, but I’m basically positive he’s going to be a bust of epic proportions. Quarterbacks like that (underclassmen, wink) never succeed in the NFL. Freeman is no exception.

Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew- The fact that Pettigrew is ranked above Chase Coffman is a joke.  Pettigrew ain’t shit.  Actually, he is shit.  Specifically, a piece of shit.  Pettigrew is the next Vernon “Click-Clack” Davis.  Not that it matters, I seriously doubt we’re ever going to see Scott Pioli use a first round pick on a tight end.

Boston College nose tackle Ron Brace- Yes, defensive tackle is a position of need for us. And no, I still don’t want us taking Brace. For one thing, his youtube highlights are pathetic. And as many of you know, my number 1 draft rule is to stay away from the guys who played next to studs. They almost always end up being a mirage, as the Chiefs have proven many times before. Brace played next to B.J. Raji. In other words, no thank you please.

USC linebacker Clay Matthews- USC has 3 linebackers projected to be first day picks. You know at least 1 of them was just riding the others’ coattails. I’m betting that’s Clay Matthews. I watched a bunch of USC games and didn’t even realize Matthews was an NFL prospect. Brian Cushing and Maualuga, however, definitely stood out. Matthews will likely fall to the second round, and even then I don’t think it would be worth the price.

Missouri safety William Moore- I included Moore on this list to prove I’m not a total homer.  I love my Tigers, but I just don’t think Willy Mo is the real deal.  He has serious coverage issues.  I watched him get picked apart by Todd Reesing in the border war game at Arrowhead (dude, me and the Antlers kicked like 10 Jayhawks’ asses after that game).  The last thing we need is another safety who gives up the deep ball.  That’s one position we’ve got covered.

OK, there it is.  10 “do’s” and 10 “do not do’s”.  There are a few guys we may end up drafting that I’m on the fence about.  Scott Pioli apparently loves LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson.  If I had to make a prediction I’d say we’ll probably draft him.  Oddly enough, I didn’t watch any LSU games last year.  This is probably due, on some level, to disgust at the school for producing Glenngarry Glen Dorsey.  Anyway, Jackson isn’t a big-play guy and would probably be a reach at #3.  But if we trade down?  I don’t know, we do need a defensive end.  Like I said, I’m on the fence.

Another guy I’m not sure about is Michael Crabtree.  He seems like a pretty good candidate to be the next loudmouth, flamboyant receiver.  That’s not something I particularly want, especially since part of me thinks receivers are trying way too hard to play that role these days.  Like its expected of them or something.  I don’t see Pioli wanting a guy like that, but Todd Haley could make a push for his new Larry Fitzgerald.  And Crabtree definitely has crazy talent.  I guess I’d rather us pick someone else, but I could get behind Crabtree pretty easily if we did pick him.

Conclusion: What it comes down to is that we need to get an offensive lineman, a pass-catcher, and someone for the front 7 in the first 3 rounds.  Obviously, thats going to require a trade back to pick up an extra pick.  I honestly think Pioli is going to make that happen.  My ideal draft would see us land Rey Maualuga with our first pick, Alex Mack with our second, and Chase Coffman with our third.  Thats pretty ambitious, but a man can dream, can’t he?  For 3 years every dream I’ve had has turned into a nightmare, so it’d be nice for at least some of this one to come true.  Regardless, I can’t wait.  This is like Christmas Eve, baby.  Tomorrow we unwrap some presents.

Come on by the chat if you get a chance.  I’ll be posting comments throughout and will hopefully do a new post after round 2 comes to a close.

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