We’ve spent this entire offseason discussing the many holes the Chiefs have to fill. Offensive line, safety, receiver, linebacker, nose tackle, they’ve all gotten their share of our attention. But other than the occasional Bad Cottam joke, we haven’t really discussed the tight end position. Scott Pioli, uncharacteristically, has:
“It’s a pretty strong tight end group. It’s a pretty strong draft overall I feel. It’s a good group of players. At the tight end position, there are a number of players that we’ll be talking to out here that we’ve done a lot of work on. Tight end is definitely one of the many positions that we need to get better at this year and improve the talent – both the front-line talent and the depth.”
Not only did Pioli all but admit the tight end position was a problem, he prefaced it by praising the tight end group in this draft class. It seems likely to me we’ll be drafting a tight end, probably in an early round. I mean, 2+2 still equals four, right? Pioli says we need a tight end, then says he likes these tight ends. Throw in the fact that we didn’t bring anyone in through free agency and I’d call it a slam-dunk. The Chiefs will draft a tight end.
But who? I’m not going to feign extreme familiarity with this group. Like most of you, I haven’t been focused on tight ends. There have been too many other, more exciting players to consider. The only player being talked about as a potential first round pick is Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham. Greshman certainly won’t be our first round pick, but he could be a first round pick. If he falls to the second round I could see him as a Chief. I wouldn’t hate it. I’m sure most people would rather have Golden Tate, but I don’t think receiver is really more of a weakness than tight end at this point. We need to add a weapon in the passing game, but Gresham could fill that role just as easily as Tate, or any other receiver in that range.
There are other options as well, particularly in the 2-3 round range. Jimmy Graham out of Miami has impressed some people. A 6’6″ man running a 4.56 40 is impressive, but lord knows I hates me some Hurricanes. Rob Gronkowski out of Arizona is a sleeper candidate. The problem is he’s coming off a major back surgery. And I don’t much care for his scouting report. One name to keep an eye on is USC’s Anthony McCoy. The Chiefs met with him at the combine. Other than that, they haven’t shown a lot of interest in any tight ends that I know of. Cloak and dagger? Either the Chiefs are hiding interest in someone or Pioli’s statements were a ruse. I say we draft The Whale at #5 and switch him to tight end. Sort of a white Jason Dunn. Speaking of Dunn, do you guys think he and Tony G still hang out? I’d like to think so.
I love Lenny Pope and Bad Cottam as much as the next guy, but even our GM is saying we need a new tight end. Before round three ends I think we’ll have picked one. Cottam has shown a few tiny glimpses of potential, but you can’t count on a guy that injury-prone to become a full-time starter. And given that he spent last season buried on the depth chart behind Sean Ryan and The Real Pope, the Chiefs can’t think that much of him. And Pope, well, what can you say about Pope? That time he signalled first down 10 yards short of the marker was maybe my favorite play of the year. I can’t remember many other positives. He’s pretty tall, I think.
I’d like to see Cottam and Pope on the team. Drafting a tight end in round two or three, putting him in the mix and hoping he takes the starting job seems like a good plan to me. Better than drafting a receiver? Nosetackle? Linebacker? Maybe not. But Pioli can’t say we need an upgrade and then not upgrade, can he?
For those of you as terrified as I am of a defensive lineman in round one, here’s a post from Arrowheadpride that should ease your troubled minds. I read it and it made me happy. Chiefs not interested in Gerald McCoy or Dan Williams? Now I know how rich people must feel when they check the morning paper and their stocks are up.
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is Lenny Pope really the Real Pope or is he maybe the Black Pope? (cue ominous music)
and that’s your Katz’z Nostradamus “Joke” Of The Day
Didn’t the Pope make that hilarious diving catch over the middle last year? It was one of the only highlights I can remember. We need him around next year simply to fill the Huard role of not-very-good-player-you-love-to-root-for.
Sincerely,
Danny Pope
Don’t we kind of have a team full of “not-very-good-player-you-love-to-root-for” guys?
Studebaker
Mays
Speed Wagon
etc
Good point. Sippio was that kind of player as well. Is it in the realm of possibility that Studebaker could be an above average LB some day?
I think Studebaker has some upside. I’m not counting on him to become a legit starter, but its certainly not beyond the realm of possibility.
check out this story on Samie Parker:
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2010/4/11/1415478/former-chiefs-wr-samie-parker
I got a big kick out of that. The spelling alone is hilarious. Seeing how athletes spell via twitter has been an eye-opener.
might be stretching here, but i’d like to throw Leonard 6’8″ into the pope nickname file
hilarious centaur – let it be said, let it be written
[...] Lenny I In an unfortunately titled April post, I discussed the Chiefs tight end situation, and made a recommendation as to what I thought the [...]