Chiefs Draft Could be "Golden"
Article by: James Kemplay
Published: 3/22/2010
This off season has been busy and productive for the Kansas City Chiefs so far. The offensive line picked up a major additions in guard Ryan Lilja and center Casey Wiegman and a decent slot reciever in Jerheme Urban. Now if the Chiefs feel current LT Brandon Albert can man the island, KC has now the flexability to draft to fill a huge need in several categories.
The Chiefs currently are in major need of the following area's "defensive tackle, linebacker, safety, and a dependable wide receiver. Now all eyes are drewling over the current crop of defensive & offensive tackles, stud safety Eric Berry, and receiver Dez Bryant, Kansas City maybe sitting in great shape to pick up a top 5 player that instantly fills a need.
But here is what could happen and I wouldn't have any objections to this pick, taking Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate with the 5th over all pick. Now most of you are thinking, James, your a Notre Dame homer (well yes this is true), or Tate is not but a late first round talent, why draft him as high as 5 with all the players we could get available that are better than Tate, including the before mentioned Bryant?
Yes the Chiefs need Defensive help in a major way, I even have them taking safety Eric Berry in our most recent Mock Draft. But here could be our problem, what if both stud defensive tackles, and Berry are gone and the Chiefs believe Albert can be a good starting left tackle in this league with the new staff of coaches they have? If you want top 5 talent or value your left most likely with WR Dez Bryant, QB Jimmy Clausen, or out of position DE/OLB Jason Pierre-Paul.
We don't need Clausen since we have Cassel, Pierre-Paul might not even touch the field much as a rookie much behind Tamba Hali and Mike Vrabel and the Chiefs need impact here. That leaves us with WR Dez Bryant and the beginning of my argument of why Golden Tate would be a better pick than Bryant.
First off, lets look at what all fans look at, numbers:
Dez Bryant - 6'2, 215 pounds, career totals: 147 catches, 2,425, 29 TD's
Golden Tate - 5'11, 195 pounds, career totals: 157 catchs, 2,707, 26 TD's
As we look at production in college they both are about a wash, Bryant has the measurables you look for in an NFL receiver, but 4 things work against him that Tate has for him. Tate was a huge play maker on special teams and can return kicks and punts, is not a pre-madonna, no off the field baggage, and most importantly knows this offense maybe more than any current Chiefs player (remember Tate played 3 seasons with current OC Charlie Weis at Notre Dame).
Now everyone including myself is hoping Eric Berry or tackle Russell Okung falls to us at 5 in the draft, but if both are off the board, and Chiefs brass are looking receiver I sure hope they take a long look at Golden Tate before looking at the head case of Dez Bryant, we already have a pre-madonna receiver with Dwyane Bowe. Tate would at least be a more productive player to take at 5 and with his play on special teams and knowadge of the offense would make bigger impact than last years 1st round pick Tyson Jackson, but that's not saying much.