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| Jeff Risdon. 3rd May, 2007 - 8:15 pm
 The picks:
1st round, #23 overall--Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
2nd round, #54--Turk McBride, DL, Tennessee
3rd round, #82--Demarcus Tyler, DT, NC State
5th round, #148--Kolby Smith, RB, Louisville
5th round, #160--Justin Medlock, K, UCLA
6th round, #198--Herb Taylor, G/C, TCU
7th round, #231--Michael Allan, TE, Whitworth
Best pick: Bowe
Worst pick: Medlock
Analysis:
The Chiefs made some intriguing choices. Bowe is a pretty safe pick and they’re praying he’s the big-play WR they haven’t had in years. He runs great routes, knows how to create space, and has enough speed and elusiveness to turn an 8-yard out into an 80-yard touchdown.
McBride brings versatility to the DL, though his lack of bulk makes him somewhat of a tweener and he isn’t close to having the quickness to be a full-time DE.
Tyler has that bulk in spades, and he’s a 1st round talent who fell due to character issues (he’s on probation for assaulting a cop). Tyler reminds me of Michael Dean Perry at times, though he often failed to play to that level.
Smith should step in as the 3rd-down back and is a very good receiver. He’s insurance against Larry Johnson leaving and Michael Bennett’s balky health.
Medlock is a bizarre pick. They openly complained that their current PK, Lawrence Tynes, kicked the ball too low and not deep enough on kickoffs and couldn’t consistently nail the 40-50 yard kicks. That is the exact scouting book on Medlock as well.
Taylor is a soft, undersized project who doesn’t seem to fit their blocking scheme.
Allan was a treasured gem at the Combine that everyone is rooting for, but the jump from DIII to the NFL is a daunting one.
Grade: D
Bowe was the correct pick at #23 in spite of what their angry fan base believes, but they failed to seize opportunities to improve at OL, LB and DB. McBride was a reach where they took him and, once DE Jared Allen returns from his suspension, has no place to play because they drafted Tyler as well. Few scouts expected Tyler or Medlock to be drafted at all, let alone where the Chiefs took them. They are clearly relying heavily on returning projects to develop, as Bowe and Tyler should be the only regular players in 2007 and probably 2008 from this class. |
