State of the Franchise - Kansas City Chiefs - QB Has Got to Go Edition

Would the Chiefs Daft a QB in Next Year's Draft?

First of all, let’s get rid of the obvious; if the Chiefs win less than 6 games they will draft a QB.  If they are that bad then it will mostly be because of the QB and they cannot afford to have that play continue.  Even if they have other holes, they simply cannot afford to let that position flounder like it is.  But this is something we all know, it’s obvious.  What we don’t know is whether or not Pioli and Haley would draft a QB if the won 6 games or more.

I propose a scenario, let’s say the Chiefs go 7-9, but it’s 7-9 the same way they have gone 2-0.  The defense steps up and plays great, special teams is excellent, the running game is strong and we usually get one big play and one non-offensive touchdown to win those 7 games.  Along with all that, the offense sputters and Cassel has a season stat line something like 53% completions percentage, 2,800 yards, 18 TD’s, and 20 INT’s; what do the Chiefs do then?

If that is the case then you have to draft a QB.  Say the Chiefs have the 12^th pick in the draft, there is a good chance one of three elite college QB’s are available between Jake Locker, Ryan Mallet, and Andrew Luck.  All have an arm that would make Cassel look like a high schooler and all have way more upside.  

Now, if the Chiefs win 7 games with shoddy QB play from Cassel it mean two things.  The defense has definitely improved, and the team can win despite elite QB play.  This means the Chiefs can gamble on a rookie QB because the defense will be even more improved next year and as long as the QB doesn’t do any worse, they are will be ready to take another step and possibly make a playoff run.  If they can get to the playoffs then the rookie QB usually takes a huge jump in maturity and the next year it will be all Super Bowl talk for the Chiefs.

I will spend plenty of time outlining possible draft picks for the Chiefs after the season so no need to do it now, but as for QB’s, between the three big-time prospects of Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, and Andrew Luck, one of them will be available when the Chiefs pick in 2011.  Even if they aren’t, trading up will be within reach if they really like one of these guys. 

Now, most people say that drafting a QB sets up back and will not help expedite the Chiefs’ bid to become a contender.  While that argument holds merit, I don’t put all that much stock in it.  That wisdom only holds true if you are starting over with your QB (see: Matt Stafford – Lions, Sam Bradford – Rams), and have nothing else in place.  However, if you already have things in place to make a move and just need the QB, then that puts you in real good shape to allow the rookie QB to adjust at their own pace and develop quite nicely (see: Matt Ryan – Falcons, Joe Flacco – Ravens, and to a lesser extent Mark Sanchez – Jets).  


All these teams made the playoffs with these QB’s as a rookie, all these teams won a playoff game and the Ravens and Jets made it to the AFC championship game with these rookies at the helm.  They were able to do this because everything else was in place.  If the pieces continue to set up like they are this year and like Pioli wants them to then they will have them in place and all that will be missing in 2011 is a QB.  I for one am hoping the Chiefs will pull the trigger and FINALLY draft that franchise QB who actually has the skills to make it happen at an elite level.  Here’s hoping…