Chiefs to study field at combine holding No. 1 pick
BY DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
2/20/13 at 4:40 AM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Chiefs have the first overall pick in the NFL draft for the first time in franchise history, and with no clear-cut No. 1 it's a pretty safe assumption that their new brain trust will be busy this week.
It's also a pretty safe bet that while Kansas City keeps an eye on just about every player available at the annual scouting combine in Indianapolis, every other team will be keeping an eye on the Chiefs.
Players begin arriving at the combine Wednesday. On-field workouts begin Saturday.
"We have the first pick in the first round. We all know there is some pressure involved in that," said general manager John Dorsey, who was hired from Green Bay to replace the fired Scott Pioli in January. "But you make the right pick by choosing the best player."
That was an easy one last season.
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck cemented his status as the best player available, and the Indianapolis Colts declared they would pick him first overall early in the process.
Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III became the clear second choice, and the only question was who would take him. The Washington Redskins wound up mortgaging a second-round pick in last year's draft and first-round selections this year and next to move up from sixth.
But the consensus is that there's no quarterback worth taking with the first pick this year, even though it may be the Chiefs' most glaring need. And that means there's no consensus on who will be the first overall choice, leaving the Chiefs to examine dozens of prospects during the weeklong meat market of physicals, interviews and workouts.
Dorsey and new coach Andy Reid, who was hired after Romeo Crennel was let go, have spent the past couple weeks putting together a rough draft board, but they both understand that it could change dramatically between now and April 25.
Once it's set, though, expect the Chiefs to stick to it.
"You spend all those months staying true to your board, and all of a sudden, you have to jump a player due to positional needs?" Dorsey asked. "I don't think you can do that."
Dorsey, who has spent the past several seasons putting together the Packers' draft boards, pointed out how often Green Bay chose players at positions where they were already solid - wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, and even quarterback Aaron Rodgers - and how often those players became key contributors to the franchise's success.
"What we want to do is get good football players on this roster," Dorsey said. "That's what you really want from a team perspective, to get good players. That's what I want."
Original Print Headline: Chiefs study field holding No. 1 pick
NFL combine
Coverage: 9 a.m. Saturday-Tuesday, NFL-252
Saturday: Kickers, Tight ends, offensive linemen
Sunday: Running backs, quarterbacks, wide receivers
Monday: Linebackers, defensive linemen
Tuesday: Defensive backs
