http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1020332.html

The new era begins. New GM, new head coach, #3 overall pick and $40 million in cap room. Discuss.

Hate it, so many proven coaches without a job and we pick Haley


Of course we will see, he might prove to be the best ever, but i would have liked to see shanahan if that was at all possible

I think an interesting choice for them, if Thigpen is not in their future plans which I do not know or not, is Byron Leftwich. If he doesn't sign with the Steelers I think adding him and BAP OT in this draft could give their offense even more legitimacy. Meh...I'm just pulling for the big boy to do something as I think he got the mcnabb treatment in Jax but wasn't as good as Donovan(read: was injured before he could get good).

He'll be a good pickup for anyone and I sort of like the Chiefs for whatever reason(the afcw holds a weird place in my rooting interest as I don't dislike any of the teams...). But I do believe that Thigpen is in their future plans so this is all most likely moot.

Thigpen has to be their future plan.

I think drafting Stafford or Bradford is in their future plans.

I assume you mean Sanchez, not Bradford.

I don't expect the Chiefs to draft a QB in the first round. They have way too many pressing needs on defense. There is a possibility that they'll draft Josh Freeman in the second round or trade into the first round to get him.

In my opinion, they might be better off sticking with Tyler Thigpen. He did the most with the least in Kansas City and comes at a cheap cost. Besides Stafford, the remainder of the QBs in this draft will likely have a long transition period from college to the pros and might cost more than Thigpen is getting paid now.

puke if they take freeman.

Bradford's not coming out. Sucks for the Chiefs b/c in theory they should be happy with one of Stafford / Bradford / Andre Smith but you gotta figure the other two will get snapped up.

Oh yeah, sorry I meant Sanchez.

Thigpen can't hit the broad side of a barn beyond 15 yards. Also his already shakey accuracy gets way worse under pressure or late in the game. Is there a cure for that? Honestly I don't know, you tell me. But it seems pretty unlikely you can go from that bad to being a reasonable facsimilie of a starting NFL QB - via a ton of practice or some kind of mechanical adjustment.

I like the guy. I like his mobility and his decision making. He just has the worst accuracy I've seen in a Chiefs QB, and I've lived through Todd Blackledge and Elvis Grbac. I have no problem letting him earn a spot, but I'd hate to head into the season with him as our only option.

Obviously it all comes down to if Pioli thinks whomever is still available among Stafford/Sanchez is enough of a lock to go 3rd. Seems to be the consensus right now that they both are.

None of the available LBs or DEs seems worth taking at #3. But the idea of Crabtree/Bowe is pretty intriguing.

Drafting Smith would involve moving him or Albert to RT (unless they want to get really weird and move Albert back to guard). RTs don't get the big FA contracts, so I'm not sure either would be happy with that situation. Last thing we need is more disgruntled Chiefs. Also Albert was really really good as a rookie LT last year.

How come no one is talking Matt Cassel with so much cap room? I'm not a GM so I'm not sure how possible this is but I would love to see Cassel go to KC, plus the Pioli connection, it kind of makes a little sense.

I do think Leftwich would jump at a chance to go start for the Chiefs (or anyone else) and would be a way better value than getting Cassel. Byron is a proven starter in the league, Cassel is someone who did it one year on a stacked team against a soft schedule. Byron would also probably do it for a lot less guaranteed money and more incentives than anyone taken #3 or Cassel would.

They could then use that high pick to continue rebuilding their lines or they could try to parlay it into more picks. In a down year for quarterbacks (imo) I see no reason to use that pick to adress that position or any reason to send anything New England's way.

Let's start by getting Johnson's ass the **** outta town and then sign every big name defense guy available. Thigpen lead an above average offense the second half of the year so I think we should give him another year. If we don't win 6 games then use the top 10 pick on a QB.

On the radio an interesting point was made. After Johnson spat in the girl's face or whatever Edwards benched him for three weeks on his own accord (not league or franchise mandated). Those were Jets (24-28) Bucs (27-30 OT) and Chargers (19-20). All games that LJ could have helped win. If Edwards goes 4-12 or 5-11 is he fired? stand up guy imo

I may be alone here but I really really want to roll the dice on Vick

It does make more sense to pursue Cassel than pay 1st round #3 money for an unproven college qb.

Would you be willing to give up 2 1st round picks to get Cassel?

Likely the Patriots would want our first and second or something, like the Chiefs did with Allen last year (roughly). I still think that's too high unless we think Cassel is the ultimate nuts. Which I get the impression he's a solid QB but I didn't see anything that blew me away. And I'm pretty sure most QB's are going to look pretty good behind that offensive machine. I think I'd rather go for Curt Warner and try to develop another diamond in the rough from the mid rounds, also holding out for the chance someone can help Thigpen figure out his accuracy problem. I really see his accuracy as the only thing in the way from him being another Rich Gannon-type QB. But as bad as he is that's a big obstacle.

Thigpen looked solid from the probably 5 or so games I watched out of KC. Best rushing QB in the NFL? He's only started 11 games. You've seen more of him so I'll go with what you say, maybe I just think he looks promising relative to every QB in Lions history. The offense KC used at the end of the year really worked around his strengths and was cool to watch.

Yeah either Gailey is a genius or Thiggy is pretty good or the NFL just has no clue how to deal with the spread (prob. some combination of those) - so our offense was a lot of fun to watch.

His first start he seriously couldn't hit anything. People were holding him up as the worst QB to start a game in the NFL in years. Then Huard got hurt and we had no choice but to give him another try. He played a lot better, so ok maybe nerves that first time. But if that's what he does when the nerves hit, overthrow guys by 20 yards, might not be a good omen.

He also tended to fade in the second half, and except for a couple notable exceptions was pretty ineffective in late drives - again largely due to his tendency to overthrow guys by a mile on any pass over 10-15 yards.

And finally he faded in the last couple of games of the season when he and everyone else knew he was playing for his "possible QB of the future" status. And again, by missing receivers by tons.

So if I was Pioli I wouldn't throw him out with the bathwater. I'd try to get someone better as a QB coach then the locally despised Dick Curl - and hope maybe there's some simple trick to his mechanics and/or calming him down under pressure. But I also wouldn't want to go into the season with Thigpen as my only viable QB option. And please let's just put Huard and Brody "Glass Joe" Croyle out of their misery.

Maybe give him one more shot, he is OK.

If Stafford is there at #3, they have to pull the trigger. Otherwise they will hopefully address another need.

I wouldn't.

Sorry, I was a little high on the $40 mil in cap room. I think its closer to 32-33 mil. But if they cut Surtain and Donnie Edwards, it would be around $40. Maybe a Terrell Suggs or someone could come in instead.

im surprised people are so low on thigpen, i def think KC is gonna stick with him. he played pretty well for a first time starter and i wouldnt be surprised to see some improvements from him next year (remember how bad eli and cutler were their first go arounds?)

maybe hes not a franchise qb, but hes not at all a bad option for KC and hes imo a better option than drafting sanchez with the 3rd pick

and ship 3rd pick on Curry or best DE. nomnomnomnomnom

Curry is the only DL/LB that looks possibly worth 3rd overall. Have to see how his stock goes at the combine. Most of the other players like Orapko and Mauleuga would still be there at 9 or 10. Maybe Al Davis will get a hard-on for Crabtree at #3 and trade us the farm for him.