The Kansas City Chiefs own the number one overall pick in The National Football League Draft and this year it is the equivalent of having an unsellable stock. Typically quarterbacks are the first overall pick of the draft, but there isn’t a clear cut franchise quarterback available in this year’s draft. This has also changed the thought process of many head coaches who are embarking on their first season with their respective team as it is customary for a new head coach to draft a quarterback early in his tenure.
Andy Reid became the head coach of The Chiefs and instead of him waiting for the draft to peg a quarterback, Reid made a trade with The San Francisco 49ers to acquire former number one overall pick quarterback Alex Smith. The Oakland Raiders own the third overall pick, but second year head coach Dennis Allen acquired quarterback Matt Flynn from The Seattle Seahawks while trading quarterback Carson Palmer to The Arizona Cardinals who themselves own the seventh overall pick. Doug Marrone is the new head coach of The Buffalo Bills. The Bills own the eighth overall pick, but Marrone recently signed former Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb.
More than likely West Virginia University quarterback Geno Smith will be the first the first signal caller to hear his name called in a few weeks at the draft, but some NFL scouts haven’t been wowed by his talent being that he came from a spread offense system in college. Smith put up big numbers in the spread offense which included throwing 42 touchdowns last season, bu you wonder about the learning curve in adjusting to a pro-style offense in The NFL. For University of Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley, he let an opportunity to be a top 10 pick in last year’s NFL Draft slide by in order to return to school for his senior season. Barkley was rolling along fine last year until he injured his shoulder in USC’s November loss to rival UCLA which has changed his future.
Not too long ago at USC’s pro day, Barkley’s arm strength still appears to be off as it is doubtful that he’ll be one of the first 32 players selected; especially since we have seen so much action from NFL teams recently in favor of veteran quarterbacks.
Last year was a different tale as four quarterbacks were taken in the first round. Teams were willing to mortgage the future in order to obtain their guy which was highlighted by The Washington Redskins giving up multiple picks to The St. Louis Rams to move up several spots to select quarterback Robert Griffin III. I doubt that we can expect that kind of action at Radio City Music Hall in a few weeks at the draft regarding the quarterback position, but not being drafted early will not signal the end for either Smith or Barkley.
Leave A Comment