Readers Speak: It’s Aaron Curry or Trade Down

“60 days of paralysis of analysis…”

Ha! I love that. Good one, Bob.

Can’t believe how many people are scared in taking a QB, while KC’s current one would be a backup in any other system.

We won’t have any clue until FA begins. Pioli has always indicated its important to have the right kind/mix of veteran leadership. KC will try to land some people in FA. If they do, it will be an indicator of which scheme they’re leaning toward on D. My gut tell me Bart Scott could be a desired guy. There’s an OL in ATL, that might be a target too.

My guess is also that we’re going to see some trades.

QB is a real crapshoot. Anybody can predict a QB will fail in the NFL because most do. I do not like Sanchez from the west coast, so I believe he will fail but if he is successful who will care what I said.

I personnally am in the trade down group. The Chiefs are just to weak no to go for as many players as possible. No one guy except for Stafford could make a impact on this team.

Tribal Warfare says:
“Can’t believe how many people are scared in taking a QB, while KC’s current one would be a backup in any other system.”

It’s VERY risky taking a QB high in the draft. You end up with a 50/50 chance (or better) that you’re going to have a player with a monster contact standing on the sidelines holding a clipboard.

I think the Chiefs WILL draft a QB. Just not in the first round.

Every position is risky any player can BUST. KC has the oppurtunity in drafting a Franchise QB in Stafford or Sanchez when they don’t have one.

Stafford or Sanchez are not a franchise QB, I would take my chances with Thigpen. With a whole preseason and training camp under his belt with the starters and to keep working with the spread which he had to learn halfway through the season. I thigpen can win us games. Stafford and Sanchez have bust written all over them.

Honestly, if I was the man to make the picks it would of been OT w/#3 & C/OG w/2nd rnd pick. But if we go 3-4 we need more help right away on D so LB & DE are it.

Keep in mind that next year there will many more (i think about 5) Franchise QB’s to pick from and I hate to say it but more than likely we will pick in the top 10 and stand a very good chance at getting a much better QB then. Hopefuly by that time we will have built a OL that will protect him.

I guess we all will see soon enough.

Is it too late to change my vote to Rey Maualuga???

I just think it will be highly unlikely we can find a trade partner for that No 3 pick. With what I read about his workout stats, I’m sticking with Curry. He ranked at the top for of these among linebackers. I know they are just stats-speed, agility, etc, but he sure looks like a potential star linebacker.

Look, folks, if Curry is really the next Lawrence Taylor (and he might be), how does he get past Det and StL?

I don’t get so many people wanting to draft a LB’er with the #3 pick in the draft.
Value matters!
If I were “the decider” (who wanted to make a safe pick) I’d draft Unger (Center) with my 3 before I would spend it on a LB’er that has no real history of being a dominant pass rusher.

But I think I’d pause long and hard if (now Sanchez) or Stafford were available. If not and I couldn’t get a great trade, then I still LOVE the idea of taking (I WAS an A.Smith guy) J.Smith, tackle outta Baylor.
I just hope if there is to be a move back in the draft, it doesn’t happen until draft day, like I said I think you’d really want to consider taking either Stafford or Sanchez.

Where is DevilDog and IL?

“Stafford or Sanchez are not a franchise QB”

“Stafford and Sanchez have bust written all over them.”

After all the success enjoyed by Ryan and Flacco this past season, how could anyone be fool enough to dismiss the top two QBs in this draft TWO MONTHS before the draft? How many fans did Carl brainwash into thinking that taking a QB in round one is a bad idea? Unbelievable.

No offense Jason. I’m not calling you out individually. A lot of fans echoed the same sentiment in the “who would you draft” segment. I’m not saying that Stafford or Sanchez or any other QB are sure fire franchise QBs, but this is a team that needs to try and find one and they need to be ready to amek an investment in the most important position in all of professional sports. Maybe it’s Thigpen, but he needs some serious competition this year.

Also, is there anyone on here confident enough in Thigpen to give him an extension paying him starter money? 9-12 mil per year for the next four or five years? Personally, I like the kid, but I’m not ready to give him that money. Anyone want to pay him what he’s allegedly worth? We’d have to pay big for Stafford or Sanchez or Cassel. How many folks would rather see that money go to Thigpen? If we don’t bring in someone better, then he’s the QBotF. How much does he deserve to get paid?

I totally agree with you colby. Thigpen would make a great backup, and I wouldn’t hesitate to pay him backup money at this time, but #1 he needs some competition and #2 we HAVE TO HAVE someone else we’re bringing along. It would be completely stupid/assinine to repeat the mistake Hermy made betting the farm on Croyle.
At this point, we can’t afford to take a late round QB to develop for the future. We need someone here and now that can lead a team and WIN GAMES! Can Stafford do that? Maybe, maybe not. Thigpen only “won” 2. He might be maxed out on talent right now.
We, as Chiefs fans can’t settle for status quo. The draft is all about taking risks.

How can you guys bang on Thigpen based off of one year in which he worked with very little talent around him. Bowe dropped alot of passes. Larry missed a quarter of the season. And the o-line preferably the right side wasn’t good. And did I even mention how many leads the defense blew this year. Just because you have the 3rd pick in the draft and they have guys that are considered the best quarterbacks in the draft doesn’t make them a franchise quarterback. Its just a phrase they use not a fact. Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf were once all considered franchise quarterbacks.

My thing is Stafford didn’t master the college game with all his inconsistent games in the SEC. And Sanchez only played 16 games of college football some games he looked good others he struggled mightly. At the end of the day we shouldn’t spend the kind of money on two guys that didn’t even play at a high level in college and now some of you think they’re all of a sudden going to do it in the pros where the is a 100 times faster. NO WAY.

As for Tyler given the circumstances he performed more like a starter to me then a backup. When you talk about a guy who threw 18 tds and 12 int. Not bad for a guy who was 3rd on the depth chart. To me we might need to bring in a young veteran or draft a QB in the later rounds that has good upside but this kid needs to be given training camp to show if he can progress. Compared to Castle #’s 21 tds and 11 int who I’m hearing some people say we should trade for. Not bad for Tyler who may I add played on a far inferior team.

And as for any comparisons to Matt Ryan to Stafford or Sanchez. First of all Ryan was senior quarterback that if you followed his senior yr. the guy played lights out the entire season at want point had BC ranked #2 in contention for a BCS bowl. The guy had the college experience to as well as the success to backup his claim to being a possible franchise quarterback. Something Stafford or Sanchez aren’t bringing to the table. Neither guy played at a high level consistently throughtout the season. Sanchez hasn’t even played that many college games.

And as for paying Thigpen he’s still under contract who say we got to pay the guy if we don’t draft Sanchez or Stafford thats dumb. We can give the guy another year to prove what he can do with better players around him and improved coaching. And if he doesn’t work out will just draft a QB next yr. Either way we’re not in a must draft Sanchez or Stafford situation because both guys are an even bigger gamble then guys in the past like Leaf and Couch were. Based on the fact neither guy has really had consistently good college seasons. Heck Sanchez still hasn’t proved he can a whole season healthy with that bum knee. Do you really want to invest 70 million into that? Because thats ultimately what its going to cost this franchise on one of those 2 guys.

Ed, I can see your point, and to be honest, I liked Thigpens game for the most part. He’s definately a gamer. But what we can’t do, and it seems like KC has come to the point that we’re used to settling for good enough or almost as good.
Who’s to say McCoy will be a franchise QB next year? I think he’s a damn good QB thats shown he can win games with his arm. Bradford may be a good QB, but he’s not one I’d want to bank on with the #3 pick ANY YEAR.
So if we don’t draft a top flight QB, then where do we go? Peterson has taken us down that path too many times for my taste. Take a late round QB this coming April and hope and wish and throw salt over our left shoulders every single morning before we have our Wheaties and OJ that he’s the reincarnation of Tom Brady?
Dude, what you’re saying is Thigpen played “good enough” for you and that he “might be” better next year. I don’t want to go through another hoping someone we’ve bet the bank on somehow develops further along than anyone ever expected him to.

Ed, I totally agree with you. Tyler will be fine next year he played good football last year and has alot of raw talent. Good thing about raw talent is he hasn’t developed bad habits.
This team needs to build a team and when you build a team you always start with the lines – a franchise quarterback is nothing when he running for his life every other play. If you can’t understand that frustration then you didn’t watch the Chiefs for the last 2 years.
First round pick should be someone that can come in and contribute right away – someone like Alberts he has been solid – lets have another pick like that and follow up with some DL help in the second round.
This team needs a mean and nasty OL and a mean and nasty DL – you do that by drafting big fast strong tough smart football players. Its why every year there may be a run on a certain position like WR or CB but the big guys seem to always go fast.
And the draft is certainly not about taking risks(redandgoldrice), it is about building a team – drafting players that will play for your team for a long time.

JB

Gruden makes an interesting point during his bit on the NFL-N at the Combine as it relates to the QB position and the teams likely to draft same.

Stating that teams drafting at the top of the draft are drafting there because they all have a QB issue, Gruden goes on to say that if the guy is there, you go get him.

All well and good, but if the guy is NOT there? Chuckie didn’t get that far into his analysis.

Trading down out of the high-priced #3 pick is tough, but perhaps someone like the JETS would go for it if Stafford falls to #3. Value wise (if you believe the typical value charts), we should be able to get their first this year (#17), 2nd rounder this year (#49) and their 2010 1st rounder. Given the current $$ costs of a #3 pick, however, we’d probably have to take somewhat less or give back a 2nd or 3rd in 2010.

With the #17, then take the best available.. perhaps the best OT (deep at the top this year) or LB that falls to that spot.

That would be ideal Uncuffed, 17 would be just about right to get Mathews.

EVERETTE BROWN!!! WATCH HIS TAPE!!!

“Rip ‘em a new one says:
Look, folks, if Curry is really the next Lawrence Taylor (and he might be), how does he get past Det and StL?”

The Man-Child Patrick Willis was drafted 11th in 2007. So yes it’s possible for Curry to drop to the 3rd spot. However since neither Patrick Willis or LT are in the draft, the question is, do the Chiefs feel Curry possesses that type of talent? If the Chiefs do, Curry is the man we need to draft at number 3. I don’t see us winning next year even with a new QB, unless we improve from 2nd to last in defense.

BTW- I’m another guy who would have liked to see Herm find success in 2009 and I’m glad Gun left on his own terms. Hopefully we see him back someday.

The fact that we DON’T have to pay Thigpen starter money YET is one of his strengths. He has at least the native ability of Sanchez and Stafford, but there’s no downside risk like there is with those guys, big time. Thigpen showed enough to warrant being the unchallanged starter this year. IF he doesn’t cut it, and that’s a big if, the College QB crop is far deeper next year then this pathetic crew. IF he continues to progress, we have our franchise QB, he gets nice money next year, and we move on.
I just don’t understand paying guys far less proven than Tyler insane money when we don’t have to yet. If we still had Trent as starter, with Collins and Huard backing him up, I’d be all for drafting a young QB early, as it would be a need. But now it’s not. We have a 24 year old still developing QB who showed amazing things last year considering the circumstances he was under. he deserves to show alot more, and Haley keeping Gailey around, and heaping praise on him tells me he is on board with that.

JB,
What I meant was it’s always a risk in the draft. Not so much that you should take unneccasary risks or draft someone with questionable background like Pacman.
I agree we need to build our lines, but realistically you can’t have a successful team ignoring other positions to have both your lines with 1st round tallent. We have free agency coming up soon and could address the RG/RT there. I don’t think there are any defensive players that warrent the #3 spot.
With that being said, if we were to take an OT with our first pick, I certainly wouldn’t be heart broken. I live as much for the team building process as I do the game….or almost.
I’m just tired of having a so-so QB. I’d like to pick up a QB that can put the team on his back and carry them from time to time. IMO, I just can’t see Thigpen doing that right now. By the way, when I say “pick up” a QB, I’m meaning DRAFT a quarterback.
I don’t want to come off as a Thigpen hater, but I’m just not convinced that he can get to the elite level. Based off that, he’s a good stop gap player, and a good 2nd string at this time, but we need to have a secondary plan in place. Betting that we’ll suck enough next year to be in position to take someone then would be “risky”.

OK folks, Matt Ryan elevated a mediocre Boston College team. A lot of people were high on him last year, including King Carl. Flacco was also highly lauded, but Baltimore used a #18 pick to get him, which is not in the same neighborhood as a #3.

Stafford did not elevate the team around him consistantly. He was hot and cold, be it against great competition. Sanchez has started only 13 games, and USC almost always was clearly more talented than its opponents. He may be able to elevate his team, but the record isn’t there to establish this. These guys are not Ryan and Flacco. Those type of guys may exist next year, but not this year.

“Rip ‘em a new one says:
Look, folks, if Curry is really the next Lawrence Taylor (and he might be), how does he get past Det and StL?”

The Man-Child Patrick Willis was drafted 11th in 2007. So yes it’s possible for Curry to drop to the 3rd spot. However since neither Patrick Willis or LT are in the draft, the question is, do the Chiefs feel Curry possesses that type of talent? If the Chiefs do, Curry is the man we need to draft at number 3. I don’t see us winning next year even with a new QB, unless we improve from 2nd to last in defense.

BTW- I’m another guy who would have liked to see Herm find success in 2009 and I’m glad Gun left on his own terms.

I know that their are differing opinions on Thigpen but I think waiting till next year to pick up a QB would be the best route to go.

If Thigpen shows improvement, which isn’t unlikely he hasn’t reached his ceiling, and the Cheifs win a couple more games next year then you their will be no reason to draft another QB. You don’t need an elite QB to win a superbowl. Thigpen put up points and made the team relevant with not much talent around them. You have to be happy though that we have him at a bargain and aren’t paying someone like Jamarcus Russell big money to be awful.

On the flip side if Thigpen doesn’t show improvement and plays poorly then that will obviously show in the win column and that will set the Chiefs up for a high draft pick next season that can go to a QB.

Well as far as QB I would grab up Garcia off FA and see if Thigpen could cut it. Garcia would give a nice fall back if he didn’t. Depending what all happens in FA I would Trade down Orakpo, Maualuga, Laurinaitis one of them should be around at 10th to 15th if not take the best O-Lineman avail. If we can’t trade it depends if they don’t take a FA QB and NE is asking too much for Cassel, if Stafford is there I might take him if not and Jason Smith is there I would take that guy he is intense I think I’d take him regardless who was there he just might be the best value in the Top 10. If he and Stafford are gone I’m not sure I’d have to look around Max Unger is a good pick but at 3 he is a stretch I’d be temped to grab Maualuga this guy is very intense also he slaps the wood to guys just a punishing hitter. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens in free agency.

“Thigpen showed enough to warrant being the unchallanged starter this year.”

WTF?????? Okay, that’s intelligent what happens if he gets injured, and thre isn’t anyone take up the slack,by the delusional manner that Thigpen is a quality starter?

Wow QB QB Lets see Washington – Ravens – T Bay & yes Rothlesberg until this year . All won the SB with out the so call great QB what the all did have was a great Defense. Carson Palmer – Rivers- Cutler – V young – Russel I am sure I have miss some . QB QB doesn’t mean a thing without the rest of the team . We well all know by next year if Thigpen is the answer. When their well be a lot more QB to chose from but what do I know I am just blogging on here not drafting for the team Unless they call me for my insight. I hope I am home when they do .

“We well all know by next year if Thigpen is the answer. ”

Why not throw some competition his way because KC has nothing invested in him whatsoever.

“Lets see Washington – Ravens – T Bay & yes Rothlesberg until this year . All won the SB with out the so call great QB”

First of all, Big Ben is a great, franchise QB. He’s got two rings. One as a game managing rookie in 2005, one this year as a star who willed his team back from behind in the 4th quarter. Tampa had Johnson and Baltimore had Dilfer, yes; two sucky QBs who won SBs. But then you have to go all the way back to the friggin 80s (the 80s!!!) to find more examples to support your claim…..weak.

QB is the most important position on the team. Period. Not offensive line, not defensive end, not middle linebacker. While it’s great to have a solid, all around team, no QB means no championship 95% of the time. The other 5%? Well, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

That being said, if Pioli and Haley don’t like the QBs at pick 3 this year then I’m totally fine with them going in a different direction. No sense in reaching on a player that high. However, everyone can say NOW that Ryan and Flacco were great going into the draft last year, but I remember most fans around town saying that those two were garbage and being thrilled that Atlanta took Ryan before we got a shot at him. Also, if we took Flacco last year at 5 we’d have rioted in the streets. However, that would have turned out to be a pretty smart move hindsight being 20/20.

Let’s not call these kids (Stafford, Sanchez or any of them) sure fire busts right now is all I’m saying. The pundits are proven wrong every year.

Sure if Stafford is there wherever we wind up picking I think we would have to pick him. But it seems unlikely we will get that chance and we have a lot of other issues. With very little experience Thigpen looked good….and if he does not look good this year well…..I have heard it said many times that the crop of QB’s should be much better next year. It seems wiser to try to fill as many other holes as we can and look at a QB next year if it is necessary. Who knows…maybe we will find that we already have someone special. If not….yes we will need to get one and yes we may not be picking in the top ten but we have someone good at trading around so we probably could maneuver ourselves into the position we want next year. I think we need to hear draft guru Doug S’s opinion on this.

PM–

I agree about Everette Brown. His body reminds me of Demarcus Ware’s.

All good comments. Still some herm lovers who wanted another chance. Guys, look at this team. Three good CBs, HOF TE, LT, and Punter, hardly a playoff bound roster, but herm needed another year. What a joke.

I think everybody here makes some really good points. If Stafford and Sanchez were to come out next year instead of this year, then they wouldn’t be the top 2 QB’s in the draft. They would most likely be #4 and #5. Of course that’s why Sanchez came out this year. Like a lot of people, I want to see my team draft a QB high in the 1st round. It would be cool to draft a stud QB high in the first. You know, real cornerstone of the franchise type guys. But there are no QB’s in this draft that meet that criteria. I say draft a stud defensive player, like the LB out of Wake Forest. Man I hope to heck he is as good as I hear. And then next year, because I doubt our draft position will degrade much past the 10th pick, we should have a decent shot at a truly good class of 1st round QB’s. But I bet a million that Pioli is just dying to draft his own QB to start out his reign in KC…BTW: Hi Harold!

” there are no QB’s in this draft that meet that criteria.”

How don’t they meet the criteria?

“How don’t they meet the criteria” one and this is kinda stretching but Stafford has been inconsistant but most his age are if you watch Sanchez enough said even in the combine he was throwing in the ground and way out of bounds. Not saying he or Stafford are not going to be good QB’s just have my doubts to them being Franchise QB’s. As I’ve stated I’d rather pull in Garcia for protection and see what Thigpen has personally I think he has as much upside as either one of those two and we can grab an O-line guy to protect and keep him on the field or a defensive guy to get him back on the field.

As for QB’s being most important and Colby this is not a shot you have some good points. I don’t care who you have a QB if he gets pounded he won’t be good for long. (recent history David Carr Houston Texans) Not sure if he would have been good but he had more potential then both Stafford and Sanchez and I actually lived in Houston at that time and watched him. He was sacked 76 times his 1st yr and I think close to that the next two he never was able to work on his game. Thus most important positions is the O-Line as a group also D-Line you have to win the trenches if your going to win in this league.

You do realize most of the combine throws had to deal with timing with WR’s knowing their speed and how they break towards the ball. Pull in Garcia?

a broken down QB? that’s the ticket. Thigpen doesn’t have potential throwing the ball he’s inconsistent, inaccurate and makes poor reads. Only thing he has is mobility.

To all saying QB this year read John Clayton’s report on ESPN on them . If you were betting your house on these 2 QBs would you . Just read the failure rate on Jr’s coming out instead of the rate for Sr . Do you think Parcells is a HOF coach what did he do with the 1st pick ? Yes he was wrong on Ryan but he didn’t think it was wroth the risk – Money – Failure rate on that high of a pick . Do you think a rookie QB well honestly play better than Thigpen his 1st yr. I am not against drafting a QB first but you better be sure you have it right to waste that high a pick – money . With all the needs on our team & Thigpen play what do we really have to lose in 1 more year.That being said what do I Know.

That being said who did the chiefs interview at the combine for QB according to ESPN Nate Davis Ball State Not Stafford or Sanchez

Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco had successful rookie years do to top notch running games in atlanta and defense in baltimore. Update the o-line and or the defense first and give Thigpen something to work with. Thigpen has the potential to be a franchise QB with help.

If Thigpen gets hurt, we have Croyle and Grey. Croyle can play, and as a backup, his supposed fragility isn’t as much of an issue. Now that we released Huard, there might be room for another QB, and a guy like Nate Davis in the 3rd or later would be fine, but Thigpen deserves to be the unchallanged starter going into the season based on his promise, potential, and production last year.

Mark says:
“Thigpen deserves to be the unchallanged starter going into the season based on his promise, potential, and production last year.”

Why are you opposed to Thigpen being challenged?
I would bet he isn’t afraid of some competition, if he is then he’s not the guy to be the QB of the Chiefs.
I have confidence that Thigpen is working his tail off to get better. All he needs is a open and honest chance to EARN the job, and I’m confident he will get that chance.

I gazed over responses….can’t say I read them all, but didn’t see any suggesting this idea.
Take Curry with the 3rd pick. Then Scott Pioli do the best sales job you can to get Ray Lewis to sign a 2-3 year contract to rove the middle with D.J. on one side and Mr. Curry on the other side.
In 2 moves the Chiefs could transition from one of the worst defenses in the NFL into a respectable if not intiminating D in 1 year. With the young high draft picks getting the chance to witness how a world champion HOF trains and prepares himself for victory….the impact Ray Lewis could have on this young team would far surpass the $16 mil a year minimum we would have to pay. Maybe it’s just a pipe dream….but it’s my pipe dream and would love to see it happen.
What do you think Bob…can you get that done? Could the Chiefs ever sell that to Ray Lewis? Young high draft picks with playmaking ability + Ray Lewis…one of the best to EVER play the game = Instant Defense. Then spend the rest of your picks on offense for hecks sake, and let whoever the defensive coordinator is be thrilled to death. Offense is happy….Defense is happy….contend for a division crown.
The solid coaching staff can figure out everything else. I like what Haley has put together. Can’t wait till FOOTBALL AGAIN!!

I’m sure Thigpen isn’t afraid and would relish the competion. That’s not my point. I am against QB controversies going into training camp whenever possible. I think it’s far better to name an established starter, and use the preseason to get him ready to play. Based on what Thigpen demonstrated last year, and his youth and ability to grow, he should be that guy. Croyle, Gray, Ingle Martin, and any drafted QB can compete for the other roster spots.

Just say no to Ray Lewis. Hopefully we learned our lesson with Donnie. Don’t sign a guy near the end looking to cash in on his great career. I love Ray Ray(and loved Donnie), but overpaying guys like this is not a wise move. Let idiots like Daniel Snyder and Jerry Jones do stuff like that, while we’re signing young, hungry football players to reasonable contracts, working to get the big money. Assumimng we’re staying 4-3, Vilma would be a much wiser signing.

JohnNdallas I am back!!
I am glad I am not the one to choose. However more is better, so trade down. Trade #3 and LJman to JJ in dal. and get as much as possible in return. Get the RIGHT 53 to support TT. Thigpen CAN do it with the RIGHT 53 on the roster.

Bout Damn time, man! I was fixen to report your @$$ AWOL.

LOL

I would never go AWOL, I have trouble getting on this site at times. I wish the rest of the coaches were given their job titles, so we have even more to talk about.