Lombardi: The Chiefs are really trying to move down

by Dan Kadar on Apr 18, 2010 10:53 AM EDT in 2010 NFL Draft

What Peter King of Sports Illustrated is to Monday, Michael Lombardi of National Football Post is to Sunday. Make sure to check out his latest Sunday at the Post here.

The most telling item is his fifth one. Here's a snippet:

5. Kansas City: The Chiefs are trying, and I mean really trying, to move down. My sources tell me they’ll be willing to go down as far as 15 for the right deal because they feel they can find a player in that range.

Lombardi contends that it will be a team trying to move ahead of Cleveland to select quarterback Jimmy Clausen, even though Lombardi says the Browns won't take the Notre Dame signal caller.

But let's base this a team picking no later than 15 wants to move ahead of Cleveland, which picks seventh. That would be the Giants, Seahawks, 49ers, Dolphins, Broncos, Jaguars, Bills and Raiders.

We can reasonably eliminate New York (Eli Manning), Seattle (traded for Charlie Whitehurst), Miami (going with Chad Henne), Denver (they like Kyle Orton and traded for Brady Quinn) and Oakland (trying to figure out Al Davis is like trying to explain physics to a first grader).

That leaves San Francisco, Jacksonville and Buffalo. The Jaguars currently only have six picks, so lets eliminate them from contention.

San Francisco and Buffalo each have nine pick in this year's draft. With two first-round picks, the 49ers might be more apt to dealing up. In theory, they could trade pick No. 13, pick No. 79 and a throwaway late-round pick for pick No. 5 to select Clausen.

Clausen might not even be the quarterback Buffalo is after. Many believe it's Tim Tebow in the second round.

San Francisco beat writers have begun saying that if Clausen is there at No. 13 that he's almost certainly the choice. Starter Alex Smith is in the final year of his contract, and is no sure thing as a starting quarterback.

If the 49ers believe Clausen can be a franchise quarterback, don't be shocked if they give Kansas City a call on draft day.

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Not surprising

Washington’s trade for McNabb set this in motion, as they’re now extremely likely to take Russel Okung, who was almost certainly the Chiefs’ top choice. It’ll be interesting to see what KC can get for #5 if they’re truly intent on dealing; the past few years have shown the continued debunking of the famous ‘Draft Value Chart’ so many treat as gospel.

http://oursaviorchuck.ytmnd.com/

by Conjunction on Apr 18, 2010 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

Don't rule out the Raiders as a participant in the Clausen derby

There’s two things I’m pretty sure of when it comes to Tom Cable:

1) He loathes JaMarcus Russell
2) He doesn’t want Bruce Campbell, at least not in the top 10.

The second conclusion comes from his pre-draft press conference where he said this:

"Let’s say we’re looking at a guy who has 15 starts as opposed to a guy who has 35 or 40 starts, that’s important to you because he’s been in games, he’s seen a lot of pass rushers, he’s seen a lot of defense in live action, and that bodes well in getting a guy you think can come in and start right away," Cable said.

From everything I’ve read (and I read a lot about my Raiders), Cable is the first coach Davis has really been willing to listen to since Gruden. Plus, he also has a ton of respect for Hue Jackson.

I think if Trent Williams or Bryan Bulaga are there at #8, one of them will be the pick. HOWEVER, if they go to KC and Seattle and Cleveland passes on Clausen….and Cable/Jackson are high on him and can get Al to listen…..then I wouldn’t be surprised to see Clausen in the Bay Area, just on the other side from San Francisco.

Granted, that’s a lot of “ifs”, but they’re by no means unplausible ones.

"'Tis a bird I love, with its brooding note, And the trembling throb in its mottled throat; There's a human look in its swelling breast, And the gentle curve of its lowly crest; And I often stop with the fear I feel-- He runs so close to the rapid wheel." Nathaniel Parker Willis, "The Belfrey Pigeon"

by Raybin on Apr 18, 2010 12:05 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t doubt they could be after Clausen, but I highly doubt they would strike a trade with the division rival Chiefs

by SayHeyWerd on Apr 18, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

trading with division rivals

is not a taboo thing.

If the Eagles and the Redskins are gonna trade together…trades between any team can happen.

Running AMOK

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 18, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Chiefs and Raiders is a bigger rivalry, I'd argue

by SayHeyWerd on Apr 18, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

from someone with a vested interest…but to an outsider like me, i favor the eagles redskins rivalry as being more heated and bigger.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.

by bross09 on Apr 18, 2010 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions

The KC vs Oakland is much more intense

Its the only time when players will be checked by security for knives, chains, and brass knuckles.

Stay away from guns in the locker room too much trouble, but switchblades, brass knuckles get caught with them and its just a splap in the wrist.

Opinions are like A--holes, everyones got one.

by aPacificChief on Apr 19, 2010 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Or maybe its the fans?

Opinions are like A--holes, everyones got one.

by aPacificChief on Apr 19, 2010 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions

and the eagles redskins rivalry isn’t intense?

sorry, but I think someone with a vested interest in a rivalry is not the best judge if it is the most intense rivalry.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.

by bross09 on Apr 19, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

and Pioli woulnd't stoop down to Davis' level haha

by SayHeyWerd on Apr 18, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you think Cable is making the calls in Oakland? I don’t think so.

Merlinnj

by merlinnj on Apr 18, 2010 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Why for Clausen?

Could it not also be true that a team might try to move up for Berry? I know that I would not mind my Dolphins trading up, especially if it was only for the price of their first and third and maybe a 6th (provided that they could somehow figure out how to get a starting OLB as well)…

by toadayoda on Apr 18, 2010 1:06 PM EDT reply actions

I think the real trade bait at 5 will be either McCoy or Suh.

One of them might be available and if they are i could see a number of teams calling wanting that playmaking DT.

You can draft defensive line to stop a player at the line.
You can draft linebackers to stop a player 3-4 yards down the field.
Or you can draft a safety to tackle him 15 yards down the field.
I'll take the first two any day.

by ChiefsfanJon on Apr 18, 2010 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

1. if we trade, it will be for berry
2. according to the draft value chart, the #5 is worth 1700 points. our #13, #79, and late round would only be about 1350 points. it doesn’t even make any sense that a #13, a 3rd, and a 6th would be worth a #5

DREAM DRAFT:
1. Gaither for our 2nd rounder
2. Trade #13 and #17 to Browns for #7, 2nd rounder, and 4th rounders
3. Take Eric Berry #7
4. Dexter McCluster 2nd round
5. BPA!

by MichaelClutchtree on Apr 18, 2010 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

Sure it does

The draft value chart is total bogus, it way overvalues the top picks.

by Brendan Scolari on Apr 18, 2010 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

More importantly would you do it for your 1st and 2nd rounder and nothing else.

by ChiefsfanJon on Apr 19, 2010 3:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't see much action moving up for Clausen -

Doesn’t seem like he is drawing much interest

But some teams may want to go up for Berry McClain Dan WIlliams or one of the OTs

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Apr 18, 2010 3:28 PM EDT reply actions

I dont think Whitehurst is good enough to make the seahawks quit considering clausen.

Scientific research has proven that you lose exactly 5.37 billion brain cells every time you listen to Todd McShay.

by TheRealSlimShady on Apr 18, 2010 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

I wouldn't call SF beat writers a reliable source.

Mostly because they’re all sub-par writers who like to bag on the FO and love to rattle the sabers. I just don’t see the Niners trading up to get Clausen. If he falls to #13 i could see them taking him but i’d rather avoid taking a QB at all this draft.

Also the Seahawks not looking at Clausen doesn’t make any sense. Just because they got Whitehurst doesn’t mean they don’t have a need at QB. If the Seahawks are fine with Whitehurst, the Niners should be MORE then fine with Alex Smith (who’s actually played in actual NFL games).

I survived the David Carr Press Conference Thread 3/06/2010
Credit to iaalexeeff
Also surviving member of the underwhelming Jed York Conference Thread 3/22/2010
Eat Shitake!

by Hoopers Judge on Apr 18, 2010 6:58 PM EDT reply actions