The NFL Draft can be viewed through a legion of prisms, but the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs are it’s ultimate winners for the same reason.
On Thursday night, 27 teams made 32 selections at the 2017 NFL Draft. Most of them were defensive players, with a few wide receivers and offensive linemen sprinkled in. If history tells us anything, about half of these players will end up being Pro Bowlers and All-Pros, while the others disappoint to varying degrees.
Yet it will be the men picked second, 10th and 12th-overall who are discussed deep into the future, regardless of how their careers play out.
While the Chicago Bears made an unpopular (and chaotic) decision to take Mitchell Trubisky, it was the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans who stole the show.
Kansas City moved up 17 spots by dealing first and third round pick this year, and a first-rounder next year, to the Buffalo Bills. Coming up from the 27th spot, the Chiefs chose Patrick Mahomes II. Mahomes, a cannon-armed quarterback from the Air Raid system of Texas Tech, represents the first time Kansas City has taken a signal-caller in the opening round since Todd Blackledge in 1983.
Only two selections later, the Texans came up from 25th to 12th-overall, giving up their first-rounders in both this and next year’s drafts to the Cleveland Browns. For his sacrifice, Houston general manager Rick Smith chose former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson, unlike Mahomes, may start right away.
For both Kansas City and Houston, the moves were swift and telling. Each went to the AFC Divisional round in January, only to fall against superior quarterbacks. The Chiefs have hope to win the Super Bowl with Alex Smith, but everything has to break right. If Mahomes’ wild ways can be tamed by Andy Reid, the Chiefs may have added the final piece to a championship roster for years to come.
Mahomes has clear issues (footwork, decision-making among them) but his arm talent is Favreian. This is why ample teams reportedly wanted him even if it cost a trade-up, including the Texans, Giants, Saints and Cardinals. In the end, it was Kansas City getting its man, something that franchise isn’t accustomed to at the sport’s ultimate position.
In Houston, Watson aims to be the answer to an ongoing question under center. The Texans have been searching for a quarterback since Matt Schaub’s sudden meltdown in 2013, going through Case Keenum, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Hoyer, Brock Osweiler and Tom Savage in the aftermath. Savage remains the incumbent, but if Watson shows well in training camp and preseason dates, he could be seeing snaps come September.
Regardless of how this plays out for both clubs, each deserves applause. Teams routinely hesitate to take big swings, because big swings get people fired when they result in a whiff. Most executives are content with playoff seasons and the likelihood of a ringless February, because those situations tend to bring tenure.
The AFC has long been run by Tom Brady and Ben Roethslisberger. Outside of a single appearance by Joe Flacco and two others by Peyton Manning, the conference has been represented in the Super Bowl by one of them each year since 2003.
Going into this season, Brady is 40 years old while Roethlisberger, who considered retirement this offseason, is 35.
In a few years, at most, the AFC will be up for grabs. Should Mahomes and Watson pan out, the Chiefs and Texans are positioned to claim the throne. Neither could say that a week ago.
Power rankings
Top 12 picks of 2017 NFL Draft
1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
2. Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans
3. Myles Garrett, EDGE, Cleveland Browns
4. O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. Jamal Adams, S, New York Jets
6. Reuben Foster, LB, San Francisco 49ers
7. Marson Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints
8. Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Dallas Cowboys
9. James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Derek Rivers, EDGE, New England Patriots
11. Forrest Lamp, OG, Los Angeles Chargers
12. Tim Williams, OLB, Baltimore Ravens
Quotable
"“Am I concerned? Yes, because he is heavy. I’m going to admit that right now,” Rivera added. “But is he working hard? Absolutely. He’s been there every day and done the things we’ve asked him to do, and it’s all strictly on a voluntary basis.”"
– Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, talking about Kelvin Benjamin’s weight problem
This is inexcusable in 2017 for a professional athlete. The Panthers are coming off a wildly disappointing 6-10 season, and their star wide receiver comes into camp out of shape. In addition, a player who just had his fifth-year option of $8.459 million picked up. There are reports Benjamin, who is listed at 245 pounds, weighs 280. While Rivera disputes that figure, anything close to it is a disgrace.
If Carolina has any interest in overtaking the Falcons this season, maybe Benjamin lays off the sweets.
Random stat
Since the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award came to be in 1967, the Cowboys have had more honorees (4) than the Giants, Redskins and Eagles (3) combined.
Info learned this week
1. Bengals continue to take chances
Cincinnati had a perplexing draft. The Bengals lost a pair of high-profile offensive linemen this offseason, and didn’t draft anybody to fill the void. Instead, Cincinnati took undersized receiver John Ross in the first round before landing talented-but-troubled Joe Mixon in the second.
Mixon and Ross have legitimate talent, but both have serious red flags and didn’t address key, glaring holes. Ross has been a walking injury throughout his career, including a litany of knee problems. Mixon punched a girl so hard he broke four bones in her face. Major, major risks.
2. Doug Whaley’s ousting tells more about Bills
The Buffalo Bills haven’t made the playoffs since 1999. They apparently plan to keep that streak intact for as long as possible.
On Sunday morning, the team fired general manager Doug Whaley and the entire scouting department. This comes a day after Whaley and his team charted the course of Buffalo’s franchise for the next few years, making all the draft picks.
If team president Russ Brandon and the Pegula family had such little faith in Whaley, why not fire him immediately after the season? This simply shows Buffalo has no idea to how to manage and run an organization, which has been rudderless since the days of Bill Polian and Marv Levy.
In truth, Brandon runs the show and has since taking his current position in 2006. While there has been a revolving door at coach, quarterback and general manager, Brandon has been the one constant. Considering he also works for the Buffalo Sabres, which are Pegula’s property as well, he won’t be going anywhere.
This leaves the Bills to find another general manager and scouting department, which are already behind the proverbial 8-ball for next year’s draft. Additionally, Buffalo will have a brutal time finding a qualified candidate, because anybody in the know realizes they will be a right-hand man for Brandon and little else.
3. Chris Ballard continues to impress
Under former general manager Ryan Grigson, the Colts refused to add defensive help. It seems his successor is taking the opposite approach. Already armed with a capable offense, Ballard went all-in for his defense in the draft, landing Malik Hooker and Quincy Wilson with his first two selections.
Indianapolis still has to fix the front seven, but the secondary should be much-improved. The Colts can slide Wilson into a starting role opposite Vontae Davis, while Hooker gives them a ranging center fielder on the back end. Well done.
4. NFC North loves its running backs
The Green Bay Packers got good production from Ty Mongomery last season. As a running back, Montgomery totaled 457 yard and three touchdowns on 5.9 yards per carry. It seemed reasonable to suggest the Packers would go defense-heavy in the draft. Instead, general manager Ted Thompson used three picks on backs, including Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones and Devante Mays.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings signed Latavius Murray this offseason after releasing Adrian Peterson. Yet, general manager Rick Spielman spent his top pick (41st overall) on Dalvin Cook. Conidering how bad Minnesota’s line was last year, it was a mild surprise at the least.
Then we have the Detroit Lions, who saw Thoe Riddick lead the team last year with 357 rushing yards. Detroit seemed a sure shot to take a running back, but passed with all nine picks. Go figure.
5. Chad Kelly gets his chance
It appeared former Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly would be an undrafted free agent, but the Denver Broncos scooped him up as Mr. Irrelevant with the final pick of the draft. Kelly, who is still rehabbing from a torn ACL, won’t factor into any quarterback battle this season, but he’s intriguing.
Should Paxton Lynch be a bust — and nobody is saying he will — Kelly at least provides a high-upside alternative. Many believe that if Kelly was healthy and less of a character concern, he would have been a Day 2 pick. Interesting choice from John Elway.
History lesson
As aforementioned, the Chiefs hadn’t drafted a first-round quarterback since 1983 prior to Thursday night. The only team with a longer streak going is the New Orleans Saints, who haven’t picked a quarterback that high since 1971, when they selected Archie Manning.
The only teams not to select a signal-caller in the first round this millienium are the Saints, Patriots, Cowboys and Seahawks.
This is the direct opposite of the Browns, Titans, Broncos, Rams and Jaguars, who have taken two this decade alone.
Parting shot
This column began praising two teams that traded up to attain quarterbacks. It’s going to end slamming the other.
The Chicago Bears have a tremendous opportunity to upgrade its defensive roster with the third-overall pick, something they desperately need. Chicago knew Myles Garrett was off the board. In the second slot, it would either see Mitchell Trubisky go if the San Francisco 49ers traded out, or see one of the defensive stars — likely Solomon Thomas — go.
Instead of exercising patience, general manager Ryan Pace panicked. He traded up one spot and paid dearly, sending third and fourth-round picks this year, and a third rounder next year, to the 49ers. Then, Pace selected Trubisky to the shock of many, despite already having paid $45 million to Mike Glennon in March.
The move reeks of a general manager on the hot seat, grasping at straws to save his job. In all likelihood, this will be the final nail for Pace, with Trubisky not ready to take the starting job. If Glennon falters early and Trubisky proves the previous sentence correct, the Bears will be cleaning house while having a pair of incapable quarterbacks.
Lastly, the decision could have dire consequences. Most within the league believe quarterbacks Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold are going to be first-round picks in next year’s draft, perhaps even top three selections. With Trubisky in tow, Chicago is out of the mix, despite a good chance it’ll be in position to land one.
Maybe the Bears come out smelling like a rose, but it’s a hard scenario to envision.