Could The Kansas City Chiefs Make A Trade With The Jacksonville Jaguars for Ryan Tannehill?
Rant Sports will be launching a series called 15 2012 NFL Draft headlines in 15 days leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft. Today’s headline involves where Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill comes into play.
The Miami Dolphins pick 8th overall. The Dolphins have a better understanding of Ryan Tannehill over any team in the NFL Draft. Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman was the former Texas A&M head coach. Sherman was also the Green Bay Packers head coach.
Sherman’s offensive coordinator in Green Bay was Tom Rossley. Rossely was Tannehill’s quarterback coach at Texas A&M. Rossley has always been Mike Sherman’s go to guy for insight on a quarterbacks progress and potential.
Miami signed David Garrard to compete with Matt Moore for the Miami Dolphins starting job. Neither Garrard or Moore is a long term answer so that’s why I could see Miami bringing in Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill would likely sit for a year or 2 with Miami building a supporting cast for Ryan Tannehill in the event that he goes 8th overall.
Ever since most mock drafts have made it unanimous that Tannehill is not getting past the Miami Dolphins there are people in the media trying to stir up the pot by saying that Tannehill could go before the 8th pick.
I got mixed feelings about that. I could see it happening even though the earliest I see Tannehill getting drafted is 7th overall.
There are 6 top 5 talents in the 2012 NFL Draft with Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne, and Justin Blackmon. I expect these players to be the top 6 players in that order. I have pretty much set these 6 prospects as my stone cold top six draft selections.
There is only one top ten talent at quarterback outside of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III who is getting pushed up due to the demand of obtaining a quarterback. That quarterback is Tannehill.
The Kansas City Chiefs have made it obvious that they want to make a change at quarterback. Scott Pioli even tweeted that he would let Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III marry one of his daughters. The Chiefs signed Brady Quinn to a 1 year deal and even have Ricky Stanzi a 2011 5th round pick from Iowa that got some comparisons to Tom Brady if he develops for 2 to 3 years around this time last year. Stanzi has had one year to develop and was not even summoned upon to start for the Chiefs when their team had Matt Cassel injured at quarterback. Instead the Chiefs called upon clipboard holder Tyler Palko before obtaining Kyle Orton after Denver tossed Orton to the curb for Tim Tebow. Its clear that the Chiefs do not view Cassel, Quinn, or Stanzi as a long term starter down the road.
There are two teams picking in the top 10 overall with a track record for trading down on draft day. Those teams are the Cleveland Browns sitting at #4 overall and the Jacksonville Jaguars picking at #7 overall.
There will be teams wanting to move up for Ryan Tannehill when both teams are on the clock if Tannehill is still available. I think Kansas City is the team that will bite the bullet and move up for a quarterback if Miami does not make a move.
The Kansas City Chiefs have a reputation for trading on draft day. In 2011, the Chiefs moved down for Pittsburgh wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin. In 2008, the Chiefs moved up from 17 to 15 to obtain Branden Albert after obtaining the 17th pick from the Vikings for trading Jared Allen. The Chiefs were projected to take Troy Polamalu in 2003 before moving down with Pittsburgh for Penn State running back Larry Johnson.
The Jacksonville Jaguars also have a reputation for trading on draft day. The Jaguars traded up or down in 3 out of the last 5 NFL Drafts. The Jaguars moved up or down in the first round of the 2007, 2008, and 2011 NFL Draft. Eugene Monroe and Tyson Alualu were their two top ten picks when the Jaguars decided to stay put when they were picking in 2009 and 2010. Neither Monroe or Alualu has panned out at this point.
The Jaguars have looked at Michael Floyd, Kendall Wright, Riley Reiff, Jonathan Martin, Quinton Coples, and Melvin Ingram as potential first round options. The Jaguars are guaranteed to get one of these players at #11 if they move down.
I don’t think its a matter of whether the Jaguars want to move down. I believe its more of whether the Chiefs want to give the Jaguars enough picks at the end of the day.
The Chiefs 11th pick is worth 1,250 points on the NFL draft trade value chart. The Jaguars pick is worth 1,500 points.
The Chiefs do not want to give up too much for Tannehill because Kansas City also has other defensive needs at safety, 3-4 middle linebacker, and possibly nose tackle. Adding depth to the interior offensive line and one more back would be nice, but those are second tier needs compared to their glaring concerns on defense.
If the Chiefs offered their 11th overall pick in round 1 worth 1,250 points, their 75th overall pick in round 3 worth 215 points, and a 146th overall pick in round 5 worth 33 points that would add up to 1,498 points.
Lets say the Chiefs do trade up to to #7 to select Ryan Tannehill, your probably asking yourself who they can obtain with their other picks. The Chiefs could use the 2nd round to obtain a safety like Oklahoma State’s Markelle Martin or Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith for depth behind Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis at safety. In round 4 the Chiefs could target a 3-4 middle linebacker like Texas 3-4 middle linebacker Keenan Robinson. Derrick Johnson one of the Chiefs starters at 3-4 middle linebacker also attended college at Texas so there could be instant chemistry there if Robinson works hard and beats out Brandon Siler for the starting 3-4 middle linebacker job across from Johnson. The Chiefs could put their faith in 2011 6th round pick Jerrell Powe who was considered a top 50 prospect at one point prior to the 2011 NFL Draft coming out of Ole Miss. The Chiefs could use a 6th round pick on a running back for depth behind Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis and a 7th round pick on a center for depth.
That wold basically summarize what the Chiefs could do on draft day if they trade up for Ryan Tannehill. The Chiefs have a deadly supporting cast that is even better than the strong supporting cast Tannehill had to work with at Texas A&M.
The Kansas City Chiefs supporting cast on offense currently features Branden Albert, Ryan Lilja, Rodney Hudson, Jon Asamoah, and Eric Winston anchoring the offensive line. The Chiefs have Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston, and Jonathan Baldwin at wide receiver. The Chiefs have an effective two tight end set featuring Ricky Stanzi and Kevin Boss if both tight ends can stay healthy. Kansas City also has a deadly 1 2 punch in the backfield featuring Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis if either back can stay healthy. The Chiefs have one of the more complete offenses in the league. The only thing missing is consistent quarterback play. Consistent quarterback play is the main element to most successful offenses. Unless the Chiefs believe Tannehil can start from day 1 they should stay put at #11 overall.
You got Matt Cassel under contract until 2014, Brady Quinn signed a 1 year deal through 2013. Ricky Stanzi could be great if you be patient and develop him for one more year. I think quarterback is an area the Chiefs would like to upgrade, but not necessarily an area they need to upgrade.
The Jaguars were active in free agency retaining 2nd tier starters on defense like Jeremy Mincey, Rashean Mathis, Aaron Ross, and Dwight Lowery. The Jaguars could use their extra 3rd and 5th round picks on some defensive players.
Southern Miss pass rusher Cordarro Law of Southern Miss is one of my draft day sleepers at defensive end. Law looks up to Lamaar Woodley and reminds me a lot of James Harrison coming out of Kent State. The Jaguars could spend one of those two picks on Law hoping to gradually develop Law behind Jeremy Mincey and Aaron Kampman if Kampman can finally stay healthy.
This trade makes so much sense for both teams. Both teams could reap the benefits of this draft day trade. Would the Chiefs be willing to move up for Tannehill when Matt Cassel’s contract runs through 2014? That is really the only unanswered question at this point.
Tomorrow’s headline involves the Buffalo Bills. I will tell you who I could see them reaching for at #10.
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