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2013 NFL Mock Draft: Geno Smith vs. Luke Joeckel continues

Mock draft experts make their cases for Geno Smith and Luke Joeckel as the No. 1 overall pick for the Chiefs during the 2013 NFL Draft.

By Louis Bien
Jared Wickerham

Luke Joeckel and Geno Smith have been popular names in mock drafts for the Kansas City Chiefs' first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Both players fill a huge needs for the Chiefs, though Smith is generally considered the riskier pick. Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com and Dan Kadar of SB Nation both advocated for Joeckel and Smith, respectively in their most recent mocks. They brought up valid points.

More: Mocking the Draft SB Nation's big board Top 100

Brugler points out that new head coach Andy Reid usually opted to take the best player available in the NFL Draft while he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. Brugler sees Joeckel as the safe pick over any signal caller from what he believes is a weak crop of quarterbacks. With Joeckel in tow, the Chiefs could let free agent left tackle Branden Albert walk, and focus their cap space on acquiring a veteran quarterback.

Kadar, on the other hand, sees the Chiefs re-signing Albert, and perhaps looking to trade down in the draft. Plenty of teams are certainly interested in Joeckel. Smith may still be available later in the first round, meaning that the Chiefs could get the top quarterback in the draft, keep their left tackle, and pick up an extra draft pick or two. For Chiefs fans, that may be the best of both worlds.