The Kansas City Chiefs have been expected to take an offensive lineman with their first pick so that they can protect their quarterback, but Walter Football has the Chiefs taking a quarterback with their first pick in their latest mock draft. Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill is the player that Walter Football projects for the Chiefs at No. 11:
Kansas City Chiefs: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
With Matt Barkley and Landry Jones returning to school, I agree with Walt that Ryan Tannehill will move up and get drafted well ahead of where he should go because of the demand at the position. Tannehill could be this year's Blaine Gabbert/Christian Ponder.
The 6-foot-4, 222-pound Tannehill is a good athlete who can make big plays with his feet and has a strong arm. This season, he completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,744 yards with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. The senior also rushed for 355 yards with four touchdowns. Tannehill was inconsistent and is still developing at the position. He played well versus Baylor and Missouri, but struggled against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas.
Tannehill has only played one full season at quarterback (20 total starts at QB), so he will need time to develop at the pro level. As a wide out in 2008, Tannehill caught 55 passes for 844 yards and five touchdowns. He switched to quarterback in 2010 and played well in the last half of the season as the Aggies' starter. Tannehill completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,638 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Quarterback is an eventual needed for the Chiefs, but the taking Tannehill at No. 11 seems as a reach, especially with Matt Barkley and Landry Jones headlining the 2013 NFL Draft.
Walter Football actually goes four rounds deep with their latest mock draft and the second round pick has the Chiefs taking offensive tackle Zebrie Sanders out of Florida State, the third round selection is Iowa State cornerback Leonard Johnson and the fourth round pick is Missouri tight end Michael Egnew.
For more on the Chiefs go visit Arrowhead Pride and for all things on the NFL Draft go visit Mocking the Draft.
Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel will turn 30 just after the 2012 NFL Draft and he is not a difference maker. Kansas City could groom the new quarterback for a year or two behind Cassel.