Late night bullshit: The Alternate Route

[Direckshun]

I know it's not a late night yet but whatever.

I think one of the things we picked up from the Bengals this past year is that if you don't have a "The Guy" for your chasm-wide QB hole in the first round, taking a second-rounder that you fully believe in can produce fairly successful results.

Say what you will, but right now Andy Dalton is riding a wave of goodwill. With a shit run game and only one receiver (two if you count Gresham), he put in a good season as The Guy.

He worked harder than everybody, proved to be smarter than all of his rookie QB colleagues, and hit the gym immediately to build and NFL body.

Now he heads into this season, with two first-rounders the Bengals could use to fortify his weaponry.

I think this has a valuable lesson: a second-rounder you fully believe in is usually as good as a first round prospect.

Don't take that the wrong way. Elite talent at the QB position is the way to go -- but spending that first rounder on a death plunge of a developmental QB is no better than spending it on a second-rounder you believe can win in this league, and fits every ounce of criteria that you love in a prospect.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs still need to fortify that defensive line once and for all. The quarterback and the defensive line must be settled for the next few years if the Chiefs are going to win in the postseason for years to come.

So, ladies and gentleman, I present to you: The Alternate Route.

Instead of investing everywhere but the QB in 2012, and hope we can get the QB we want in the QB-rich 1st round in 2013 (when we'll probably be drafting in the low- to mid-twenties), how about we take the current course of action:

2012 1st rounder: invest in Brockers, Still, and/or Cox, whichever five tech Pioli & company thinks is the best ten year starter.

2012 2nd rounder (or trade up to the bottom of the 1st if need be): QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

I know we hate the idea of his age, blah blah. But he's a year younger than Cassel, and about as NFL ready as Cassel is. Let's take a guy who can ascend, go through progressions, have that killer instinct, have multiple-year experience as being The Guy in the locker room, with an incredible arm (best in the draft), and fearless in the face of the passrush.

Weeden has some footwork issues, but his throwing motion is flawless (former Yankees pitcher). He's also a team captain with "plus plus" intangibles. He out-dueled every single elite prospect this year: Luck, RG3, Tannehill. And he plays better when the stakes are high.

Best of all: he is an incredibly hard worker. Which will be needed if he wants to transition seamlessly to an NFL offense, and build an NFL frame (he's a light 6'4, 215 lbs).

2013 1st rounder: there will be three NTs with first round grades coming out in 2013.

Johnathon Hankins, Ohio State -- Absolute animal with some passrushing ability. Top 10 pick?
Star Lotulelei, Utah -- Very Chiefs-friendly. High character, popular with teammates, astronomical upside.
Kwame Geathers, Georgia -- Massive mountain of a man (6'6, 350 lbs), experience as 3-4 nose.

Ladies and gentleman:

QB and DL have been fixed in two years with minimal transition.

Weeden gives us his rookie contract and a short second contract while we continue to build for the future and continue taking stabs at QBs in future drafts.

Our DL is massive: Brockers/Lotulelei/Jackson. Powerful run stuffers across the board, with some shake and bake on passing downs with Bailey and Gilberry.

I can feel you all beaming with pride about how much you love this idea.

Let me shower in your praise.

I will accept the Key to ChiefsPlanet should you all feel so inclined.

OHHH OHHH

I forgot the best part: Drafting Weeden, with a perfect backup in Quinn already on hand, and a developmental guy in Stanzi..........





















......allows us to cut Cassel. And invest fully in Weeden.