KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The pick: Dee Ford, linebacker, Auburn.
My take: Ford brings another edge pass-rusher to a team that sent two of them, in Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, to the Pro Bowl last year. The Chiefs will find a way to get Ford on the field as a rookie but this move could as much be aimed at the future as 2014. Hali will turn 31 in November ,and Houston is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next year.
Passing on a wide receiver, cornerback: The Chiefs could have had USC wide receiver Marqise Lee or Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard but passed on both players. Lee could have helped the Chiefs as a kick returner, as well, but they evidently believed he wouldn’t develop into a No. 1 receiver. If so, they were wise to pass on him. That the Chiefs passed on Dennard would indicate they intend to keep cornerback Brandon Flowers and not trade him.
What’s next: The Chiefs don’t have a second-round pick, having traded it to the San Francisco 49ers last year as part of the deal that brought quarterback Alex Smith. They have the 87th overall pick in the third round. That would be a good spot for them to find a receiver in a draft deep with them. Offensive line or defensive back also makes sense.
