With the fifty-fifth pick in the 2011 BGN Mock Draft, outsyderz34 selects...
Benjamin Ijalana - OG/OT, Villanova
Kansas City is an up-and-coming team with a lot of young talent. However, they are aging at several key positions. Mike Vrabel, Casey Weigmann and Brian Waters are long-in-the-tooth and form the backbone of any good pass rush and offensive line, respectively. Kansas City needs a replacement for Vrabel, a complement to Tamba Hali; and while Andy Studebaker is serviceable, he's not a long-term solution.
However, there is not a lot of value in the middle of the second round concerning 3-4 outside linebackers. Jabaal Sheard is an option, but he looks more like a pure 4-3 defensive end. Weigmann and Waters were once dominant offensive lineman, but are in their mid-30s. Ryan O'Callaghan, the starting right tackle last season, is nothing more than a career backup. So the interior of the offensive line and right tackle are a priority despite Kansas City having one of the better rushing offensives last season. Also, Matt Cassel made great strides last season. His overall play improved and his sacks taken were down, but this offense can go even further with better line play.
More after the jump...
Surprisingly still on the board is Benjamin Ijalana, the tackle/guard from Villanova. While some experts may see him as a guard, Kansas City could very well see him as their future left or right tackle. Branden Albert has struggled often at left tackle and has shown to be more apt at right tackle. Ben Ijalana will remind a lot of people of the current Eagles' left tackle, Jason Peters. They are both 6'4, with Peters weighing in at 330lbs and Ijalana weighing in at 315lbs. However, Ijalana is more agile and has the frame to add the bulk. Ijalana is considered the premiere FCS offensive linemen in this draft and year after year there is one great tackle coming from a non-BCS school.
Ijalana is an athletic four-year starter with quick feet and the ability to drive into the second level. His big knocks are the lack of elite competition while at Villanova and a sports hernia. A lot of his other issues can be addressed by experience and good coaching. Even if Ijalana can never truly become more like the recent version of Peters, he could fill in and replace O'Callaghan at right tackle. His arm length is equal to that of top offensive tackle Tyron Smith at 36", and while his 40 time is only in the 5.3 second range, he is a roadgrader - made for run blocking on the right side.
With the addition of Ijalana, Kansas City can look forward to a great offense continuing and growing into the future. Ijalana, Albert and Jon Asamoah - the eventual replacement to Waters - will continue to lead this group. Then look for the Chiefs to search for their replacement for Weigmann with someone like Brandon Fusco in the later rounds.
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Titus Young - WR, Boise State
In the second round, the Chiefs look to expand on their explosive, fast-paced offense. In the running game, the Chiefs are solid. In 2010 the combo of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones rushed for a whopping 2,300 yards combined. Jamaal Charles paced the team, and the league for that matter, with a staggering 6.4 yards per carry. The duo also scored 11 touchdowns out of the team's 13 rushing touchdowns. There is no question that the rushing component is set.
However, the passing part of the offense needs some work. Dwayne Bowe put the team on his back with 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns. Tight end Tony Moeaki was second with only 566 yards. Speedy rookie Dexter McCluster showed some promise but didn't really break out. In reality, the passing game rides on a spread-out attack from Matt Cassel to a half dozen or so extremely fast receivers. Overall, 14 players had a reception and eight different players caught TDs. So, besides Dwayne Bowe, Cassel has no other go-to guy that he can count on, and Dwayne Bowe is getting old.
Enter Titus Young, WR from Boise State University. He is a three-time first-team All-WAC selection for WR and is the all time-leader in yards at Boise St. He also set all-time records with 1,215 yards in 2010 and 25 career touchdowns. At his pro day, he was clocked at a quick 4.39 second forty and weighed in at 5'11" and 174 pounds. He also is a valuable kick returner with 11 kicks returned for TDs in his four years.
I think he will be a good fit for the Chiefs. He has a DeSean Jackson-like skill set and looks to be a solid second receiver in the NFL, capable of averaging 800 yards and half a dozen touchdowns at an above 10.0 ypc.
Next on the clock will be number5 with the New Orleans Saints.
Previous Picks: 1 - Nick Fairley 2 - Patrick Peterson 3 - Blaine Gabbert 4 - Cam Newton 5 - Von Miller 6 - Marcell Dareus 7 - Prince Amukamara 8 - A.J. Green 9 - Da'Quan Bowers 10 - Corey Liuget 11 - Robert Quinn 12 - Julio Jones 13 - Tyron Smith 14 - Jimmy Smith 15 - Mark Ingram 16 - Cameron Jordan 17 - Ryan Kerrigan 18 - Anthony Castonzo 19 - Mike Pouncey 20 - Adrian Clayborn 21 - Phil Taylor 22- Stephen Paea 23 - Brandon Harris 24 - Aldon Smith 25 - Gabe Carimi 26 - Torrey Smith 27 - Justin Houston 28- J.J. Watt 29 - Nate Solder 30 - Akeem Ayers 31- Derek Sherrod 32 - Cameron Heyward 33- Muhammad Wilkerson 34 - Allen Bailey 35 - Jabaal Sheard 36 - Marvin Austin 37 - Jonathan Baldwin 38 - Jake Locker 39 - Colin Kaepernick 40 - James Carpenter 41 - Christian Ponder 42 - Aaron Williams 43 - Ryan Mallett 44 - Rahim Moore 45 - Leonard Hankerson 46 - Kyle Rudolph 47 - Mikel Leshoure 48 - Stefen Wisniewski 49 - Andy Dalton 50 - Brooks Reed 51 - Ras-I Dowling 52 - Mason Foster 53 - James Brewer 54- Clint Boling