Draft day decision makers: Kansas City Chiefs

For the third time the Kansas City Chiefs will allow General Manger Scott Pioli to run their War Room. His first two drafts for the organization have gone fairly well as 12 of his 15 picks are still with the team. He hasn’t landed a pro bowler yet, but he has delivered 4 starters, and 8 backups. That is not a bad record even though his 2009 draft class has performed well below average.

We all know Pioli is a Bill Belichick disciple. Their relationship goes all the way back to mid 1980’s when Belichick was with the New York Giants. He saw something in Pioli and the two have worked together with several organizations. Belichick brought him to the Cleveland Browns in 1992 as a college and pro scout. He spent time with the New York Jets in a similar capacity and was credited with several key free agent signings that helped that organization rebuild. In 2000 he became the defacto General Manger of the New England Patriots even though Belichick had the final say on personnel matters. There the two helped turn the Patriots into perennial contenders.

Much like his mentor Pioli likes to stock pile draft picks and cast a wide net and get a lot of players that can help his team improve on the field. In 2009 he did not pick below the fifth round, but last year he ended up with three picks in the 7th round. He likes to use his higher round picks on guys from big time BCS programs, but is unafraid to take smaller school guys in the later rounds.