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Had Todd Haley remained the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, the selection of Dontari Poe may not have worked.

But the Chiefs are now Romeo Crennel’s team, and that’s why taking Poe at No. 11 in the NFL draft on Thursday might be a shrewd move for a team that has missed by taking defensive lineman high in the draft in the past decade.

Poe is a classic example of the long NFL draft process. He wasn’t considered a top pick when the massive Memphis defensive tackle entered the NFL draft. However, after he stole headlines at the NFL combine in February, he became a projected top-five pick. That happens when a 6-foot-3, 345-pound man runs a 4.98 40-yard dash and bench presses 225 pounds 44 times. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Poe is the only player over 330 pounds to run a sub-five second time since 2006.

However, after Poe put himself in the spotlight, teams closely dissected him and saw a player with immense ability that didn’t always show on the field against marginal competition. It was alarming and it still is.

“I’m still waiting for Poe to unleash the fury,” ESPN analyst Jon Gruden said moments after the Chiefs made him the pick.

This is what ESPN analyst Todd McShay had about Poe last week:

“I see the workout numbers, and I found myself wanting and waiting and wishing and hoping is what I keep saying. Every single play I watched from Memphis just hoping that he would make a big play. He will disrupt and he'll be involved in some plays, but for a guy that you're talking about potential top 10, top 12 pick, I just didn't see the production, and I just didn't see a guy who understands and has a great feel for the game, and that's not to say he won't develop, and he very well may, and one day he may be a junior Haloti Ngata. But Haloti Ngata coming out was a much better football player than Dontari Poe is right now, and that scares me, and that's why I've dropped him to where he is as the third best defensive tackle, somewhere in kind of the middle range … I've got him at 19 overall in the class.”

In the days leading up to the draft, there was talk that Poe’s lack of consistent game film would override his off-the-charts ability, and he’d be picked in the 20-25 range. However, the Chiefs took another swipe at a defensive lineman early in the draft. Bypassing a safe pick such as Stanford guard David DeCastro, the Chiefs went boom or bust with Poe.

The decision to take Poe is understandable. The Chiefs, who had an outstanding free-agency period, do not have many holes. If Poe fills the nose tackle position as the team hopes he does, the Chiefs will be one of the most talented teams in the NFL and a real playoff threat. According to ESPN Stats and Information, last season Kansas City had one sack, two batted passes and three tackles for loss by its nose tackle -- and that was from the aging Kelly Gregg, a free agent.

The Chiefs hope to get better production out of Poe than they have from other defensive linemen they've taken in the first round of recent years. The team took Ryan Sims at No. 6 in the 2002 draft and he was a terrible bust. In 2008, they took defensive end Glenn Dorsey at No. 5 and in 2009 they took Tyson Jackson at No. 3. Both Dorsey and Jackson remain in Kansas City, but they have not been impact players.

Yet, they have improved in the past two years under Crennel, who became the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator in 2010 before taking over for Haley. I think Crennel is a key to the Poe pick.

Crennel is known as one of the best defensive line coaches in NFL history and he is known for getting questionable motors to start.

Poe may have a new best friend in Crennel. He is nurturer and he believes in his players. We saw the impact Crennel had on the entire Kansas City roster. The players loved the difference between the impatient and often caustic Haley and the calm, encouraging Crennel.

If think Crennel will motivate and teach Poe. Haley would have berated him and goaded him. I have a feeling Poe may respond more positively to Crennel’s approach. Crennel will teach him to become an NFL player and use his natural ability. Remember, this kid started high school as a drummer in the band. He is still raw.

Crennel has the patience and expertise to make Poe a good player and get the most out of this pick. If not, it will go down as another swing and miss on the defensive line in Kansas City.

Tyson Jackson's time in Kansas City is hitting a critical stage.

NFL.com reported that Jackson -- the No. 3 overall pick in the 2009 draft -- has accepted a major contract restructuring. The report said the restructuring was amicable and logical, but it is clear the Chiefs were focused on getting Jackson’s pay scale in line with his production. He was heavily overpaid because of his draft slotting. The Chiefs are in fine salary-cap shape, so this wasn’t a restructuring done out of necessity.

The report states that Jackson’s 2014 contract was voided and he could hit the open market as soon as next year. Jackson will now reportedly see his 2012 contract go from more than $8 million to $4.25 million in base salary, with $4 million guaranteed. According to the report, Jackson will have a $14.72 million salary in 2013 with a whopping a $17.5 million cap figure. Thus, expect Jackson to be either restructured again or cut next year.

Jackson is a decent player. He will never produce up to the standards of being the No. 3 player selected, but he’s not a total bust, either. This new contract allows the Chiefs flexibility moving forward.

It also makes you wonder if the team could add a defensive end early in the draft. The Chiefs have the No. 11 pick and perhaps they could be in play for someone such as Mississippi State’s Fletcher Cox or North Carolina's Quinton Coples.

In other AFC West news:

ESPN Stats & Information has a look at what the Raiders have received for their spent 2012 draft picks.

Former Oakland cornerback Chris Johnson is visiting the Jets, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Johnson was cut by Oakland earlier this year.

The Raiders are keeping their future stadium options open.

This is considered a deep draft class for defensive tackles.

The name that has been on the top of the list has been Memphis’ Dontari Poe. However, in recent weeks, Mississippi State’s Fletcher Cox has been getting a lot of attention, and many scouts think Cox could end up being drafted before Poe. Cox has better game film, and scouts think he might be a safer pick.

This is what ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay had to say about Cox on a conference call this week: “As far as the defensive tackles, it's a deep group, and there's a lot of talent here. Fletcher Cox, the more tape I watch, the more he just grew on me, and I love his versatility. I think he plays the game hard. I think he can rush the passer both from the inside and the outside, different styles, more of a three technique. On the outside he seals the edge and is stronger at the point of attack than when he plays on the inside, but I also see some ability to get off the quarterback with power moves and leverage moves as a left defensive end type or a 3-4 defensive end, as well, on occasion. I think he's the best of the group, I really do, and I think he'll continue to get better.”

It makes me wonder whether the Kansas City Chiefs could be interested in Cox at No. 11. There has been a lot of talk that Poe could be headed to the Chiefs. However, Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli is a huge believer in college production. Poe had mediocre game film, which is a red flag despite his terrific measurables and combine numbers.

The Chiefs’ biggest need is a nose tackle, and Poe is considered a better fit as a 3-4 tackle than Cox. Although he is versatile, Cox is considered a better defensive end prospect for a 3-4 team. The Chiefs used the No. 5 pick on Glenn Dorsey in 2008, and the No. 3 pick on Tyson Jackson in 2009. Both are serviceable, but neither has lived up to their draft status.

Perhaps Pioli will target Cox, and see where he best fits on the Chiefs’ defensive front. Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel is one of the best coaches in the league for getting production out of players.

Adding a quality player like Cox would only help Kansas City, regardless of where he lines up. I’m not saying the Chiefs are going to take Cox, but I think he has to be considered a possibility.

Whether Darrius Heyward-Bey will ever live up to his lofty draft status or whether he even becomes a consistently reliable player is still to be determined.

At least, the man who took an overwhelmingly amount of heat (including from this writer) for taking Heyward-Bey with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2009 draft lived to see the Oakland Raiders receiver make some strides.

In the final game he witnessed the Raiders play, Al Davis watched Heyward-Bey be a bright spot for the Raiders in a Week 4 loss to New England. While perhaps honoring the man who drafted him, Heyward-Bey enjoyed his career highlight in Week 5, the day after Davis died at the age of 82.

Heyward-Bey had a team-high seven catches for 99 yards in the Raiders’ 25-20 win at Houston, which goes down as one of the greatest regular-season moments in team history. Heyward-Bey put Oakland back in the game late in the second quarter when he scored on a 34-yard touchdown after showing strong tackle-breaking ability.

It was fitting that Heyward-Bey player such a major role in the Raiders’ first win without Davis. Heyward-Bey was emotional after the game in interviews and talked about the importance of wearing the Silver and Black. The day Davis died, Heyward-Bey tweeted a thank you to Davis for changing his life.

However, the pairing wasn’t initially easy for either man.

The Maryland product was considered a late first-round or second-round prospect prior to the draft. He had good size and stunning speed. Yet, he wasn’t overly productive in college and there were questions about his hands. Still, Davis was -- as he often was -- enamored with Heyward-Bey’s speed. Davis shocked the NFL by taking Heyward-Bey with the No. 7 pick. Most scouts thought Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree was the best all-around receiving prospect. He went three selections later to San Francisco.

Heyward-Bey didn’t do himself any favors when he dropped several passes in his first NFL minicamp. The drops continued in training camp and then in the season. Heyward-Bey had some positive moments in his first two NFL seasons, but the drops and inconsistency overpowered the bright spots.

Heyward-Bey had only 35 catches in his first 26 games.

After JaMarcus Russell -- the No. 1 pick of the 2007 draft -- busted, Davis (who scored with several late draft picks in recent years) received criticism for blowing another top pick in the form of Heyward-Bey.

Yet, Davis never wavered on Heyward-Bey. Despite several other promising young receivers on the roster, Heyward-Bey continued to get plenty of chances in his third year. It is paying off. He has 16 catches this season. But the key is his 11 catches in the past two games.

He looks much more confident and he plays very physically. The drops are decreasing.

“I keep telling you guys, Darrius is rising,” Raiders coach Hue Jackson told reporters after the Houston game. “I’m very happy for Darrius.”

Heyward-Bey will have to complete this season with several more quality games before he is considered a player who has a clear future. But he's showing that it's worth the Raiders' time to continue to develop him. The Raiders are loaded with intriguing talent at receiver, so Heyward-Bey’s development will only make this offense more difficult to defend.

He also is helping his legacy in the 2009 draft class. Overall, that year’s draft is considered to be poor. Several second- and third-round picks already have been cut by their drafting team, and several first-round picks (including every other AFC West top-round pick: Kansas City’s Tyson Jackson, Denver’s Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers and San Diego’s Larry English) have yet to develop. The No. 11 overall pick, Aaron Maybin of Buffalo, already has been cut. Just this week, the Raiders acquired linebacker Aaron Curry -- the No. 4 pick in that draft -- from Seattle for a seventh-round pick in 2012 and a conditional 2013 pick.

Yet, some good receivers were taken in that draft. Taken after Heyward-Bey and Crabtree (he has had a slow start to this season, but he does have 114 catches in 31 games compared with Heyward-Bey’s 51 catches in 30 games) in the first round were Philadelphia’s Jeremy Maclin, Minnesota’s Percy Harvin, the Giants’ Hakeem Nicks and Tennessee’s Kenny Britt. Other notable receivers taken in that draft were Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace (third), the Jaguars’ Mike Thomas (fourth), Oakland’s Louis Murphy (fourth), the Colts’ Austin Collie (fourth) and the Bears’ Johnny Knox (fifth).

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. is not sure if Heyward-Bey is in the league of most of those players. Yet, Williamson sees improvements being made.

“He is certainly getting better,” Williamson said. “His routes are crisper and more reliable and his hands are also more reliable. The speed is obvious -- and it is still his greatest asset.”

The Raiders hope to see Heyward-Bey continue to work and become an overall asset -- and become a positive part of Davis’ drafting legacy.

Shortly after he made his first draft choice as the general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, Scott Pioli was questioned.

Many people thought Pioli made a mistake by taking LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson with the No. 3 overall pick instead of Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry. He went one pick later to Seattle. Curry was considered to be the safest bet of the draft.

Well, Wednesday, Seattle gave up on Curry. He was basically given away to Oakland two-and-half years after being picked. Curry lost his starting job to a rookie this year.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs are seeing improvement from Jackson, who has been slow to produce himself. Jackson may never be a star. But the Chiefs think he will be a solid contributor. Of course, that is not what you’re looking for in a top-five pick, but as Curry showed in Seattle, it could be worse.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The 2009 NFL draft was not a good one.

Several second- and third-round picks have already been cut. The class took its most serious hit Monday when the Buffalo Bills jettisoned defensive end/linebacker Aaron Maybin. He was the No. 11 overall pick. It is astonishing that a team would give up on a pick that high before the player’s third season.

It’s a prime example of how weak the 2009 draft class was.

The AFC West had five first-round picks that year and none has fully developed. They were defensive end Tyson Jackson (No. 3, Kansas City), receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (No. 7, Oakland), running back Knowshon Moreno (No. 12, Denver), linebacker Larry English (No. 16, San Diego) and defensive end Robert Ayers (No. 18, Denver).

Although none of these players has produced yet, all eyes are on Jackson because of how high he was taken. However, I haven't had any indication from people I have spoken with at Chiefs camp that they believe they have a Maybin case on their hands. Actually, Kansas City is satisfied with Jackson’s progress.

He started to make strides before he was hurt early last season. He has produced solidly in camp this year. The Chiefs see Jackson as a reliable, hard-working player whom they expect to be a steady, long-term starter. He hasn't made the Pro Bowl or produced gaudy sack numbers. (He has one sack in 28 NFL games.) But Kansas City envisions him as the starting left end for the next several years.

Ideally, you’d want much more than just a steady player from the No. 3 pick. But that’s what type of class this has been. Many league observers thought the Chiefs would take Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry. He went to Seattle at No. 4. He, too, hasn’t set the NFL on fire. The case certainly could have been made for Kansas City to take Boston College nose tackle B.J. Raji. He went six spots later to Green Bay and he has become a stalwart. But Raji had character concerns coming out of college, and the Chiefs may have been leery of him.

Jackson is known for his good character, and the Chiefs think his attitude is one of the reasons he'll develop. I asked Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. for his opinion on Jackson. Williamson thinks Jackson has a long way to go and doesn’t think he was worth the No. 3 pick, but he has hope for him.

“He has a very strong defensive coaching staff,” Williamson said. “I would bet he ends up being an adequate starter.”

As Maybin hits the waiver wire Tuesday, it's time to reflect back on the 2009 draft class. However, it seems too early to think this division’s top pick from that class will end up being another Maybin.

San Diego cornerback and punt returner Antoine Cason could miss several weeks of the preseason because he is having surgery to repair a severely broken ring finger. He is expected to be ready for the season.

The Chiefs officially signed former Sam Diego linebacker Brandon Siler.

The Oakland Tribune expects Zach Miller to re-sign with the Raiders very soon.

Defensive end Tyson Jackson knows this is a big season for him in Kansas City. He was the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2009 and, so far, has given the team limited contribution. This could be a make-or-break year for Jackson in Kansas City.

ESPN is going to reveal a new way to gauge a quarterback’s true value on Friday. It’ll be a fun system to follow throughout the season to see exactly what kind of impact each AFC West quarterback has on his team.

Tackle Matt Light has agreed to stay in New England. The Chiefs were connected to him.

This is the sixth in our series of position-by-position rankings. It is a little different this season because we’re ranking the players before free agency starts and before rosters are set. We will adjust accordingly as we go along. On to an improved group of defensive linemen:

1. Richard Seymour, Oakland: He is the class of the division. He is aging, but he is still a brilliant player.

2. Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City: He made great strides in 2010, his third NFL season. He had adjusted well to the 3-4, and he is the anchor to a young defense.

3. Tommy Kelly, Oakland: Kelly had his best NFL season in 2010, and he pairs very nicely with Seymour. He is tough when he is motivated.

4. Elvis Dumervil, Denver: Dumervil is back to end in a 4-3 after excelling in a 3-4 defense. He struggles against the run, but he is a force as a pass-rusher.

5. Lamarr Houston, Oakland: I really like this second-year player. He is a potential star.

6. Antonio Garay, San Diego: Garay had a terrific season in 2010. He is a tremendous nose tackle.

7. Luis Castillo, San Diego: Castillo is a solid player, but I’d like to see more impact plays.

8. Matt Shaughnessy, Oakland: He’s another fine young player for Oakland. He has made the most of his opportunities.

9. Tyson Jackson, Kansas City: Jackson has been just so-so. This is a huge season for the No. 3 overall pick of the 2009 draft.

10. Corey Liuget, San Diego: The No. 18 overall pick of the 2011 draft will start at end, and he will get a chance to make an immediate impact.

11. Wallace Gilberry, Kansas City: He’s an underrated player. He can get sacks in bunches.

12. John Henderson, Oakland: He is aging, but he can still help Oakland as a run stuffer.

13. Robert Ayers, Denver: This is a big season for Ayers, the No. 18 pick in 2009. New coach John Fox likes him, so he’ll get a chance to start.

14. Trevor Scott, Oakland: Scott has a chance to be very good. He has natural pass-rushing ability.

15. Ron Edwards, Kansas City: He’s steady. The Chiefs want more help at tackle, but Edwards is OK.

16. Shaun Smith, Kansas City: The Chiefs need to bring him back. He can make an impact.

17. Marcus Thomas, Denver: Denver wants this free agent back.

18. Allen Bailey, Kansas City: The Chiefs are very excited about this third-round pick. He could play right away.

19. Kevin Vickerson, Denver: Denver re-signed him in March.

20 Vaughn Martin, San Diego: It’s time for this project to make a move.

21. Cam Thomas, San Diego: The Chargers still have high hopes for this second-year player.

San Diego’s Mike Tolbert is one of the more physical running backs in the NFL. At 5-foot-9, 244 pounds, Tolbert is a bruiser, who is known for bowling over defenders on his way to an extra yard or four.

Tolbert has taken his aggression to an interesting place during the lockout: The boxing ring. Tolbert has started working out in a San Diego area gym after working out with his teammates. Tolbert said he is in supreme shape.

While Tolbert plans to stick to football, he clearly has the aptitude for the ring.

“Mike Tolbert can be a fighter, without question,” his trainer David Soliven said.

It will be interesting to see how superior conditioning gleaned from the boxing ring will translate to the football field when the season starts.

In other AFC West nuggets Sunday afternoon:

Pro Football Weekly takes a look at whether or not the Raiders should take former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft. There’s no doubt, with the lockout still going on, that is one of the most intriguing questions in the AFC West these days. We’ve addressed it a lot and I still think the Raiders, or any other team, should only take Pryor if it can get him in the fourth round or lower. The problem is, the Raiders don’t have a fourth-round pick next year. They don’t have a second rounder, either. So, if the Raiders do take Pryor in the supplemental draft, their 2012 picks would dwindle to four. That’s risky business

• Pro Football Weekly looks at how Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali needs some sack assistance from defensive ends Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. Hali had 14.5 sacks last season while Dorsey and Jackson combined for three sacks in 2010. Yeah, it sounds like Hali needs some help from the big fellas.

We had an wildly close call to our poll, asking readers which AFC West 2009 first-round pick will end up having the best NFL career.

They are: Tyson Jackson (Chiefs), Darrius Heyward-Bey (Raiders), Knowshon Moreno (Broncos), Larry English (Chargers) and Robert Ayers (Broncos). Thus far, none of the five have made a significant contribution.

There was clearly no consensus for the player readers think will develop. As of 6 p.m. ET Wednesday, Jackson and Heyward-Bey were tied with 23 percent of the vote. Ayers and Moreno each received 19 percent of the voting and English received 16 percent. More than 3,500 votes were recorded. It’s remarkable that all five players were separated by seven percent of the vote.

I understand why the voting was so tight. All five have had chances to produce, but they haven’t. Yet, all five should continue to get chances. This season will be crucial for all five of these former first-round picks. If any these players fail to take the next step in their season, their respective teams will likely start losing patience with them.

Last week, the AFC West’s 2009 first-round draft class was ranked the worst in the NFL by my colleagues Mike Sando and Matt Williamson.

It was a deserved ranking. The division’s class has not been good. Here it is: Tyson Jackson (No. 3, Kansas City), Darrius Heyward-Bey (No. 7, Oakland), Knowshon Moreno (No. 12, Denver), Larry English (No. 16, San Diego) and Robert Ayers (No. 18 Denver).

None of the five players have made a major impact heading into their third NFL season. Please take our poll and choose the player who you expect will end up having the best NFL career of the group.

Give us your reason for your choice below in the comment section. We will review the results Wednesday.

The 2009 AFC West first-round draft class was just dissed. Badly.

My colleagues Mike Sando and Matt Williamson ranked the first-rounds classes of each division.

Hate to break this to you, but the AFC West was ranked last. What’s even more painful is it wasn’t a very strong overall class. To be last of a weak class is tough to take.

But, let’s face it. It is deserved. The five (yes, the AFC West even got an extra pick via the Jay Cutler trade) picks in the class have done virtually nothing in their first two NFL seasons.

To recap, here’s the mess of a class: Tyson Jackson (No. 3, Kansas City), Darrius Heyward-Bey No. 7, Oakland), Knowshon Moreno (No. 12, Denver), Larry English (No. 16, San Diego) and Robert Ayers (No. 18 Denver).

Folks, there’s a chance we can go five-for-five on the old bust meter here. Yes, all five players have potential, but it’s time for each of them to get going.

For now, the last-place ranking can’t be argued.

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli held his pre-draft press briefing Friday. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights:

Of course, Pioli didn’t give any major hints what the team will do with the No. 21 overall pick. However, the Kansas City Star reports that Pioli indicated the Chiefs will likely go for the best available player rather than jumping on a particular need. Pioli reasons that there is always a need at every position.

''I don’t think there’s a position on this football team where there isn’t a need,'' Pioli said. ''Something I feel strongly about and Todd [Haley] feels strongly about is the mentality we had in New England. It doesn’t matter who you have at any position ... you’re never set at any one position. … There are bad things that can happen to players and your team so you better be ready for the next player. So we have a need at every position. Some are ranked higher than others for immediacy but that doesn’t mean you run from another position. It goes into trying to find the delicate balance between best player available and need.

''It’s obvious to people what people perceive and what we perceive the needs are but you also have to think ahead. You can’t focus in a one-year or even a two-year frame of thinking because then you set yourself up for failure when you’re trying to build a consistent winner.''

It all makes sense. Fortunately for the Chiefs, the best players available in the range where they pick in the first round fit their needs. Expect Kansas City to be able to choose from several pass-rushers and offensive linemen at No. 21.

Arrowheadpride.com reports that Pioli said the jury is still out on the recent drafts, however, he stood by the selection of defensive lineman Tyson Jackson at No. 3 in 2009. Pioli’s first choice in Kansas City has showed flashes, but he has yet to prove himself.

"I look back to that draft and I would say that I think we do have a good player in Tyson Jackson," he said. "I know the jury is still out. We need to see that. I think everyone in our organization is pretty confident still that Tyson is going to be a good player."

Jackson looks the part and he is known for having a good attitude. But he has to make strides this season or the bust rumblings will grow louder.

The Chiefs’ website reports Pioli talked about the importance of scouts having their own voice so the team can thoroughly evaluate players.

“All of the scouts that we hire and develop within our program, we want to make sure that they disagree,” Pioli explained. “Not for the sake of just disagreeing, but we want them to have their own opinions. They understand that it’s a healthy thing to disagree and the same goes for our coaches. … We encourage [debate] just by doing it and there’s never a feeling of intimidation or shouting people down. I’ve seen and heard of places where there are disagreements and they’ll throw [conflicting] opinions out the window or talk a person down. There is no component of disrespect in our meetings. We encourage [disagreement] because we have a nice mix of older coaches and scouts with younger coaches and scouts.”

Pioli has a strong grasp on his organization. He has long had a reputation for being one of the league’s better drafters dating back to his New England days, and his decision in April has helped expedite the Chiefs’ progress.

There are high expectations for this defensive line draft class.

San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith says this is the strongest group available in the draft. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said that he hasn’t seen such an impressive defensive line group at the combine and in workouts.

That’s why defensive tackles Marcell Dareus of Alabama and Nick Fairley of Auburn both could be top-five picks. Defensive ends Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson and Robert Quinn of North Carolina may not be far behind Dareus and Fairley. The Denver Broncos are studying defensive linemen closely and may take Dareus at No. 2.

Even though the talent is high at this position, Denver -- and every other team picking in the top five -- must beware. Taking a defensive lineman with a top-five pick is a major gamble.

Over the past 20 years, 24 defensive linemen have been taken with top-five picks -- with extremely mixed results. For every Julius Peppers (drafted No. 2 in 2002) and Ndamukong Suh (drafted No. 2 in 2010), there are busts like Dewayne Robertson (No. 4, 2003), Courtney Brown (No. 1, 2000) and Steve Emtman (No. 1, 1992).

Even though he likes this group of defensive linemen, McShay acknowledged earlier in the offseason that the bust rate for defensive linemen is “shockingly high.” Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said he thinks defensive line and wide receiver are “neck-and-neck” as the riskiest positions in the first round behind quarterback, which is in a different league when it comes to draft uncertainty.

Williamson thinks one of the reasons many top defensive linemen fail is a sense of entitlement. He said top defensive linemen are rare because of their combination of size, speed and ability. They are pampered from an early age and may not work as hard as other, less-coveted players.

“I think it comes down to them just being very special people/athletes,” Williamson said. “If you notice, a high percentage of the stud DT talent comes from huge colleges. For example: When I was at Pitt, we just couldn't get great DT recruits. There are just so few people in the world with their size that can move like stud DTs need to. They are very coveted and go to massive programs. Even at the college level, they are freakish enough that they often don't have to work extremely hard to be great. When they get to the NFL, that all changes ... and they often don't adapt in terms of professionalism and work ethic.”

Williamson said he believes Dareus will buck the trend and have a strong NFL career and be worthy of a top-five pick. However, he said he has concerns about Bowers and Fairley because they were “one-year wonders [who] would disappear at times.”

Studying the history of failure at the position and trying to figure out if this year’s prospects can succeed in the NFL has been one of the Broncos’ toughest tasks. Vice president of football operations John Elway has acknowledged the risk involved in studying defensive linemen.



“It’s so hard to be able to find guys with that size that have athletic ability,” Elway said. "Whether they’re raw coming out of college or they’re polished coming out of college, people see that athletic ability with the size and the speed. You just can’t find that, it’s very difficult to find those type of athletes that are that big later in the draft. That’s why I think you see so many of those guys with the speed and the size do not go very deep in the draft.”

Perhaps last year signaled a change in the trend. Detroit took Suh at No. 2 and Tampa Bay took Gerald McCoy at No. 3. Suh was brilliant and McCoy was impressive before he was injured. Denver would love to get a player of Suh’s or McCoy’s caliber in the form of Dareus.

The decade before 2010 didn’t produce anyone great other than Peppers, although Mario Williams, who was taken No. 1 in 2006, has become a good player.

The Chiefs took defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey at No. 5 in 2008 and defensive end Tyson Jackson No. 3 in 2009. Dorsey came on strong last season and was a big part of an improved defense after a slow first two seasons. Jackson has shown some flashes, but he has yet to show he was worthy of a top-five pick. Like Dorsey, St. Louis defensive end Chris Long, taken at No. 2 in 2008, began to make strides in 2010.

Denver can’t afford to wait on production if it takes a defensive lineman with the No. 2 pick. The Broncos were last in the NFL in total defense and points allowed in 2010. Elway has said numerous times that the Broncos have to get this pick right. In a perfect world, the Broncos would take a defensive lineman and begin their resurrection. History, though, shows it’s not that simple.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: draft rewind -- examining the past five drafts.

Denver Broncos

Best choice: Elvis Dumervil, defensive end/linebacker.The Broncos have had an uneven drafting history in the past five years. Many of Denver’s better picks are no longer with the team. Dumervil was a safe choice. He has been a very productive player since Denver took him the fourth round in 2006. Dumervil led the NFL with 17 sacks in 2009. He missed all of last season with a pectoral injury. But he is considered a cornerstone of Denver’s defense as it begins the John Fox era.

Worst choice: Alphonso Smith, cornerback. There are a lot of candidates here, but I had to go with Smith. He edged out 2007 No. 17 overall pick Jarvis Moss, who was cut last season. Smith is the choice because he lasted one season in Denver and he cost the Broncos the No. 14 overall pick in 2010. Former Denver coach Josh McDaniels fell for Smith when he dropped to the second round in 2009. McDaniels, running his first NFL draft, traded the team’s first-round pick in 2010 to take Smith. He was replaced four times as a rookie, including by an undrafted rookie. Denver finally dumped him off to Detroit on the final cut-down day last year.

On the bubble: Knowshon Moreno, running back. There are a few choices here, but Moreno has to make immediate strides. The No. 12 overall pick in 2009 has had a slow start to his career. He’s had his moments, but he’s been plagued by injuries and an overall lack of productivity. If he doesn’t progress in 2011, the Broncos may have to make other plans at tailback.

Kansas City Chiefs

Best choice: Jamaal Charles, running back. Charles was a wonderful parting gift from the Carl Peterson era. He was part of Peterson’s final draft in Kansas City and was he a doozy. He was taken in the third round, with the No. 73 overall pick in 2008. The pick was acquired from Minnesota in the Jared Allen trade. Charles has developed into one of the best running backs in the NFL. He is a big reason why the Chiefs were a worst-to-first story in 2010.

Worst choice: Turk McBride, defensive lineman. The Chiefs haven’t had many overtly horrible picks in the past five years. I’m going with McBride because he was a second-round pick, No. 54 overall, in 2007. The defensive lineman spent his second season on the injured reserve and was cut in 2009.

On the bubble: Tyson Jackson, defensive end. Jackson had potential to make Kansas City fans forget about McBride. The defensive end was the No. 3 overall pick in 2009. He hasn’t done much in two seasons. Still, the Chiefs are hopeful that the earnest Jackson will develop into a good player. He will have time to prove himself, but he will be watched closely.

Oakland Raiders

Best choice: Zach Miller, tight end. The Raiders’ 2007 draft will always be remembered for the colossal JaMarcus Russell mistake. But the Raiders did find a gem with their very next pick. They took Miller in the second round with the No. 38 overall choice. Miller has developed into one of the better young tight ends in the NFL. He is a top offensive weapon.

Worst choice: JaMarcus Russell, quarterback. I didn’t have to do much debating on this one. Russell is considered by many league observers to be the worst draft pick of all time. He never improved and the Raiders gave up on him last spring at the age of 24. Russell is still out of the league.

On the bubble: Darrius Heyward-Bey, wide receiver. The No. 7 overall pick in 2009 needs to start producing on a consistent basis and he needs to show he can catch the ball. If not, Heyward-Bey will fall further behind Oakland’s other, more productive young receivers. Heyward-Bey has only 35 catches in 26 NFL games.

San Diego Chargers

Best choice: Marcus McNeill, left tackle. The Chargers have some solid picks in the past five years, but I’m going to go with McNeill. He is not an elite left tackle, but he is a very solid player who is a strong anchor to the offensive line. He is the long-term answer for San Diego at a key spot. San Diego is getting a lot of value for the No. 50 overall pick in 2006.

Worst choice: Buster Davis, wide receiver. The Chargers haven’t whiffed badly on a lot of picks in the past five years. But it looks as if Davis may not ever pan out as a Charger. He was the team’s first-round pick in 2007, No. 30 overall. His biggest issue has been staying healthy. He finally showed some promise last year, but he missed the final nine games with an injury. He has played only 26 games in four seasons.

On the bubble: Larry English, linebacker. English is the fourth 2009 first-round pick to make this list. Like the other three players, it’s time for English to show he can help his team. The Chargers took the Northern Illinois linebacker at No. 16 because of his high motor and ability to rush the passer. English, who already is 25, has only five sacks in two NFL seasons. He missed eight games because of injury in 2010. The Chargers probably will draft a pass-rusher in the first round, so English will have to fight for playing time in 2011.