DT Dontari Poe Heads To Chiefs Before Broncos Have Shot

The Broncos didn’t make a first round draft pick, but that doesn’t mean we should completely ignore the first round. Let’s take a look at a player that the Kansas City Chiefs selected in the first round which is also a player that the Broncos had up on their board.

Dontari Poe was not well known in the public ranks until the NFL combine. Then again, nose tackles aren’t the pretty boys of the sport. Poe blazed the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.98 seconds which is remarkable for a guy who’s 6’4″, 346 pounds. He also put up 44 reps on the bench press. His performance there threw him into the public eye and propelled him up the draft board even though he was already considered a first round pick.

The question for Chiefs fans is was Poe worth the 11th overall pick?

So far, the fans over at Arrowhead Addict are giving that move a B (32%) on the draft report card. Poe gets a C from 29% of the voters over there.

In the eyes of the Chiefs, Poe stands for Poe-tential. They’re hoping that lining him up in Romeo Crennel’s system will bring out his strengths.

“Most people say I can play pretty much anything,” Poe said. “Which I can, but I just think one position, if I were to learn it and just get acclimated that, would be the best for me, is nose tackle.”

He wants to be a four down player, and he’s excited about playing for Crennel.

“He’s a defensive genius,” Poe said. “I think he’s a D-line coach at heart.”

I’m thrilled the Broncos didn’t get a chance at selecting Poe. That was a hype train coming full speed. Poe gets inside quickly on passing plays, and he’s got a burst off the snap. However, his size puts him at a disadvantage at nose tackle. He has shorter arms and he’s only blocked four passes in his career.

This kid is a work in progress for the Chiefs, and as a Broncos fan, I couldn’t be happier that they spent their 11th on him.

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