Jonathan Baldwin drafted by Chiefs
Thursday's first round had some surprises, but nothing was quite as weird as what happened between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens, picking at No. 26, were on the clock and in negotiations with the Bears to trade their pick when some sort of miscommunication took place. The Ravens essentially missed their pick, and the Chiefs jumped up one spot to select former Pittsburgh wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin. Baldwin, who is 6-foot-4-inch and 228 pounds, caught 53 passes for 822 yards and five touchdowns last season. The Chiefs' second-most productive wide receiver last season, behind Dwayne Bowe
, was Chris Chambers. He caught just 22 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown.
Fantasy Analysis:
There are some character concerns with Baldwin. His attitude was less than optimal with coaches at Pitt. But Chiefs head coach Todd Haley is used to clashing with players. He's done it most publicly with Dwayne Bowe, and he's gotten the best out of him. On the field, Baldwin gives the Chiefs a legit big-play wideout to draw some attention away from Bowe. He's unpolished when it comes to running routes, but he's gigantic and has a 42-inch vertical. It's a nice weapon for Matt Cassel. But don't forget: The Chiefs employ a run-heavy offense. There's no reason to think that will change this season. So while Baldwin will grab a few long bombs and some jump-ball touchdowns, his fantasy impact will probably be very limited in the immediate just due to a lack of opportunity. Long term, he is someone to watch.
Source:
Kansas City Star