Assigning grades just hours following a draft is a lot like the myriad mock drafts before the draft. It's mostly calculated guesswork. But everyone does it, and the response by readers is amazing.

The way things are shaping up early on Draft Day, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey could fall to No. 5.

One scenario, which remains hypothetical until anything happens, is for the Rams to take Chris Long at No. 2. We're hearing that the Atlanta Falcons, who have the third pick, are leaning toward picking Matt Ryan because Dorsey's previously broken tibia has scared off the Falcons. Then, the Raiders would pick Darren McFadden at No. 4.

This isn't really the Chiefs draft board. I just couldn't resist adding to the out-of-hand hype preceding this draft.

Having said that, this is my best guess at the order in which the Chiefs would draft the top available remaining players with their first pick at No. 5. This ranking is formulated from discussions with some of their officials over the recent weeks plus their obvious roster needs:

Understand that I'm not predicting that any of this is going to happen. But I've just spent some time looking at the draft trade chart chart that teams use to figure value of their picks. Because the Chiefs have two of the first 17 and six of the first 82 picks, their trade possibilities are endless.

As if the Chiefs needed more reminders of how critical this weekend's draft is, the media and fans are sending frequent reminders.

Since the Chiefs acquired two additional draft picks in the Jared Allen trade, giving Kansas City 13 choices, the team's weekend has emerged as a favorite conversation topic. It's not unusual to see a reference to this weekend's draft and see that the Chiefs could be "major players" or could "rule the draft."

It now appears the Chiefs will have the opportunity to select either DE Chris Long or DE Vernon Gholston with the fifth pick of the draft --- assuming they don't trade it.
Word out of St. Louis is the Rams favor DT Glenn Dorsey with the second pick. And an associate in Atlanta messaged me today saying the Falcons, after watching journeymen Chris Redman and Joey Harrington in a mini-camp, are now convinced they have to take QB Matt Ryan.

The Chiefs won't get their regular-season meeting with Jared Allen. They would have had they sent Allen to Tampa Bay rather than Minnesota. Tampa Bay comes to Arrowhead on Nov. 2.

The Chiefs and Vikings don't play one another during the season, but it appears the teams will gather during training camp for at least one joint practice. If so, Allen will at least practice against the Chiefs.

Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said today the team might spend the days before Saturday's NFL draft examining the possibility of trading for even more draft picks.

Kansas City entered this week with 10 draft picks. But Tuesday night's trade of All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen gave the Chiefs three more -- for a total of six of the draft's first 82 choices.

As I write this, the Jared Allen sweepstakes includes two teams: Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Philadelphia has reportedly offered the Chiefs a cornerback, Lito Sheppard, and one or more lower-round draft picks, but that package won't come close to getting the job done.

Believe it or not, the Chiefs could benefit from the Miami Dolphins signing Jake Long and making him Saturday's top overall pick.

Sure, Long might have been the top player on the Chiefs' board. Long signed a five-year contract Tuesday worth $57.75 million, with a reported $30 million in guarantees. That deal is down from the total package signed (eventually) by last year's No. 1 pick, JaMarcus Russell, who held out for months before signing his deal. Russell's contract was worth $61 million over six years; it also included about $30 million guaranteed.