If you are a Chiefs fans, go back in time with me for a moment to about 8 months ago.  Do you remember how you felt?  Well, I do....and it was very optimistic, almost giddy as we headed into the NFL draft.

The Chiefs coming off of the worst season of all-time, things couldn't get any worse.  The off-season couldn't come soon enough. 

The Chiefs were finally rid of 'King' Carl Peterson the GM.  Scott Pioli became his replacement.  THE Scott Pioli who had made a career out of helping orchestrate the personnel decisions responsible for the Patriots Dynasty. 

The Chiefs now had the man in the front office who would put the pieces back together for the Chiefs, starting with Matt Cassel.

Pioli brought in the 'franchise' quarterback and was able to keep the number three overall pick in the NFL draft. 

Going into the draft the Chiefs organization had made swift, yet necessary changes to the faces of the organization.  The draft would be the proving grounds for Pioli to show the fans why he [cue Denny Green's voice] is who we thought he was.

This past April, Scott Pioli and the Chiefs selected Tyson Jackson, Defensive End out of LSU with the third overall pick.

If you remember correctly, many draft specialists had suggested that this pick was quite a stretch for Jackson with the third overall pick.  Many of these specialists had Jackson much lower on the "board" as being selected later in the first round, and some had him projected in the second round.

However, the draft guru Pioli, had his man.  The 'organization' had Jackson at the top of their 'board', so they thought 'why go looking for hamburger when you have prime rib staring at you in the face'.

The Chiefs had a glaring need on the defensive line.  They needed a pass-rush specialist who could create havoc in the backfield and put much needed pressure on the opposing quarterback.  Tyson Jackson was drafted to do just that.  After all, Pioli's first pick with the Patriots was a defensive end by the name of Richard Seymour.

Now that hindsight is 20/20, and we are basically at the end of the season lets see how Pioli's pick and the largest investment in Chiefs' history has paid off.  Lets see how this $57 miilion, pass-rush specialist has fared so far for the Chiefs....

Jackson has played in every game in 2009.  His stats thus far:  34 total tackles with 0 sacks. 

Obviously, it is a little too early to label Jackson as a 'bust'.  However, I haven't heard Tyson Jackson's name even brought up more than a handful of times all year long.  That's just not a good sign coming from a man selected above every college football player in the nation except for two others.

The bottom line is that Jackson just hasn't been the force that should be expected out of a man who signed the biggest contract in Chiefs' history; five-year deal worth $57 million and $31 million guaranteed.

So, lets compare him to the other first round picks.  Do you remember the name Aaron Curry?

Curry was the pick that most "draft specialists" projected the Chiefs to select with the number three pick, including Todd McShay.  Curry was labeled as the "surest thing in the draft".  He was a linebacker that could have been used on the inside with the run or the outside with pass rushing. 

Curry now plays for the Seahawks.  To date has produced 61 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 sacks at the Outside Linebacker position.  He has also been injured and not played in one game this year.  Not too bad for the first year player out of Wake Forest.

Maybe Pioli didn't see as big of a need at linebacker as their was at defensive end on the Chiefs.  Ok, so what about the other defensive ends taken in the first round?

Aaron Maybin was the next defensive end selected in the draft with the eleventh pick to the Bills.  So, far Maybin hasn't been able to crack the starting lineup and only has 16 total tackles and 1 forced fumble thus far into the season.  Not acceptable.

The next defensive end taken with the thirteenth overall pick was Brian Orakpo to the Redskins.  In case you haven't heard he is the lone Redskin to be selected to the Pro Bowl.  So, far Orakpo has racked up 48 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 11 sacks after 15 games.  Why didn't Pioli see this guy's talent level during the combine, endless interviews, game film, etc.?

So, as you can see statistically Tyson Jackson was not the best defensive end taken in the draft. 

As I mentioned before, only time will tell if he is a "bust" or not, but so far Jackson just isn't earning his $57 million and Pioli isn't doing the Chiefs any favors with his drafting skills.