2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Pick 36

The second round of the 2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft rolls along. We're having each SB Nation blogger make selections for their respective teams. Joel Thorman, lead blogger at SB Nation's Kansas City Chiefs blog, Arrowhead Pride, checks in to make the No. 36 overall selection in this year's mock. Take it away, sir!

With the No. 36 overall pick in the 2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs have selected Nate Allen, S, South Florida.

Joel Thorman says: Heading into the 2010 NFL draft, the Chiefs' three biggest needs were inside linebacker, nose tackle and safety. Alabama LB Rolando McClain fills one of those needs, and it's too late to snag a nose tackle that can be plugged into a starting role immediately. So, the Chiefs move onto safety and pick the best one available. The two big names in the safety class this year are Eric Berry and Taylor Mays, both of whom are obviously off the board.

USF's Nate Allen is next up on the board and fits what the Chiefs have been calling the "right 53."

He was a respected team leader at USF and responsible for calling the plays on defense. This means he's not just an athlete, but an athlete with a head on his shoulders. Like McClain, Allen appears to understand the game - something on which the Chiefs place a high priority.

NFL mock drafters have noted his above average instincts as well as his focus, which again are important parts of being a Chiefs draft pick.

If the competition came down to him and Jarrad Page for one of the safety positions, then I'd have to side with Allen starting very quickly. This Chiefs regime has, at times, put an emphasis on "their guys," and Page, who was placed on IR in 2009, is not a player acquired under this regime.

Safety is a major need for the Chiefs, and Allen is one of the few out there that could step in and play right away, which is something a ten-wins-in-three-years team needs.

Mocking Dan reacts: If a free safety is the choice for Kansas City, I much prefer Morgan Burnett of Georgia Tech. He's more of a playmaker than Allen. Still, either player would be better what the team has on its roster. It might also be hard to pass up on Damian Williams, who looks like a Derrick Mason clone in the making.

Mocking the Draft's Top 5 remaining prospects: 1 - Bruce Campbell/OT/Maryland, 2 - Jonathan Dwyer/RB/Georgia Tech, 3 - Damian Williams/WR/USC, 4 - Rob Gronkowski/TE/Arizona, 5 - Brandon Spikes/LB/Florida

Sound off, SB Nation! What say you of Chiefs' selection of Allen? Please be sure to check out Arrowhead Pride for all of your Chiefs needs.