"I wouldn't say there is a specific focus on one part of the team," Pioli said when asked what position the Chiefs seek help from in the draft. "There are a lot of places where we need to improve, roster spots one through 53 and a lot of different positions."

It's the first complete change in the Kansas City draft room in the last 20 years, as Carl Peterson was the final decision maker when it came to draft picks since 1989. Peterson gave his head coaches great leeway and power in making the picks, seldom overruling their desires for a player or position. One time that he did was in the first-round of 2003 when Dick Vermeil wanted defensive end/outside linebacker Tyler Brayton and Peterson grabbed running back Larry Johnson. Advantage Peterson.

Coming off nine drafts as the right-hand man for Belichick in New England, Pioli is now on his own. Given the lack of success Belichick assistant coaches have had moving up in the NFL and at Notre Dame, the NFL will be watching to see if Pioli can succeed without the guy in the hoody at his side.

Pioli has said little publicly, as the Chiefs have taken on the bunker mentality of the Patriots operation. He has indicated that he views his relationship with Haley as a football marriage, like the one he had with Belichick.

"Disagreement is good, disagreement is healthy," Pioli said. "It's how you handle that disagreement, how respectful you are, the relationship when you go through that process. I want Todd to have a difference of opinion on players. He wants me to have a difference of opinion because that forces discussion, healthy discussion. It forces us to watch more tape ... this isn't about Todd being right, this isn't about me being right, this is about us being right and making the right decisions."

Haley brings a strong personnel background into the draft room, not because of his NFL experiences, but from his time watching his father Dick Haley work when he was director of player personnel for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Haley enjoys that side of the business, so he figures to speak his piece as the picks fly off the board.

Like all teams sitting at the top of this draft, the Chiefs would love to deal the third selection for more draft picks. But they are working against history, given that the third pick hasn't changed hands since the 2000 draft and only one of the top five picks has been traded in the last seven drafts. "We will be prepared to select a player at No. 3," said Pioli.

In his time with the Patriots, Pioli was involved in many draft-day trades. In fact, New England has been one of the leaders in dealing draft picks in recent years, frequently moving up and down. Right now, the Chiefs are at a disadvantage because they have only six choices that can be dealt. Pioli gave up the team's second-round selection (No. 34) in the trade with the Patriots that brought quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to Kansas City.

But the Chiefs also have three veteran players who have asked to be traded in the last three months and may have some value on the market: tight end Tony Gonzalez, left guard Brian Waters and Johnson. Gonzalez and Waters have some value, Johnson less so because of his age (he'll be 30 in November) and his off-field problems. It would not be a surprise to see Pioli pull the trigger on a trade or two before the draft starts, although he said he wasn't actively trying to trade anyone on his team.

If Pioli follows the pattern of players there were drafted by New England in this decade the Chiefs will be selecting versatile performers who played for schools in BCS conferences and have football as their No. 1 priority.

TEAM NEEDS: Defensive end, inside linebacker, outside linebacker, offensive tackle, guard, tight end, running back.

DE -- The Chiefs set an NFL record last year for fewest sacks in a season and since dealing Jared Allen a year ago, they don't have a pass rusher on the edge. Whether they play the 3-4 or the 4-3 or some hybrid that combines the two, the Chiefs need an outside push. Tamba Hali has shown flashes over his career, but he's never been a constant presence around the pocket. Last year, former first-rounder Jason Babin was added as an injury replacement and in the second half and he showed a good rush late in the season. But Babin is a free agent and drew no interest from the new regime.

ILB -- The recent signing of Zach Thomas is a stop-gap measure. He'll be 36 years old before the '09 regular season opener. The depth chart lacks a true MLB for the 4-3 or a true ILB for the 3-4. At the end of last season, Derrick Johnson moved into the middle linebacker spot and was productive at the position. But his physical talents are better suited to the outside.

OLB -- The trade that brought Mike Vrabel from the Patriots isn't a permanent fix. Only Derrick Johnson has shown any ability to play the outside and he's in the final year of his contract. Vrabel is coming off a season where he was bothered by a shoulder injury. He'll be 34 in August and has been brought to Kansas City largely because of his leadership skills.

OT -- Last year's addition of first-rounder Branden Albert brought stability and a future to left tackle. Albert moved from his college position of guard and started 15 games, allowing 4.5 sacks. He showed the athletic ability and feet to make big strides in his second season. Right tackle must be addressed; the current starter 32-year old journeyman Damion McIntosh who struggled in pass protection last year, but remains a good run blocker.

OG -- Mike Goff will be the likely starter at right guard, replacing Adrian Jones because there is no young player in the pipeline pushing for playing time. But Goff, a free agent from San Diego, is 33 and his physical style could work against his longevity. Pro Bowl LG Brian Waters, 32, is unhappy and wants out after his first meeting with the new head coach.

TE/RB -- The need depends on whether TE Tony Gonzalez and/or RB Larry Johnson are traded before or during the draft. Both players have asked to be dealt in the past, although Johnson has backed off his request in the last month. If Gonzalez goes, the Chiefs will need more than last year's third-round tight end, Brad Cottam. If Johnson goes and with Kolby Smith fighting back from a serious knee injury, suddenly running back becomes a priority for the Chiefs. They would be left with only second-year men Jamaal Charles, Jackie Battle and Dantrell Savage.