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KC Chiefs: Eric Fisher was the right choice with No. 1 overall pick

By Leigh Oleszczak

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Eric Fisher of Central Michigan Chippewas holds up a jersey on stage after he was picked #1 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Eric Fisher of Central Michigan Chippewas holds up a jersey on stage after he was picked #1 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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After eight seasons, Eric Fisher has been released by the KC Chiefs, who took him No. 1 overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. 

When looking back at the 2013 NFL Draft, we can say with confidence how bad that draft was. It’ll go down as one of the worst drafts of all-time, so it was only fitting that the Kansas City Chiefs held the No. 1 overall pick that year because of course they did.

At one point, Matt Barkley seemed to be the top choice in the draft and he didn’t end up hearing his name called until round four. Geno Smith was also in discussions to go No. 1 overall, but thankfully, that didn’t happen.

Once the Chiefs traded for Alex Smith, the team didn’t need to spend that top pick on a quarterback. Instead, they were able to look at the best player available and they decided it was Eric Fisher, an offensive tackle out of Central Michigan.

Taking a tackle with the No. 1 pick is boring, but for the Chiefs, it was the right move at the time and proved to be the right move years later. Fisher struggled initially, but he was playing right tackle as a rookie due to the team still having Branden Albert on the left side.

After Albert left for greener pastures, Fisher moved back to his preferred position of left tackle and chaos ensued. There was drama when Fisher didn’t play in the 2015 season opener against the Texans and many speculated that it was because he was scared of J.J. Watt. He proved later that season that he wasn’t afraid of Watt, schooling him in the playoff game in Houston.

Considering how bad the 2013 draft was, the KC Chiefs made the right choice by taking Eric Fisher No. 1 overall.

Here were the top 10 players selected in 2013:

More from Chiefs Draft Analysis

  1. Eric Fisher, OT (Chiefs)
  2. Luke Joeckel, OT (Jaguars)
  3. Dion Jordan, DE (Dolphins)
  4. Lane Johnson, OT (Eagles)
  5. Ezekial Ansah, DE (Lions)
  6. Barkevious Mingo, CB (Browns)
  7. Jonathan Cooper, OG (Cardinals)
  8. Tavon Austin, WR (Rams)
  9. Dee Milliner, DB (Jets)
  10. Chance Warmack, OG (Titans)

Out of that group, the only potential better options for the Chiefs to take were Johnson and Ansah. Johnson really struggled early on but improved greatly in recent years. He was a star on the Eagles’ Super Bowl team in the 2017 season. Ansah has totaled over 50 sacks in his career and would have been a nice fit in Kansas City as well.

The best possible pick probably would have been DeAndre Hopkins, who went No. 27 (which is crazy considering how bad this draft class was), and surely he could have been the lone Chiefs receiver to score a touchdown in 2014.

Even with Hopkins as the best name in this draft, I stand by that Fisher was the right pick. The Chiefs had a new quarterback in town and needed protection for him. Fisher had his moments for sure, but at the end of the day, he was the best possible pick for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Next. Mock Draft: Chiefs Find Future LT of Future. dark

Best of luck to ya, Fish.

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