Kansas City Chiefs can’t rely on draft to solve left tackle issues
By John McCarty
Value is found outside of the line
When everyone is looking for something over there, often other teams can find value over here. In that reference, obviously many teams are going to be looking at offensive linemen, meaning players perhaps at wide receiver, cornerback, or linebacker that normally wouldn’t have been there, are. The back end of the first round is a great spot to either find value or it’s a spot of enormous inequity, as teams force a position regardless of scheme fit.
Sound like a concern?
The Chiefs have shown little confidence in Byron Pringle to be the third option at receiver and have no options behind him, and they have shown even less interest in bringing back Bashaud Breeland at corner. Charvarius Ward will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason. At linebacker, we are facing the prospect of Ben Niemann being a starter. That fact alone is worrisome.
Also, because there is going to be a big run on linemen early, the next tier of linemen will be available later because so many of the teams have already added one. Can the Chiefs find a developmental tackle that, while maybe not ready to start in 2021, could be groomed to take over the left side in 2022 or 2023?
If teams are gobbling up linemen early, between the Chiefs’ depth and proven ability to develop talent, they can find prospects that can contribute in 2021 and be ready for starring roles in 2022 and beyond.