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KC Chiefs: Landing Liam Eichenberg at pick No. 31 would be a dream

By Leigh Oleszczak

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Liam Eichenberg #74 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish blocks during the Camping World Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Liam Eichenberg #74 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish blocks during the Camping World Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Left tackle is the biggest need for the KC Chiefs and Liam Eichenberg would fill that need.

The Kansas City Chiefs parted with former No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher this offseason after eight seasons together. That leaves them without their starting left tackle (though he was going to miss the entirety of the 2021 season due to injury) and without a viable backup option at the position.

This means that the Chiefs will need to make left tackle a top priority this offseason and most mock drafts have them landing someone at the position. Most recently, Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network linked the Chiefs to a left tackle in the form of Liam Eichenberg in his recent mock draft.

"This one is pretty straight forward. The Chiefs cut both of their starting tackles this offseason. Adding free agent guards Joe Thuney and Kyle Long will help fortify the line, but play on the edge is in need of more bodies. Lucas Niang could be the answer at right tackle but the Chiefs need someone to man the left side. Liam Eichenberg is a polished, consistent blocker who would be a worthwhile investment."

I had the Chiefs selecting Eichenberg in one of my mock drafts, but after that, he started being slated to go much higher when draft night comes around. With so many teams needing quality offensive tackles, the thought of Eichenberg falling to pick No. 31 seems like a pipe dream, but Crabbs seems to think it could happen.

Liam Eichenberg would give the KC Chiefs their starting left tackle of the future.

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Chiefs fans wouldn’t complain if the team was able to draft Eichenberg, but it just doesn’t seem realistic that the Notre Dame tackle will still be on the board at the end of the first round. Maybe he’s still there in the early 20 picks, which could force the team to trade up if they value him enough.

Kansas City showed that they’re dedicated to upgrading the o-line with their additions of Joe Thuney and Kyle Long and also their pursual of Trent Williams — the top left tackle in free agency — so they’ll definitely be aggressive in the draft if they need to be.

Eichenberg is the seventh-best tackle prospect according to The Draft Network and that might be why Crabbs felt he’d still be there at pick 31. Some of the other tackles who graded higher than Eichenberg aren’t left tackles, however, so that is something to keep in mind here.

It’d be awesome if Liam Eichenberg was still on the board when the Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock to make their first-round pick, but left tackle is such an important position in the NFL and that’s why KC landing him late in the first round without having to trade up would really be the best possible scenario for this team.

Next. Mock Draft: Chiefs Determined to Improve Defense. dark

What do you think, Chiefs fans? Would you like to see the team pursue Liam Eichenberg in the 2021 NFL Draft?

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