With Jawaan Taylor no longer in the building, the Kansas City Chiefs have to figure out what to do at offensive tackle. Josh Simmons can play on both sides of the line, but their other options –Jaylon Moore and Wanya Morris – aren't exactly the most reliable.
That's why, if by any chance the best OT prospect happens to slip through the cracks of the top 10, general manager Brett Veach will have no choice but to wipe the slate clean and rebuild his big board with Francis Mauigoa at the very top if he's available when the Chiefs are on the clock with the ninght overall pick during the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Francis Mauigoa Could be a Steal for the Chiefs
As things stand now, Mauigoa could go as high as No. 3 to the Arizona Cardinals. Nevertheless, even though he's clearly incredibly talented and physically gifted, some teams might be worried about a back injury that might eventually require surgery.
Also, some scouts believe he could be better off moving to guard instead of tackle. Of the teams ahead of the Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns could also be in the mix to get him, but they've also been tied to Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, and even Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling at No. 6.
The Chiefs are projected to take either Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, or Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No. 9, but that's only because it doesn't seem too likely that Mauigoa will even be an option. There will reportedly be several trades and surprises near the top, so there's still some hope that he can be available a little later.
Mauigoa is a true mauler. He played right tackle for the Miami Hurricanes, so that would allow the Chiefs to keep Josh Simmons on the left side of the line. He showed flashes of strong play as a rookie, so that would probably be for the best.
Even if he winds up moving to guard at some point, he has All-Pro potential at both positions. The Chiefs need to figure out how to keep Patrick Mahomes out of harm's way, and now that he's coming off the first major injury of his career, that should only be an even bigger priority.
Granted, this isn't the flashy or sexy pick most fans fantasize about at No. 9, but it's the correct pick. This game has changed a lot, but battles are still won and lost in the trenches. He's the best bet to keep Mahomes safe and sound for the next decade-plus.
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