Moving Up My Draft Board: Offense

We’ve talked incessantly about the Chiefs’ top three picks on this blog. I think it’s about time we discuss some midrounders that could hold a lot of promise for this team. The rough target here is the rest of the team’s picks.

I’m going to start with offense today. Here are ten offensive players I think Pioli should consider later on in the Draft, after watching a lot of tape and incessantly researching as well as I can. Essentially, I’m trying to shine light on players that nobody else is shining lights on.

Alphabetical order:

OG/C Thomas Austin, Clemson — Moreso than any other player the Chiefs have lost,  no one will come back to haunt them more than letting Wade Smith walk. Not even losing Bernard Pollard will effect us this immediately. Smith was a smart utility man who played everywhere from backup center to backup left tackle, and usually fared well. For a team like the Pioli-led Chiefs that stress versatility, having an offensive line that’s this rigid in its positioning is troublesome. Austin allows the Chiefs to play him at four positions along the offensive line (but not LT), and his seemless transitions at Clemson show that he the versatility that Pioli values.

OG/C Jeff Byers, USC — More versatility coming from Byers, who can play every position along the interior line, and actually did exactly that with the Trojans in southern California. Byers is most comfortable at center, particularly because he’s not a vicious mauler, but more of a heady zone blocker. Byers has fought through numerous injuries so much so that he’s a bit old by draftee standards, but this offense needs someone who has experience calling the plays in a pro-style offense.

Eight more players, plus one honorable mention, after the jump.