Mock Draft: Ranking The Kansas City Chiefs Offseason Needs

Dec 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs center Rodney Hudson (61) prepares to snap the ball why facing off against the Arizona Cardinals defense during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

ROUND ONE: Offensive Line

Disaster.

If there is one word to describe the Chiefs’ offensive line situation, disaster would be the word I would choose. No other position group on offense dictated what the Chiefs were able to do on offense than the offensive line. Where did the incredible screen game from 2013 go in 2014? Where did the effective read-0ption from 2013 go in 2014? KC played with essentially the same wide receiver group in 2014 as they did in 2014, but they saw their production crater, why is that?

It’s not Alex Smith, or Dwayne Bowe, or Jamaal Charles. It all begins with the offensive line, and when the offensive line can’t block half of the plays in the playbook then you’re offense is seriously going to struggle.

The two biggest issues are at left and right guard where Zach Fulton (very bad) and Mike McGlynn (nightmare) were extremely limited in what they could bring to the offense. Neither was effective in pulling in the screen and running game, neither handled pass blocking or blitz pickup, and neither were effective in the power running game. If you can pass block, run block, or screen block then what exactly are you bringing to the team as an offensive lineman?

There is some hope around Fulton as backup since he was playing as a rookie, but we know for sure McGlynn will be out as soon as the new league year starts March 10.

Ryan Harris wasn’t as awful as Fulton and McGlynn, but he two turned in a negative PFF season. Considering what was available to the Chiefs when Jeff Allen went done in week one of the season, Harris was a bit of a diamond in the rough for the Chiefs. Okay, maybe more like a small chunk of silver or something.

Add all the wide receivers you want, or upgrade at quarterback, or sign Marshawn Lynch to pair with Jamaal Charles (whoa, that’d be fun) but none of that is going to matter as you may think it will if the Chiefs don’t find a way to upgrade at least three spots on their offensive line.

Some good news is Jeff Allen should be back for the 2015 season, though 2015 is the last season in which he is under contract with the Chiefs. Donald Stephenson has tools but there are some issues between him and the coaching staff plus he too will be a free agent after 2015.

So even if the Chiefs fill two holes on the offensive line with Allen and Stephenson, they’re still potentially back to where they are now next offseason. And it still doesn’t solve the other guard spot the Chiefs need to fix.

Putting together a quality offensive line also requires some continuity. Part of what made the Vermeil offensive lines so great (aside from having two Hall of Famers) is that they were basically the same unit season after season. Only the right tackle position saw turnover during those years. Fast forward to the present and Eric Fisher is about to play next to his fifth guard in his first 30 NFL games.

The long-term success of the Chiefs depends on John Dorsey creating a core of good offensive linemen now as opposed to punting it down the road another year. This may mean spending some high picks on offensive linemen or using some cap space on a free agent. Either way, the Chiefs need to attack the offseason with the idea of fixing all three holes, not just finding a way punt the problem to 2016.

Next: Round Two