Chiefs Predictions: what to hope for the rest of this year and beyond

Jan 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (74) blocks Baylor Bears defensive end Shawn Oakman (2) during the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. The Spartans defeated the Bears 42-41. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Tackle

If Eric Fisher progresses as I am predicting here then you can expect the Chefs to pass on a LT in round one of the 2016 draft. I don’t believe they’ll pick an offensive tackle in the first round just to turn around and ask him play on the right side. There are a number of good tackles who will be available in the first few rounds of this coming draft. It will be preferable to John Dorsey and Andy Reid to draft a tackle instead of signing one in free agency and the situation with Evan Mathis has proven that point. If the Chiefs address the wide receiver position in the first round… a big if for sure… then they’ll take a hard look at the offensive tackle position in round two.

Prediction

CBS Sports has 6’6” 326 lb. offensive tackle Jack Conklin out of Michigan State ranked at #25 but DraftTek has him at #42. If for some reason Conklin is still around when the Chiefs select, in what is fairly certain to be the middle of round two, then Conklin appears to be an Andy Reid type of guy at a position of great need. I’ve seen Conklin ranked in the top ten before so if he’s around in round two, he’ll also be one of the best dudes available.

DL Jaye Howard

Jaye Howard is having a Pro Bowl year. His production along the defensive line is off the charts. He has 36 tackles through the first half of the season. That projects to 72 tackle for the year which happens to be 21 more tackles than Dontari Poe has had in his best season (51 tackle in 2013). Howard also has 1.5 sacks even though the Chiefs scheme isn’t designed for the DL to create sacks but mostly create pressure when it comes to the passing game. Howard has taken on Poe’s role in the middle until Poe could come back to full strength and he’s done an outstanding job.

Prediction

Jaye Howard will make the Pro Bowl this year and general manager John Dorsey will sign Howard to an Allen Bailey type deal guaranteeing his return to the Chiefs in 2016. Dorsey learned from Ted Thompson in Green Bay who made sure to re-sign the players who deserve it and Jaye Howard has worked his way up and deserves that consideration. Howard also deserves consideration, thus far, for team MVP.

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What do you say Addict fans? Have any predictions you’d like to reveal?