While I’m sure that John Dorsey and Andy Reid can spot a good offensive lineman later in the draft like Zach Fulton (193rd pick in 2014) or Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (200th pick in 2014)… it’s time to upgrade with a more well known and skilled prospect who can step in and help now. Eric Fisher is not the best left tackle in the league either so, if the Chiefs end up drafting a top tackle, he could end up protecting the blind side of Alex Smith and Fisher could end up protecting his full frontal.
In order for the Chiefs to land Conklin or Decker with the 28th pick, it may be necessary to use their fourth, and one of the their fifth-round picks, to move ahead of the Packers or the Seahawks, two teams drafting right ahead of the Chiefs who are likely looking to target an offensive tackle as well.
At 6-foot-3 and 309 lbs., OG Cody Whitehair is arguably the best offensive guard in this draft and is ranked, 41st by Daniel Jeremiah, 37th by CBS Sports and 38th by DraftTek. Draft analyst Dane Brugler of CBS Sports compares Whitehair to Nick Martin of the Cowboys.
Nice company since Martin made the Pro Bowl his rookie year. It doesn’t appear the Chiefs are anywhere near drafting in a spot to take Whitehair and taking him with the 28th pick would not only be a reach but a sizable reduction in value for that pick.
So, Conklin or Decker are each a possibility for the Chiefs as a first round pick. That is, if they want to make the offensive line a high priority in this draft.
While there may be a cornerback in this draft who “might” be able to replace Sean Smith, I don’t think that anyone is capable of doing that in their first year. Although, I’m a fan of CB Artie Burns out of Miami, FL (see video at the end of this post), I don’t think that he or Phillip Gaines can come close to taking Sean Smith’s place. Not in 2016.
On the other hand, there are defensive tackles in this draft who can replace Jaye Howard so I’d rather see the Chiefs place the franchise tag on Sean Smith and let Howard walk. Howard may be more of the “culture” guy that Dorsey refers to but replacement value is the key here.
Some fans may be wondering how it’s even possible to draft a defensive tackle in this draft with a second or third-round pick and then expect them to slide right in next to Dontari Poe and Allen Bailey and be effective? Well, Mike Mayock of NFL.com is another name I mostly trust when it comes to evaluating prospects and this week he was asked what the deepest position in this draft is and his answer is what I’ve been saying for weeks now: interior defensive linemen. Then Mayock listed his top five defensive tackles:
1. DeForest Buckner
2. Robert Nkemdiche
3. Sheldon Rankins
4. Jarran Reed
5. A’Shawn Robinson
Mike Mayock also said that this draft is so deep in high quality defensive tackles that he could name 10 or 12 that could all be just as good as the top 5.
Note: If DT Robert Nkemdiche, a 6-foot-4, 296 lbs. wunderkind, falls to pick #28, don’t be surprised to hear his name called. He has warts (past drug problems) but he reminds me of Marcus Peters in this respect… a super talented prospect who could fall in the first. I have heard it said that Nkemdiche’s upside is J.J. Watt-ish. I’ve seen his ability to penetrate first hand and he is off the charts, as they say.
Next: Is the Overall Puzzle Coming Together?