Looking one year ahead at the current roster construction, it seems like the 2019 NFL Draft is the ideal time to find the next offensive tackle.
Despite the need, this is not the year.
Some fans might even argue that it’s a need, although I would beg to differ that offensive tackle is “set” in terms of ceiling and floor even for 2018. But for now, it’s not the conversation to have if you’re wanting to discuss the Kansas City Chiefs and their approach to the upcoming draft.
Just to quickly dismiss the matter, there are literally zero planets aligning for the Chiefs to take an offensive tackle in this draft. The finances are all wrong. Their draft position keeps them from taking someone worth the selection, and this draft class is not very good at the position in general. If/when the Chiefs decide to invest in their next potential starting tackle, it should be an early pick in a safe bet. That’s definitely not this year.
But let’s change the subject to one year from now and suddenly the conversation changes. Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz are one more year into their respective contracts, and there’s also one more year’s worth of wear on the proverbial tires. That’s certainly not to say that the Chiefs can’t depend on both to play for several years longer, but rather if the team is going to shore up the position, next year is the right time.