Kansas City Chiefs should look offensive tackle in 2019 NFL Draft
By Matt Conner
The present depth
To be frank, it doesn’t look good, but it’s at least serviceable for a single season. Cameron Erving’s presence is the reason why.
When the Chiefs traded for Cam Erving shortly before the 2017 season began, it wasn’t a move made for that season. Sure, Erving remained on the active roster and was able to get onto the field at times. He learned the playbook, ingratiated himself with teammates and coaches and finally got out of Cleveland. But this was all about 2018.
Erving entered the NFL heralded as an athletic and versatile phenom who was going to be an impact player along the Cleveland Browns offensive line. As a mid-first round pick, Erving’s draft reports stated that he could come in and start at multiple positions in the NFL, especially after being given some time to grow more into each role. Two years later, the Browns admitted their mistake and cast him to the Chiefs for a future late round choice.
Brett Veach bought low on Erving in the hopes that placing him within a brand new environment and scheme could help unlock some of that obvious potential. The team has already coached up projects like Zach Fulton, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Eric Fisher, etc., so why not Erving? It’s a decent bet.
However, the only performers behind Fisher and Schwartz at this point are guys like Erving. Andrew Wylie? Dillon Gordon? Maybe Bryan Witzman can slide back over. It’s all a mess, if we’re honest, which means that if the Chiefs had a serious injury at one of the bookend positions along the line, the offense is in big trouble.
If Erving can make the leap this year and provide some good insurance at the position, that’s a huge bonus and will help relieve some tension on the coaching staff. That said, his fifth year contract option is due after this year, so if he does perform well, then the Chiefs would have to pay him more than any team wants to pay a third tackle, work out an extension (again, for a third tackle) or watch someone valuable leave the team (which technically could be Schwartz although he’s such a solid performer and won’t be that old to have to consider replacing him due to age worries).
The likely positive scenario is that Erving signs a nice free agent deal elsewhere after this year and the Chiefs gain a nice compensatory pick.