Lucas Niang selected by Kansas City Chiefs in third round of 2020 NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs have made another selection official in the 2020 NFL Draft with the pick of Lucas Niang.

With the selection of offensive tackle Lucas Niang, the Kansas City Chiefs have added the third member to their 2020 rookie class alongside LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Mississippi State Willie Gay, Jr..

Niang is a two-starter at left tackle from Texas Christian, who is a big body at 6’7, 328 lbs. He’s noted for his length and athleticism and should be seen as a future starter at one of the team’s tackle positions depending on what the Chiefs want to do long-term about finances and/or aging players. It is important to note that Niang comes with an asterisk of sorts—a hip injury that required surgery this past year.

The Chiefs’ move to take Niang addresses a long-term need at offensive tackle. The Chiefs are actually in good hands in the present at the position with Eric Fisher and Mitch Schwartz at both left and right tackle, respectively. However, Mike Remmers is the swing tackle at this point and everyone involved is older at the position. Also, it’s important to remember that the Chiefs offense faltered last season when Eric Fisher was forced to miss a half season after having core muscle surgery.

Brett Veach, the Chiefs general manager, has said all along that this draft was going to be about the future and he’s now locked up a nice young tackle who can be groomed for a starting role in 2021 or beyond. There is also the potential that, in the present, Niang is given a chance to play inside.

If no further moves are made, the Chiefs have two more selections in the 2020 NFL Draft, both in the first half of Day 3. The Chiefs have the No. 138 pick overall in the fourth round and No. 177 overall in the fifth round. After that, the Chiefs are lacking their original selections after trading the sixth and seventh round picks for linebacker Darron Lee and safety Jordan Lucas, respectively.