A look at the Chiefs options to replace Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in 2020
By Matt Conner
Lucas Niang
It’s here that things get quite unpredictable.
Lucas Niang is a rookie offensive lineman whose ability to find his footing at the pro level has been significantly inhibited by the same pandemic that Duvernay-Tardif is leaving to help treat. Any rookie is going to have a tough time becoming an immediate starter in the NFL and now that’s an even taller order than it was before due to a lack of rookie minicamps, offseason training activities and preseason games.
That said, Niang was the team’s third round pick, a level of investment that signals significant potential. Remember other third round picks by the team in recent years include Derrick Nnadi, Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce, Chris Conley, and Steven Nelson. There are misses in that group, too, including KeiVarae Russell and Dorian O’Daniel (so far at least), but Niang is in good company overall.
Niang enters the NFL as an offensive tackle from Texas Christian, but he never allowed a sack at TCU in 27 starts (and 44 games played). After Niang was drafted, GM Brett Veach also praised his intelligence and said, “I think right off the bat he’ll have a chance to kick in there and compete at guard.”
Perhaps right guard is not the projected spot for Niang and that takes him out of the running here. However, the Chiefs vision for their most recent third round pick was to immediately compete inside for meaningful reps. There are now two open spots for him to go after.