NFL mock drafts project offensive line help for Kansas City Chiefs
By Matt Conner
Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
Alijah Vera-Tucker is the favorite this week of both Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network and Nick Farabaugh of Pro Football Network. That’s because both like his fit in the Chiefs scheme and his position versatility in order to give Andy Reid some options.
Vera-Tucker has served as a fixture at left guard for Southern Cal in the past next to first-round pick Austin Jackson (Miami Dolphins) in 2019. For the coming season, he originally decided to opt out and prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft before the Pac-12 cobbled together a shorter schedule which allowed him to come back and step into Jackson’s shoes. The move outside has only enhanced his draft stock, giving him important experience and game tape on the outside.
Farabaugh calls him a “day one starter” and writes the following:
"The key with Vera-Tucker is his athleticism in space. He climbs to the second left quickly and with ease. As a puller, Vera-Tucker is a freight train daring anyone to get in his path. The versatility of his game will help him in the NFL."
As for Crabbs, he admits it’s a small sample size so far, but Vera-Tucker is climbing draft boards all the same.
"Vera-Tucker has impressed thus far through two games with his performance at tackle for the Trojans, which breathes new life into his draft stock as a potential candidate to play either inside or outside."
The Chiefs haven’t invested a considerable draft asset in the offensive line for quite some time, but next year, a pick like this could join Lucas Niang as part of the team’s draft class (since Niang opted out). That gives the Chiefs incoming NFL-ready players at two positions, one of them with positional versatility inside and out.