KC Chiefs linked to Alijah Vera-Tucker in 2021 mock draft

The latest mock draft is out from Joe Marino at The Draft Network, and the Kansas City Chiefs have been once again linked with an offensive lineman. In fact, it’s not the first time that the Chiefs have seen their franchise linked with USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Offensive line is a popular pick for many mock drafters when trying to surmise what the Chiefs might do in the first round, and Marino takes the well-traveled path here. He goes with the Southern Cal product and describes why he likes the pick.

"With the depth of the offensive line so stressed and the investment made in Patrick Mahomes, making sure he is protected should always be a high priority. Vera-Tucker is a technically refined blocker that can play guard or tackle."

It’s impossible to argue with the logic, nor would most Chiefs fans want to. While there are other major needs, including a cost-controlled edge player or a physical receiver. That said, the patchwork job required for the offensive line this season should be more than enough evidence to demand a high investment along the offensive front.

The Chiefs watched Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and rookie tackle Lucas Niang opt out of the 2020 season before it even began. Then starting guard Kelechi Osemele was lost to injury in Week 4, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz in Week 6, and left tackle Eric Fisher in the postseason. Right now, the Chiefs are starting a single player at the position he was projected to play before the season began, and even center Austin Reiter was replaced at midseason by Daniel Kilgore in an attempt to upgrade the line.

The latest mock from The Draft Network gives the Chiefs Alijah Vera-Tucker from USC.

Moving forward, the team will get LDT and Niang back into the fold, but the age and health concerns of Schwartz and Fisher, to a lesser degree, hang over the team. It’s also obvious that the interior needs an influx of talent either way.

Vera-Tucker would certainly provide the Chiefs with the sort of high-floor performer who could step in right away and start inside or outside. In addition, his versatility would give the Chiefs an ideal skill set with which to endure another season like this, as they’ve forced players to change positions on the fly or take over entirely new areas from game to game. For example, Mike Remmers will start the biggest game of the year at left tackle after substituting at left guard and right tackle already this year.