KC Chiefs: Ranking every first-round pick since 2000
By Matt Conner
6. Eric Fisher
Eric Fisher comes in at No. 6 and feels like the anti-thesis of the man who came before him as a steadily developing former first-round pick who should be appreciated because of his continued growth, notable reliability and longevity, and the fact that he never allowed the mental side of the game to get to him.
From the moment that Fisher’s name was called as the top overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the spotlight loomed large for the Chiefs new franchise left tackle. Fisher started 13 games on the right side during his rookie year, and while he took his lumps, it was clear that Dorsey believed in his ceiling and that his natural talents would eventually shine if given the chance to develop.
That’s exactly what happened for Fisher over the course of eight seasons under center for K.C. He became better and better as the blindside protector of Alex Smith and then Patrick Mahomes and eventually earned two Pro Bowl nods in 2018 and again in 2020. What makes him an even better story is that the 2013 draft class is filled with more busts than almost any other in recent memory, and certainly the Chiefs could have been sunk with other highly rated players. Instead they chose one of the very few who was actually effective.
If not for an unfortunate Achilles injury suffered in the AFC Championship game last January, we would likely be referring to Fisher in present tense as the team’s left tackle. Instead, he was released earlier this offseason in a cost-cutting measure. The door is not closed just yet on Fisher’s potential return, but even if the page officially turns in 2021, Fisher not only held up under intense scrutiny but became a very, very good player at his position.