And if I remember from watching some Texans games....even Tunsil didn’t look that great.

Wylie was absolutely crushed in the Saints game. Mahomes was running for his life. He just can't get to guys who have really good bend.

The Chiefs have Niang, and I'm currently assuming he's the man for the job?

If anything, the Chiefs would try Wylie (or preferably Remmers) at LT next year as a placeholder until Fisher returns by, ostensibly, December or January.

The Chiefs - specifically Veach - said the plan was to begin with Niang inside at guard.

I'm not going to assume anything about him. He might not even be a starter opening day.

A lot will go into what the scouting department thinks about his ability to digest playbook material and put in the work.

He's got the physical tools, no question.

Wylie is ass at RG. He was okay for a stretch of the Saints game at RT.

If he does well at RT on Sunday I’ll give him credit but his presence thus far in his time here is very lackluster at best.

The problem is that he's under contract. Unless somebody offers him a contract the Chiefs don't want to match, he's coming back and it's likely, given his experience, that he's going to start somewhere.

They can't replace everybody in one offseason, it's just not possible.

Yeah, he was so terrible that the Chiefs only scored 32 points. Wylie gave up 2 sacks during the entire season.

Mahomes is never going to have the kind of protection that you and others seem to think that he needs because he's always extending plays and running around.

He's not a 5 or 7 step drop QB.

Most definitely has the size and speed. He's worth a late mid-rounder, say in the 4th, but he's not a guy you can count on developing. He's a luxury pick more than anything. He might be a star, he might be out of the league in 2 years.

I will never understand how the Chiefs "terrible" offensive line rendered the team to a 16-2 record and another Super Bowl appearance.

Ideally he’s a backup and emergency swing tackle at best. Since LDT is coming back I’d imagine our starting OL would best be Remmers, Allegretti, Reiter/replacement, LDT and Niang.

Wylie is always getting beat. I see him getting owned badly at least twice a game. Fortunately Patrick Mahomes is awesome mitigates it.

Man, counting on a 32 year old Remmers to start the season at Left Tackle is a disaster waiting to happen.

Sure, he's been "fine" in spot duty but I just don't see how that guy can start for 16 games, let alone, 19 games.

The Chiefs have been plugging in guys off the street and guys that were drafted in the 6th & 7 rounds since Andy Reid arrived and they've averaged 11.5 wins per season.

Andy can basically scheme up against any deficiency.

That was the plan because we have two Pro Bowlers at tackle.

This coming year, we likely have two holes at tackle.

It was an average OL at worst really. Wylie is just the ugly duckling of the group.

Fisher is good, Schwartz was excellent, Reiter, LDT and Remmers were reliable and rock solid starters, Wiz is reliable, Osemele was arguably the best LG in the Andy Reid era before he got hurt and Allegretti has been a very nice find.

Wylie just isn’t that good. He’s always getting beaten

I just don't see Niang being inserted as the starting RT after missing an entire season, when the Chiefs explicitly said they were going to work him at backup guard to start out.

I'd be willing to bet that if they can bring Remmers back that your starting line will be:

Remmers / Wylie / Allegretti / LDT / ???

or

Remmers / Allegretti / ??? / LDT / Wylie

Wylie is going to be a starter, at least to begin the season.

They scored 32 points because Mahomes is a damn magician. Mahomes absolutely went insane in that Saints game. Mahomes/Hill/Kelce have legit hacked the NFL.

Watch his snaps. I've rewatched the game twice in the past week to prep for the Super Bowl. Wylie has no chance if you can get low to the ground.

He has some redeeming quality but he is a stopgap measure -- that's his role on this team. He is not a guy you can trust for 16 games there.

Of course, circumstances often necessitate changes in the plans they have for a player.

But it doesn't change the player.

Obviously, they thought he was better suited to start out inside and work up from there. That hasn't changed, even though they may need him to play outside now.

Schwartz hasn't been "excellent" since 2016. He's been good and well above average at times, but he's also had his shit pushed in by Shaq Barrett and Von Miller, among others.

The bottom line is that Andy has specific traits that he looks for in an offensive lineman and in most cases, has either had those guys sit for a year (LDT, Allegretti) or forced them to play immediately with middling-to-poor results (Fisher at RT and Fulton at Right Guard).

Wylie's been fine. He started on the 12-4 2018 team, the 12-4 2019 and every game this 14-2 season. It's just not worth the time, money and draft resources to bring in other players that will bring similar or lessor results.

Which is the exact reason why drafting an offensive lineman early in the draft isn't necessary.

Mahomes isn't a "Pocket Passer". He's not a 3, 5 or 7 step drop passer, nor is he a guy that needs to primarily run the offense in Shotgun.

There aren't many offensive lineman in the league that can hold their blocks for 7 seconds while Mahomes runs around while trying to hit the open receiver 20+ yards down field, so the Chiefs offensive line will never be considered "Dominant" because that's not Andy Reid's scheme with this QB.

https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2...ew-mirror.html

Super Bowl 2021: Kansas City’s Mike Remmers looks to place disastrous day in Super Bowl 50 in rear-view mirror

Mike Remmers’ first and only Super Bowl appearance didn’t go very well for him or his team. The Kansas City tackle will get an opportunity to erase that bad memory on Sunday. Remmers was an offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers when they faced the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. Remmers had an awful day during the Panthers’ 24-10 loss to the Broncos.

The former Jesuit High School and Oregon State star allowed seven quarterback hurries and three of Carolina’s six sacks game, according to Pro Football Focus. Broncos’ linebacker Von Miller twice beat Remmers around the edge to strip-sack quarterback Cam Newton of the ball.

This was when Remmers was only 26 years old yet some of you guys advocate for him to start at Left Tackle for an entire season at age 32?

Yeah, we'll need to agree to disagree on that one.

Nobody on that Bucs defense is close to prime Von Miller.

I sure as hell hope not.

Shaq Barrett was a monster last year and definitely cooled off this season. But I'm still concerned about Remmers when they're matched up because he just doesn't have the athleticism to keep up.

Back to the OP, I'm not opposed to taking an OT at #32.

IF it's the right guy. Like I said, I took Eichenberg in my latest mock and I think it gives the line some versatility because he could realistically play RT day 1 and possibly LT if needed.

I just can't see taking a project or a guy that's more likely to play guard in the first round. If you're going to take an offensive lineman that high, he almost HAS to be an offensive tackle because that's where we have the biggest need.

Because Mahomes is ****ing amazing.

It'd still be nice to be able to run the ball some and not require Mahomes to be superman all the time.

Schwartz has been elite since 16. He has been IIRC, an all pro in 18 and 19. This year was obvious with the back he was struggling.

I gotta think long term they want him at T. He's too talented to not be out there, it's way more valuable than a G.

I would actually see if Osemele could come back and play LG next year if his health checks out.

Gotta say I agree here.

What the holy ****ing ****? Do you suppose it sounds like cream of chicken soup when he pulls his helmet off?

*THHHHHHOCK*

To be fair, we did fist Buffalo with the run in the regular season. The one aspect that hasn't happened a ton (that I thought would) is CEH catches in the flat ala Charles under Reid. In most years, that's Reid's run game. I think the RPO takes some of those possessions, but yeah, not relying on Mahomes magic would be nice.

This. You also don't take a lineman just to take a lineman. It has to be a guy they legitimately like. It's why Bench/Read are so good at the draft.

After watching the Chiefs use RB/TE to chip against the Bills, I'm not too worried about Remmers for this game.

For sure, long term.

But we have an immediate need as well.

Mahomes is "superman" because that's the way he plays football.

Which again, is exactly why the Chiefs shouldn't just draft offensive linemen thinking that they will be an "upgrade" over the current players.

He's not a 3, 5 or 7 step passer. He's a guy that's all over the place so drafting offensive linemen high isn't going to make much of a difference because of his style of play.

The Chiefs have won 38 of their last 48 regular season games with a pieced together offensive line, which makes it ridiculous to waste valuable resources on a player that won't provide much of an upgrade, if at all.

Could Veach zig when everyone expects him to zag? What about CB in the first? Breeland could be gone. Baker is coming off of an injury. Keyes is an unknown.

Wylie will be back and he’ll likely start somewhere. I get that he’s not been a bad mark against us overall but I’d like to see us look at drafting a couple of IOL (G and C) in the middle to late part of the draft. We just always seem to have injuries on the OL and I’d like to stock the depth up which I’m sure Veach will do.

I’m pro receiver with the first pick, but this year is filled with a lot of talented tackles. That’s the beauty of it to me. WR and OT will have options for them if they choose to pursue them.

Yeah he’s immediately needed at tackle now I’d guess. It would be huge financially if he could play LT

There's a lot of times when the defense is on him immediately. Yeah, he can move around and improvise, but that's not how it was supposed to go. And sooner or later it's going to get him killed.

I get that The Chiefs had a TON of injuries this year, and nobody could've planned for that.

Being able to run the ball behind someone besides Allegretti would be cool. If you notice, most of our success this season was behind him and Fisher. And the first Bills game, behind Kilgore too.

I'm not saying we need to spend all #1's and a ton of money and have the Roaf-era Chiefs line or anything, but Offensive Tackles usually come pretty early in the draft. Yeah, not always, but usually.

And whether it's promoting from the practice squad with guys like Durant and getting Niang in, or signing a couple of cheap vets, we could definitely be better up front.

IF we don't win on Sunday, wouldn't you bet that the reason would be offensive line issues? I mean that would be my assumption.

To me, that indicates that the line needs attention this offseason. Fisher and Schwartz went from a big strength to big holes in their injured wake.

In Veach and Reid I trust. If they think Rankin can play LT all season, I'm game to see it.

I, for one, am not game to see Rankin at LT for more than a game or two if absolutely needed. Coaching or no coaching in Texas, he was beyond atrocious.
I'd put alot more stock into the prospect of Niang sliding there for a season than Rankin taking the spot.

For the record, you've just described nearly everyone that's played for the Texans in the past 3 to 5 years.

If he was awful, the Chiefs would have cut him by now.

I remember a certain shitty offensive lineman they actually re-signed instead of moving on from, and he remained shitty. I trust a lot in Veach, no doubt, but a spade is a spade. Cam Erving sucked. With that, I can't 100% agree they would have just cut him by now.

Martinas Rankin doesn't suck quite as bad as Erving but I wouldn't trust having Mahomes play behind him for 16 games at LT nor anywhere near it. I did rather like him at LG though in his limited action. If guard is his spot, it's his spot. No sense painting spots on a pig and calling it a cow, it's still a pig.

Did you watch the Week 17 games against the Chargers? He had zero penalties and one sack given up while playing next to guys that were 3rd and 4th string.

Andy likes all of his offensive lineman to play multiple spots, which he reiterated earlier this week on the NFL Network. That's also why so many of these guys can just "Plug & Play" when injuries occur, so while Rankin might be better at Left Guard than Left Tackle, he's been taught to play all positions across the line.

And I realize that Cam Erving is pretty much hated on CP, the Chiefs didn't miss a beat in terms of W/L when he was forced into that spot. They went 5-3 with Erving as a starter but also lost two games they had no business losing in the Colts and Texans games.

I realize that many people want the best and most talented offensive line in the league for the Chiefs but not only will that never happen with Reid and Mahomes, it's also a waste of valuable resources to constantly pick offensive linemen high in the draft, which is why outside of two players, the Chiefs have relied on UDFA's, Free Agents and late round picks.

Using W/L as a basis for player evaluation doesn't provide us with much. We both know it's not a sustainable formula to trot out a subpar player week after week at tackle just because you're winning. I'd rather not have my star QB hit play after play and running for his life, which is what he's done a lot more of with lesser talented players at the position. He's done enough of it with bad guards, much less bad tackles. You look at Rankin, he still gave up a sack. He gave up some pressure. Is he good enough there to get you through a game or two? Yes. Is he good enough there to get you through a season? Nothing I've seen indicates it's a good idea. Equally, Remmers has never shown to be good enough to get you through a season there.

I don't advocate using a bunch of 1st round picks on the offensive line. I expect to use one on a LT because that's where you get a good one. You probably need a day 2 pick at RT, which the Chiefs spent last year on Niang. And, I absolutely think you need good tackles in the NFL. The rest of the line can be filled in with mid and late round picks.

What does this team need so badly instead of a tackle to protect Mahomes? I don't see a more important use of a draft resource. We can make the same argument that Reid has gotten by just fine with day 2 and 3 receivers and Spags has gotten by with garbage heap defensive ends, which are the other positions everyone is up in arms over. Everyone wants upgrades at those positions. The difference being there is that you're more likely to snag value at those positions beyond round 1 than you are at LT.

The way I look at it...Chiefs averaged like 6 ppg more with Watkins in the line-up.

THAT is tangible real-world results...having the #1 rated OT in the NFL isn't going to provide an improvement that dramatic...but you still need one to be serviceable.

With a QB on the level of Mahomes...throw some of your high draft capital at quality pass catchers. Pick up middle tier o-lineman and vets. Veach just landed the #1 rated rookie CB in the 4th...

I think WR is the one area where natural talent is more critical..and also easily apparent.

Most of the top WRs in the NFL are former 1st/2nd rounders....the odds of unearthing a late round gem are pretty low. There are Chris Conely/DRob/Albert Wilson level players every year in the mid rounds..

Chiefs need to draft a stud #2...but you have to invest a higher pick to land one.

Any position except QB is viable with our first IMO.....

The more I look at it, the more I’m convinced Walker Little is the best fit for KC among Ts likely to be available in rounds 1-2 if they need a LT.

He was hurt in 2019 and opted out of 2020, so his stock isn’t what it could be.

But a highly athletic, 6-7 guy with good strength and Stanford level intelligence sounds pretty good to me.

All depends on what they think they’re getting from Fisher and Schwartz, if anything, in 2021.

If they’re both done, it’s hard to me to believe they’re going to roll with Niang and a draft pick at both tackles. They’ll try to at least pick up a vet stopgap and I could see an investment in that position in FA becoming a priority.

I'm okay with a LT in the first IF there's a LT there.

I see a lot of mocks where the only OT's available are either right siders or developmental power prospects that might not even be able to play in Reid's scheme.

But not valuable.

There's no reason to take any one of several positions either because they have little positional value or they don't have the depth of prospects.

The Chiefs would be smart to take a DE, DB, WR, or OT with the 32nd pick. Those are the positions that have both depth and positional value.

OG has some depth but less positional value. DT has positional value but little depth. LB has neither.

I'm way behind the discussion here but Schwartz had perhaps one of the greatest offensive tackle performances in playoff history in 2019. This is completely false.

I believe he's made the All Pro team twice since 2016.

This is an offense driven league now...and the Chiefs have, what looks like, the best QB in modern history.

Play to your strengths...you keep hearing..."they just have too many weapons" or "you cant cover them all"...shit, I'd drum up that advantage to the next level. It's got them to back-to-back Superbowls...

Keep stockpiling elite offensive skill positions...one every other draft in the first two rounds.

Who was the WR that KC just picked up off the scrap heap...the one drafted by the Browns? That guy flashed some talent but has some issues...wonder if watching how the Chiefs operate from arm's distance will set his shit straight.

Yep. Just keep drafting playmakers.

I like to look at it like this.

If I’m the rest of the NFL, what scares me more?

The Chiefs drafting a T, the Chiefs getting a WR like Bateman/Marshall/Toney, or a potentially elite pass rusher like Phillips/Oweh?

Personally, the WR or DE would scare me a lot more than a T.

Now don’t get wrong, I totally understand taking a T in the 1st and there are a couple that could easily be BPA if they make it to our pick. Just making a point.

I absolutely agree.

Of course, the more mocks I run, the more it becomes clear to me that we might not have much choice. :D

I also think if Veach identifies a skill position in the middle of the first he wants....I have no problem giving up picks to land him.

A potential superstar lasts a decade...and Reid's staff has proven to ability to "coach up" middle-of-the-road lineman.

There were rumors about him being interested in Ruggs....He's never going to leave Mahomes without offensive talent.

I want them build the craziest offense in NFL history...:p They have the QB/coach to do it.

There are 6 tackles in this draft I consider Reid left tackles:

Penei Sewell - If he drops outside the top 5, I'd shit myself. Not a chance.
Rashawn Slater - He's a likely top 10 player, again no chance.
Christian Darrisaw - The Chiefs would have to make a pretty significant leap IMO, probably top 15.
Jalen Mayfield - Has the ability to be a LT in the NFL, I think he gets moved over and goes top 20.
Samuel Cosmi - Some have him as a top 15 guy, I don't but he could be in range or there.
Dillon Radunz - Kind of raw but the tools are there and he should be there.
Walker Little - I'm a bit concerned about his feet against elite rushers but I think he'll hold up pretty well and not playing in nearly 2 years will push him a ways down IMO.


The rest, to me, don't fit the scheme or are RTs or guards.

I think Alijah Vera-Tucker is one guy that could get your through a season at LT but that's not a long-term guy in this system. Teams in want of an elite guard prospect probably look his way earlier anyhow.

Man, I have a hard time believing that Radunz is a top 32 player.

I think he’s definitely top 50, and I’d be all for trading back or up in the 2nd for him, but there’s no way I’m taking him over Bateman, Phillips, Toney, Marshall, Ojulari, or Oweh.

Cosmi or Mayfield are our most realistic shot at taking a T in the 1st.

I have run probably 25 mocks and Cosmi either goes 13 to the Chargers or 14 to the Patriots every time. I don't see him being there.

Of all the guys that kccrow listed, the only one that consistently falls to 32 is Radunz.

Just based on the simulator:

Sewell usually goes to the Bengals. Never any later.
Slater usually goes shortly after.
Cosmi and Darrisaw almost always go 13 and 14. Not always in the same order but the Chargers take one of them and the Patriots take the other.
Mayfield usually goes somewhere between 17 and 22.
Radunz sometimes gets snatched in the late 20's but does sometimes end up at 32.

FWIW, Vera-Tucker usually goes well before 32.

The guys that consistently end up being there at 32 are Eichenberg and Jenkins. Eichenberg is a high floor, low ceiling guy who is probably best suited to be a RT and Jenkins is a prospect, not really a starter.

Honestly, the only guy that makes a ton of sense is Little and that's only because they could probably get him in the 3rd if things fall right.

Agree, at least right now. His stock may adjust.

I kind of think KC's best value bet is to take Walker Little in the second. In terms of upside, fit, and draft slot/cost-benefit, that looks like the biggest W to me.

^ This is thinking, of course, that both Schwartz and Fisher are done/retiring.

I don't think it's wise to assume you see either in 2021.

Agreed with all here. If someone like Pitts were to fall to the mid-teens, I'd have zero issue with Beach moving up to take him, if that's who he wanted. If someone like Toney falls to our pick, that'd be great as well. Honestly, I'm excited either way.

I love how the Chiefs operate. I think they wanted Niang and felt they could get him in the third. It'll be interesting to see who they like in rounds 1-3.

I pretty much never see Toney or Marshall on the board at 32 unless its some fluke. Most of the time both are gone no later than 25. Reality tells me there is a slim chance either are there.

Phillips is a guy I would absolutely not consider at 32 with his concussion history, sorry. Just too many at UCLA for my liking. If he falls rather far, sure, but not in the 1st and probably not in the 2nd.

Ojulari isn't a scheme fit. He's a 240 pound 3-4 OLB and he'll need to gain weight there, much less in a 4-3. And honestly, I question 240 because he looks 225 (Monty Rice is 235 and makes him look much thinner). He isn't going to hold up, primarily facing 325-pound RTs.

I'd probably take Joe Tryon, Ronnie Perkins, Ellerson Smith (very underrated), and Patrick Jones all ahead of Oweh. I'm not saying Oweh is bad, he's anything but bad, but he needs some growth and refinement in the NFL and I don't really see that pass rush I see from those others. Jones is a guy that isn't worth a 1st either, he's gotta get stronger too.

Radunz, I think he can start right away, even if he's giving up a bit to power. That said, he's going to need to get a lot stronger, much like Fisher did coming out of a small school. I would be equally concerned with taking him at 32, but he's not going to be there at 64 I'd have to guess. I'm not dismissing Walker Little in the 2nd but I doubt he's there in 3, as many boards have him, because of the volume of teams that need help at both OT spots. Another guy I'd keep an eye on is Royce Newman from Ole Miss. He really helped himself at the Senior Bowl, in my opinion. He looked solid at LT and has some athleticism, plus he can play any position on the line.

Bateman is criminally underrated. I really like him a ton and feel like if KC is going to go WR in 1 then he's probably going to be the guy sitting there with the most talent. In terms of a pure X that KC needs, he's as good of a fit as you'll get in this draft.

Overall, I think we're going to see a very similar draft to last year where 4 QBs, 6 OTs, and 5 WRs went in round 1 and, as a result, some of these pass rushers that are fringe 1s at best are going to slide deeper into round 2. So, I think htismage could be onto something with the OTs that'll be available to us. It could be a situation where the Chiefs will either have to hope a guy like Little is there in 2 or trade up in 1 if they want an OT. I think they can stand pat for any other position, but they aren't likely to get the board favorites.

Mahomes has just always seemed to play his beat football (would guess stats back it up) when Schwartz and Fisher are on the field. I think a couple good tackles are really important to this offense

Agree.

Agree.

Agree.

You think he'll be there?

I agree that Toney is very unlikely, but there are enough people who have Marshall outside of the top 32 for me to at least think it’s legitimately possible that he makes it to our pick. I think at best only one of Bateman, Toney, or Marshall make it there just a matter of which. If they’re all gone, that probably means a T or DE slips.

I know there’s some risk with Phillips, but that’s why you’re getting a top 15 talent that late in the 1st. The injuries/concussions were not an issue this season, and he really does seem to be through all of that. If he stays healthy, I think he’ll end up being the best edge rusher in this entire class.

I also question the fit with Ojulari, which is why Phillips and Oweh are both higher on my board. He’s just an excellent pass rusher and in today’s NFL when you’re in subs 70% of the time, I’d like to think Spags can make it work.

Oweh’s upside is through the roof. He’s just scratching the surface of what he can be. No way I’m taking any of those guys over him, even though I like all of them (even Smith who I agree is a nice sleeper).

Side note:

This is going to be a crazy draft with no combine and no real consensus.

Guys are all over the place in their rankings and there’s no way to know how things will actually play out, in particular after the top 20. That’s why I’m not completely giving up on one of the WR’s falling.

He does have a valid point. I think we will be ok. Remember, Veach is running the show.

I think Bateman or Marshall are the most likely top receivers to have a chance to fall.
It will more than likely come down to workout results, whatever workouts there may be.

I don't completely disagree with you. It's likely that all the players mentioned in this thread won't be there by the time we pick. I'm just saying I wouldn't be like "Wtf?! He better be good!" If we selected any position at 32 (except RB even though I would like to get one in this draft). Hell 32 is basically a second Rd pick. I think you're OVERVALUING it a little bit. Its more of a BPA than team needs spot cause at 32 your lucky if a player falls to you that meets both criteria

Not to mention this team will be coming off two Super Bowls with key players locked up and tons of solid contributors. Just pick the best players and keep rolling. It doesn't have to be an exact science this year. I personally can't wait

Well, for one, a 1st round pick - even #32 - comes with 5 years of control rather than 4. That's an important thing if you should happen to find a big time player.

Second, we don't have key players locked up. More than half of the offensive line, starters and backups, are free agents either this year or next. He have 2 WR's in the top 4 that are FA's this year. Breeland will be a FA. The entire right end of the defensive line is comprised of guys who will be FA's. Not all key players are locked up.

We have solid contributors but some question marks at those spots.... You just illustrated why I wouldn't be disappointed at any position being the first pick...... Don't misunderstand me.... OL and DE is a huge need that should be the first place addressed. My point, as a whole, is that out roster has been developed so well I think we'll be fine if we dont follow the NFL Draft Bible to a T this year.

The roster actually has some significant holes.

I'm not really understanding where you're coming from unless you're saying you just don't care.

Taking a RB, OG, or LB in the first round, as examples, would be a terrible waste of draft resources. We'd be throwing away value at positions that don't even really have needs.

It's not about being scripted or predictable. It's about maximizing the resources you have.

I'm basically saying that if the OT or DE that we want isn't there at 32 I would be fine with any position except QB and RB. And outside of that this draft could go in any direction because of the question marks you mention

A lot of the fun of the simulators for me is seeing how they change as the free agent market activity shapes up. Maybe you'll see very different results once Trent Williams, Russell Okung and Villanueva are all signed somewhere.

I think the FA market will probably have the biggest movement on WRs. The cumulative effect of multiple years of very good receiver classes has to keep pushing very talented receivers further and further down the board, plus there are now teams that surely have a zero percent chance of taking a WR in the 1st.

in every mock I run (and I'm aware that they are not necessarily accurate) if you don't grab an OT by the early 3rd, you're getting a project or a player that is most likely a G in the NFL. So for KC, they'll need to grab one at #32 or #64 to realistically have a starter in 2021.

If you don't grab a DE in round 1 or 2, the field narrows from potential 10 sack guys to solid but unspectacular developmental guys according to scouting projections.

There are WR's that will push all the way into the 4th with serious playmaking ability. Judging by a looking at a little film and scouting reports, I'm not seeing a huge difference between the 1st round guys and 3rd round guys like Amari Rodgers.

Interior offensive line prospects look really good all the way into the 5th.

this leads me to figure we need to go OT/DE in rounds one and two, and WR in round 3. There should be multiple players ranked right where we pick in each round, meaning without reaching there are guys that appear to be good fits and good value, it will just depend on which players Veach likes best. Of course, this is based on media scouting and player rankings, so we'll see how it actually shakes out.

In almost all of my mocks, you're getting a developmental OT or projected OG at #32, let alone #64 or later.

The actual starting tackles in this draft are about 8 and they all go before #32 most of the time.

not according to the scouting reports I'm seeing, and not by the PFN board.

Walker Little, for example, is a Niang type situation and keeps lasting into the early 3rd. A legit starting LT talent that would be a first rounder other than coming off an injury and a sitting out a covid season. He's a perfect Reid style OT, Stanford doesn't put out dummies, and now healthy would be a great #64 pick.

Eichenberg is not a guard, and is projected as a plug-and-play starter at LT and is always there at #64.

Jalen Mayfield is always there at #32. Radunz is too.

You can argue the mocks are wrong, and they might well be. You can argue with the scouting reports if you want to, but I'll defer to guys who do it for a living.

I think you gotta hope Niang can do it. Legit LT prospects just go earlier in the first than we can get.

If we want one to actually replace Fisher and not be a place holder, I’d look at trading 32 for one who’s established. The dude from Balt would be intriguing financially and from a value standpoint. With other dudes getting expensive, they’re gonna have to save somewhere.

IF we nabbed Little, (or Radunz, or Eichenberg) at #64 I think you probably have your bookend tackles moving forward, assuming Niang plays RT.

I'd still look to either find/sign vet insurance, but I'd be satisfied that the position had been addressed in terms of draft capital.

Then a Jaelen Phillips at #32 gives you what I think would be a dominant front four.

This is being described as an VERY deep OT draft.

I think there are maybe 4 or 5 legit OT's that will still be there when we pick. Not guys who will be guards, but legit OT's. I think there are a couple that will still be there at #64. Little, for example, much like Niang was in round 3 last year, same reasons.

We DO have to hope Niang pans out. That's just the way it is.

They need a legit guy day one there. I dunno maybe one of those guys are that but that’s a risk.

At this point it may be one you just have to take and rely on your coaching staff.

I’d still look around via trade though. If fisher and Schwartz are done, use their money and 32 to see what you can get. The Lt from Detroit is interesting if they wanna really tear down.

We won't "have their money" to go get FA's.

Anything we do is a risk.

I'm just relying on scouting reports and player rankings. They may be wrong. Veach has his own scouting reports and player rankings I'm certain.

It's all speculation, and I'm just going by the information there is, which says guys like Radunz, Eichenberg, or Little (who probably has the highest ceiling but is riskier) will be there as late as #64 and are legit starting LT's in the NFL.