[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by staylor26

He’s hearing the Chiefs want Dickerson?

Could you post the quote please?

Not necessarily the player.

But first, a few rules:

* No trades.
* No compensatory picks until they’re all announced by the NFL.
* Team needs are pre-free agency, which means some top tier needs will be met by re-signing current players.
* This mock is based on what I’m hearing, not what I would do.

31. Kansas City Chiefs —
Team Needs: Tier 1 CB, WR, IOL | Tier 2 LB, OT, TE | Tier 3 IDL, EDGE, CB

The Pick: OC LANDON DICKERSON, ALABAMA
Analysis: There should be one mission in Kansas City this off-season: Protect Patrick Mahomes.

Many will look at the Chiefs’ offensive line and assume that they’ll be fine if healthy in 2021, but a closer look tells you it’s unlikely they’ll be healthy. Or fine.

Eric Fisher tore his Achilles in the AFC Championship Game. He’s out a year. Minimum.

Mitchell Schwartz hurt his back in October and hasn’t practiced since. There were rumors throughout the playoff run that he could retire.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif opted out of the 2020 season and could return, but he was a rumored cap casualty before the season. He could be waived as the team moves into expensive years for Frank Clark, Chris Jones and Tyrann Mathieu.

The interior of this line was already patchwork, which was exposed in the Super Bowl as Mahomes ran for his life. General manager Brett Veach watched his star player take shot after shot on Sunday night. That lasting image will prompt him to secure the offensive line through the 2021 draft.

To start that process, finding a captain on the line and an anchor in the middle is gigantic. Landon Dickerson has the toughness, leadership, strength and technique to be trusted with creating the pocket for Mahomes to step up into. He’s a Day 1 starter who finds himself available this late only because a torn ACL suffered in the SEC Championship Game.

Dickerson would be slated for an early season return. Right in time to slide into the starting center spot.