NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock took to a national conference call on Monday and gave several opinions on this year’s draft class and what to look for at the upcoming Scouting Combine.
NFL Draft 2013: Mike Mayock says offensive linemen deserve consideration for top pick
Mike Mayock of the NFL Network suggests that four separate offensive linemen are all worthy of the first overall pick held by the Kansas City Chiefs come draft day.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
One interesting quote came when Mayock was asked how many players should be in consideration for the Kansas City Chiefs' first overall pick of the draft. Mayock replied with four names, all of which were offensive linemen.
Those players were: Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel, Central Michigan left tackle Eric Fisher, Alabama left guard Chance Warmack and North Carolina left guard Jonathan Cooper.
“They need a quarterback and a lot of people think Geno Smith is in that ballpark, but I don’t,” Mayock said. “(At No. 1 and 33 they) need to find what’s the best combination to get the best value.”
Mayock thinks that drafting an offensive lineman is a must for the Chiefs in the first round, and then they can turn around and look for that quarterback, or possibly a wide receiver, at the top end of the second round on day two.
Most of Mayock’s comments ring true to the general consensus, in that the quarterback class is a relatively weak one, while the top offensive linemen are generally safe bets. That said, he might be the only one suggesting that both of the top two tackles and top two guards should be in the running for the No. 1 pick.
Dan Kadar of SB Nation released his latest mock draft on Monday, and he has the Chiefs taking Geno Smith with the first pick. Kadar also says that the Chiefs might be looking to trade down in the draft , which also supports Mayock’s opinion that the draft if high on depth but not necessarily filled with game-changers in the top ten picks.
Furthermore, this particular mock doesn't have an offensive lineman going until pick No. 7, when Joeckel was mocked to the Arizona Cardinals. Following that, Warmack went at No. 9 to the New York Jets, Fisher to the San Diego Chargers at No. 11 and Cooper to the Chicago Bears all the way at pick No. 20.
It will be interesting to see which way the Chiefs go at No. 1, especially given that we usually have figured out the top pick well in advance of the draft. Arrowhead Pride, SB Nation’s blog for the Chiefs, has plenty of draft coverage to help figure out just that.
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