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Guard Or Inside Linebacker: Which Is The Greatest Of Two Upgrades?

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Offensive lineman David DeCastro of Stanford participates in a drill during the 2012 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Offensive lineman David DeCastro of Stanford participates in a drill during the 2012 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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If you frequent these parts, then you're well acquainted with the consistent stable of names that we've come to know as the possible choices for the Chiefs in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. We can all likely rattle off the options -- from Michael Brockers and Dontari Poe to Luke Kuechly and David DeCastro. We all have our opinions on Ryan Tannehill and our favorites among pass rushers like Melvin Ingram and Fletcher Cox.

But how do we decide from there? It might help to actually see which upgrade helps the most - at least in the eyes of you, dear AP faithful. In an effort to help isolate the argument from reaching the far-ranging pastures of quarterback to cornerback, let's pit two upgrades in particular against each other and see which helps. Let's start with the popular upgrades that Luke Kuechly and David DeCastro would conceivably provide:

1. Luke Kuechly - Boston College - ILB
Upgrade Over: Jovan Belcher, Brandon Siler
Kuechly had the most tackles in college football last season and finished second the two seasons before that. In short, he's a machine who is widely regarded as a very safe pick with loads of experience against solid competition. He's a proven product expected to come off the board around the Chiefs first selection at No. 11, so it's a great fit for a team that could use him.

2. David DeCastro - Stanford - OG
Upgrade Over: Ryan Lilja
The line could shift and the coaching staff has some versatility to work with depending on how other draft picks shape out, but DeCastro would likely supplant Lilja at the left guard position for our purposes. He's been called the best interior line prospect since Steve Hutchinson, and given the addition of Eric Winston at right tackle, the Chiefs would suddenly have one of the best lines in the NFL.

Simply put: which upgrade is your preference?

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