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2016 NFL mock drafts already have Kansas City Chiefs selecting an OT

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

You can pretty much always write in a left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs on your NFL mock drafts. That would have been the wrong prediction this year but it could be the right one next year as SB Nation's 2016 NFL mock draft has the Kansas City Chiefs selecting Ohio State OT Taylor Decker.

This pick actually does make sense. If you thought receiver was the most obvious need for the Chiefs this year, just wait until OTs Jeff Allen and Donald Stephenson are free agents next year and offensive tackle becomes the most obvious pick of all time. Also by the 2013 draft, Eric Fisher will be entering the fourth year on his contract. Seems like just yesterday he was drafted, right?

Decker is a multi-year starter at Ohio State who decided to return for his senior season next year rather that enter the draft this year. That usually works out well for players, especially mulit-year starting offensive tackles on championship caliber teams.

This scouting report reads:

As the only returning full-time starter, and flipping sides of the line to boot, Decker was a critical player in determining OSU's fate going into this season. 14 wins and a conference and national title later, the story of OSU's offensive line reconstitution is a criminally underrated facet of the Buckeyes' romp to the top, and Decker is at the center of that story. After the inevitable adjustment period involved with four new OL starters and a new QB, OSU's offense took off. Decker, for his part, is the model left tackle- capable in the run game, but even more reliable in pass pro. He returns to a loaded Buckeye front with consensus 2nd team All-B1G honors to his name.

Long-time readers of the blog know I call for an offensive tackle just about every year. I don't see why 2016 will be any different.

Other observations on this mock:

  • This mock has the Chiefs selecting 12th overall. I'm thinking they'll be picking in the 20s.
  • Ohio State DE Joey Bosa is the first overall pick.
  • There are four Ohio State players in the first round of this mock.
  • This mock has three first round QBs: Ohio State's Cardale Jones, Penn State's Christian Hackenberg and Michigan State's Connor Cook.
  • Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley, Ole Miss's Laremy Tunsil, Baylor's Spencer Drango and Michigan State's Jack Conklin are other OTs in the first round.

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