ESPN NFL college/draft analyst Mel Kiper released version 3.0 of his 2020 mock draft on Tuesday. For the second mock in a row, Kiper sent the same player to the Kansas City Chiefs.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Cesar Ruiz, C/G, Michigan
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KIPER: The Super Bowl champs haven’t made many moves this offseason, but their positions of need are clear: cornerback and interior offensive line. Kendall Fuller signed a big deal in Washington, and Bashaud Breeland is still on the market, leaving big shoes to fill. But with Noah Igbinoghene gone to San Francisco one pick earlier, I don’t have a corner with a first-round grade on my board. So let’s give the Chiefs Ruiz, who could slide to guard to replace Stefen Wisniewski.
The first time Kiper connected Ruiz to the Chiefs, we explained how the team shuffled left guards throughout the 2019 season.
Andrew Wylie was the Chiefs’ left guard at the beginning of the year, but injuries led the Chiefs to go with Martinas Rankin and later Stefen Wisniewski. When Wylie fully regained his health ahead of the playoffs, the Chiefs opted to stay with the veteran Wisniewski.
Fast forward a couple weeks, and that is no longer an option. Wisniewski is heading back home to join the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving the left guard position wide open.
As the Chiefs’ roster stands now, four out of five offensive line positions are filled — left tackle Eric Fisher, center Austin Reiter, right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and right tackle Mitch Schwartz are all returning starters from 2019.
That would give the Chiefs several players to battle for one left guard spot: Wylie, the newly-signed Mike Remmers, second-year interior lineman Nick Allegretti, Martinas Rankin or Ryan Hunter. Greg Senat and Jackson Barton are also on the roster.
With pick 32, the Chiefs might be better served to trade up and go get that corner they like — or select a linebacker.