Chiefs

NFL Mock Draft 2013: Chiefs select an offensive tackle, but which one?

With Alex Smith in tow, the Chiefs may favoring an offensive tackle with their No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. The question is, will it be Central Michigan's Eric Fisher or Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel?

By Louis Bien@louisbien Feb 27, 2013, 1:14pm CST

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The Alex Smith trade gave the Kansas City Chiefs a starting quarterback, so don't expect to see Geno Smith at the top of many 2013 NFL Mock Drafts going forward. Offensive tackle may be the new trendy pick at No. 1 overall, judging from mocks released by Doug Farrar of Yahoo! Sports and Don Banks of Sports Illustrated. The big question is, should the Chiefs select Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher?

More: SB Nation's complete 2013 NFL Combine coverage

Farrar likes Fisher, who has been arguably the draft's biggest riser with impressive performances at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine this past weekend.

Andy Reid knows about offensive line. He also knows that the Chiefs aren't a few missing pieces away from the playoffs, Because he's in the starting stages of a multi-year rebuilding project, he can take Fisher, who I think has more overall potential, instead of the more pro-ready Luke Joeckel.

Banks makes the case for Joeckel, who has been a popular name to connect with the Chiefs for months now. That said, Banks acknowledges the allure of Fisher.

I'm not moving off of Joeckel in the top spot, because while the quarterback need in Kansas City is great, the anticipated Alex Smith-to-the-Chiefs trade makes all the sense in the world. If there's a debate at No. 1, it might be that Joeckel and Central Michigan left tackle Eric Fisher may be almost interchangeable from a draft-grade standpoint.

Neither Joeckel or Fisher drop far in the mock drafts where they don't go No. 1 overall. Joeckel is taken by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 3 overall pick in Farrar's mock, and Banks likes Fisher's fit with the Detroit Lions at No. 5 overall. By every indication, the Chiefs will be very happy should they decide to address the offensive line..