NFL Mock Draft 2012: Akiem Hicks Makes Intriguing DT Prospect For Kansas City Chiefs To Consider

The best defenses in the NFL seem to have a steady rotation of starting caliber players who can rotate in and out and stay fresh throughout the game, forcing the offensive line to wear down by the fourth quarter if not before. For the Kansas City Chiefs, they added one developmental defensive tackle last year in Jerrelle Powe in the sixth round, but they could do the same this year. Akiem Hicks seems a good bet to be taken somewhere around the same place.

Hicks is a solid developmental prospect from Regina, Canada trying to make his name here in the States with a solid week at the East-West Shrine Game. Wes Bunting of the National Football Post likes him as one of the game's best NFL draft prospects although he admits he's not near NFL ready yet.

Bunting writes, "A tall, long-armed lineman who carries his weight well, displays impressive power on contact and has the first step to get up the field and overwhelm. For a big guy he displays some natural movement skills as well and his long arms allow him to gain leverage consistently. However, the former LSU transfer is still raw, but with some development looks like a guy who could end up starting in the league if he puts in the time. That is a question mark though."

Given the Chiefs could lose Kelly Gregg this season and went into the season thin at the DT position already, adding a couple of options this off-season could help bolster the middle.