Whether or not the Kansas City Chiefs are able to sign Eric Winston to cement the right tackle position will make a major difference in how the team will likely draft in the first round of the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. With choices like Stanford’s Jonathan Martin and Iowa’s Riley Reiff as possible choices left on the draft board, those players would be difficult to ignore if they remain at No. 11 when the Chiefs pick for the first time.
If Winston is in tow, however, both Rob Rang and Dane Brugler at CBS Sports believe the Chiefs will take Dontari Poe — and that might not depend on the team’s free agency moves. The Memphis defensive tackle is among the best at the position and it’s one that KC needs to address at some point this offseason after losing Kelly Gregg to potential retirement and failing to have any other dependable player at the position.
Poe has been rising up draft boards with a stellar NFL Combine workout, so it’s possible he even goes earlier to the Carolina Panthers or Buffalo Bills.
For more on the Chiefs and the upcoming draft, check out Arrowhead Pride.