There were several potential offensive linemen discussed for the Kansas City Chiefs leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft. The most notable on that list was David DeCastro, but others like Kevin Zeitler, Zebrie Sanders, Amini Silatolu and a cast of several others were among the mock drafts connected to the Chiefs. All, it seems, except for Illinois OL Jeff Allen, the Chiefs second round choice on Friday. It's a choice that forced many Chiefs fans to wonder what they were getting.
The good news is that Jeff Allen is the pick that ESPN's Todd McShay loves the most. Given the overhaul of the Chiefs offensive line of the last few offseasons, Allen could help complete the interior makeover of the line in time.
McShay writes, "Allen is an underrated talent and his versatility will be important to the long-term plans of the Chiefs. Free-agent acquisition Eric Winston should hold down a job at tackle, but Allen certainly has the ability to beat out Ryan Lilja for the starting spot at left guard. Allen's movement skills and intelligence make him a perfect fit for Kansas City's zone-blocking system."
Allen can play many spots along the line, so the Chiefs have some ability to move around here. However, this is Lilja's last year on his contract and he even admitted that he didn't play like he needed last season. This will be a pivotal year for Allen to both learn and for the Chiefs to see where things stand on the line. For now, it seems they bolstered things quite well with Allen and new tackle Donald Stephenson.
For more on the Chiefs draft, check out Arrowhead Pride. For even more comprehensive draft coverage, head over to Mocking the Draft.