Kansas City Chiefs: 9 first-round targets in the 2021 NFL Draft

Left Tackle

The Chiefs went big during free agency, recruiting several elite offensive linemen to serve the Chiefs Kingdom. The front office fetched one of the most reliable left guards in the NFL, induced a quality right guard to unretire and procured a journeyman center. All in the name of protecting the team’s golden goose: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Atoning for the disastrous collapse of the offensive line during Super Bowl LV, the front office is prioritizing the protection of their star quarterback first and foremost.

The one position to not see an upgrade was the left tackle position, leading many to believe the Chiefs intend to draft one early in the 2021 NFL Draft. Protecting the blind side of their franchise quarterback is going to be essential for the Chiefs going forward, as history has repeatedly shown what happens when a front office refuses to prioritize the offensive trenches. With the surplus of quality offensive tackles this year, they’ll have plenty of opportunities to draft a Week One starter, even at the end of the first round. With that being said, any of the following left tackles would improve the Chiefs’ offensive line and serve as a bulwark against pass-rushers for the foreseeable future.

Measuring in at 6-foot-4, 304-pounds, Rashawn Slater has the experience and the physical profile to succeed in the NFL. He will be on many NFL coaches (and fans) wish list this April and will likely be long gone before the Chiefs draft at No. 31. That doesn’t mean the Chiefs shouldn’t target him if he gets within striking distance on Day One.

The former Northwestern left tackle might have opted out in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. But Slater showcased during his Pro Day that he hadn’t missed a beat and is still one of the best offensive tackles in the 2021 NFL Draft. His performance confirmed to NFL scouts that he has the physicality and positional skills to build upon his 37-game starting record at Northwestern. Slater could realistically play any position on the offensive line, as evidenced by his 2018  stint as the Wildcat’s right tackle.

But it was Slater’s 2019 campaign that cemented him as an up-and-coming left tackle prospect, allowing just six quarterback hurries through 11-games, according to his team bio. In Kansas City, Slater would cement an already impressive offensive line corp and provide excellent protection for Mahomes. Rarely missing a game during college, having Slater in Kansas City would provide some consistency week to week for Mahomes on the left side, as the young quarterback has had to deal with a patchwork offensive line nearly every year he has started for the Chiefs. Pairing Slater with the most consistent left guard in the NFL would allow Mahomes to focus on the passing game instead of opposing pressure.

Perhaps the left tackle with the highest floor in the 2021 NFL Draft, Christian Darrisaw looks ready to be a Week One starter in the league. At 6-foot-5, 314-pounds, Darrisaw is about as “plug and play” as you can get, impressing NFL scouts and offensive line coaches at his Pro Day last month.

Darrisaw was able to defend Virginia Techs’ quarterback from a wide variety of talented edge defenders in the ACC. He didn’t give up a single quarterback hit in the 2020 season (through nine games), seeming to have improved significantly during last year’s offseason. Darrisaw showcased powerful hands and NFL-caliber upper body strength during his Pro Day last month, impressing NFL offensive line coaches and justifying his high ranking in the draft community.

Virginia Tech ran a run-heavy offense, so it is unclear whether the Chiefs would want a left tackle with more pass protection experience. But Darrisaw has so many of the raw tools that teams are looking for, most draft analysts are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in the 2021 NFL Draft. With a seasoned offensive line coach in Kansas City, Darrisaw would have an experienced instructor who could re-tool the talented left tackle for a pass-heavy offense. With a veteran cast on the line to back him up, Darrisaw would have all the tools needed to succeed in Kansas City.

If Darrisaw has the highest floor in the 2021 NFL Draft then Samuel Cosmi undoubtedly has the highest ceiling. The tackle with the most impressive physical tools in the 2021 NFL Draft, Cosmi is a prospect well known in NFL scouting circles. Measuring in at 6-foot-6, 314-pounds during his Pro Day, Cosmi has been a consistent presence on the Texas Longhorns offensive line since 2018. Initially starting off as a right tackle during his redshirt freshman season, he eventually made the jump to left tackle in 2019. Cosmi will impress plenty of NFL executives with his overall athleticism, which he showcased during his Pro Day last month. Look at his broad jump and 40-yard time: This 22-year old left tackle has the ability to play tight end if he wanted to.

With numbers like that, it is going to be hard to argue against a tackle like Cosmi in the Kansas City draft room. He would also bring plenty of other perks to the Chiefs offensive line: Coming from the pass-heavy Texas offense, Cosmi has three years of experience under his belt focusing on pass protection. He’s looked impressive since his first season starting in Texas and will likely have plenty of scouts banging the table for him during this year’s draft preparations.

Cosmi isn’t a perfect left tackle prospect: In some key games during his college career, he’s looked slow and one-dimensional as a blocker, which might cause some general managers to reconsider drafting him in the first round. This is why Cosmi is projected as an early-second rounder in most mock drafts. But in Kansas City, Cosmi would have a solid team of veterans in the offensive line room to help with the transition. With one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL, it seems unlikely the Chiefs couldn’t find some use for a prospect with such a high ceiling.

The Chiefs front office has clearly indicated this offseason that they intend to get their left tackle of the future in the 2021 NFL Draft. One of the most important positions on the offensive side of the ball, it makes sense for them to go for a left tackle prospect with as high a ceiling as Cosmi has. Even if Cosmi doesn’t work out at left tackle, he has the skills and experience to play at guard or right tackle, if need be. And if he does work out, he’ll probably be a top-5 blindside tackle before his second contract. Those are pretty good odds, especially when drafting this late in the first round.