The Kansas City Chiefs’ need for offensive line reinforcement has been well-documented since the Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jaylon Moore, a career backup with the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons (just 12 starts), is seen as the “fix” for the position. But guard Joe Thuney, a salary cap casualty, was traded to the Chicago Bears, which leaves a hole at guard, too.
Many think the Chiefs will take a left tackle early in the draft, with several mocks having Josh Simmons and Josh Conerly Jr. being selected the most.
But the Chiefs’ pre-draft 30 visit list might confirm their plans. Out of the 18 players chosen by Kansas City, eight are offensive linemen, and five are tackles: Anthony Belton, Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, Caleb Etienne, Aireontae Ersery, and Dalton Cooper.
The other linemen are Mose Vavao, Esa Pole, and Bryce Cabeldue.
So that might be fairly telling regarding which way the Chiefs might go early in the draft, with a glaring need at tackle and guard for the defending AFC champs.
Other positions on the Chiefs’ 30 visit list are defensive line, receiver, running back, and tight end, but the offensive line feels the obvious choice in the early rounds.
Of course, that could change based on how the draft unfolds, with the Chiefs not picking until No. 31, but there does feel like an inevitability that it will be the offensive or defensive line in round 1.
And the pre-draft 30 visits might have just tipped which way the franchise is thinking.