On Saturday the Chiefs pulled a huge upset in the draft by getting DT Glenn Dorsey to drop into their laps. Many fans, including myself, felt that after that bit of luck there was no way the Chiefs would be able to strike twice and get their hands on their top-rated offensive tackle prospect, Branden Albert (Virginia).
Nine different players then take their turn in the spotlight, coming off the board to teams all across the league, yet none of them are named Branden Albert. So it was with no surprise that as the Detroit Lions started their 10 minutes on the clock, the Chiefs made a hasty and well thought out move to jump up two spots into the Lions #15 overall pick and take Albert before any other team that coveted him could move in ahead of them.
Albert is by far the most versatile player the Chiefs have had on their offensive line since Will Shields was roaming the field. There were definitely more established prospects at the tackle spot, but in terms of his size, talent, and versatility, I’m not sure that anyone matches up to what Albert brings to the table. He can easily come in to this team and start from Day 1 at right guard, paving the way for Larry Johnson to have a solid rebound from last year’s disaster. Or if the Chiefs decide he’s ready to handle the pressure, Albert has all the skills necessary to take over for the Chiefs at the left tackle spot, protecting Brodie Croyle’s blind spot for the next 10 years.
Either way, I feel like the Chiefs have come out with a definite winner with this pick. You cannot underestimate the value of a Pro-Bowl caliber guard, as the Chiefs running game clearly took a nose dive once our annual All-Pro guard in Will Shields decided to hang it up a year ago. And everyone knows how valuable a standout left tackle can be for a team, as opposing defenses typically line up their best pass rusher on the right side of their line (left side of the offense), so protecting the passer is paramount when you play that position.
Having a player like Branden Albert will only make our O-line better in my opinion, as we now have the luxury of being able to slot him in at pretty much any position on the line save center if one of our other starters gets hurt. Albert will start immediately at whatever position the Chiefs put him, and although I usually don’t get super excited about having a rookie get major playing time at a crucial position like left tackle, I feel very comfortable with Albert doing just that after watching him dominate at Virginia for the past 3 years.
But don’t just take my word for it. Feel free to see it for yourself with Albert’s highlights, courtesy of Rivals.com. Enjoy!!
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Touchdown! Score big this 
