NFL Mock Draft 2013: The Kansas City Chiefs Select...

Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

Height: 6' 6"

Weight: 306 pounds

LINK TO JOECKEL'S COMBINE PROFILE PAGE

This is the first draft choice in the John Dorsey/Andy Reid era in KC. (Sidenote: I wonder what their "Payloo" name would be...Andor? ...Doreid? ...Joan? I've gotta admit that nothing rings as sweetly as "Payloo"), and it marks the third straight year that I have picked the top offensive tackle in the draft for my team in this mock.

It's reflective of the fact that I value high quality offensive lines, and believe in protecting the quarterback, especially young and/or fragile/suspect ones (first Christian Ponder of the Vikes and now Alex Smith of the Chiefs).

This pick makes perfect sense. The Chiefs have franchised LT Branden Albert, yes, but that just makes him disgruntled, and they're also shopping him around big time as trade bait. The longest he'll even possibly be with the team is one more year. They've jettisoned Eric Winston, too, so that makes for a line in a bit of flux and in need of stability so that Smith can feel safe and confidently make his throws.

This pick also makes sense because it's a SAFE pick. Offensive tackles in the first round are generally safe picks. Charlie Campbell, in his position rankings on walterfootball.com, calls Joeckel both the safest pick of the draft and a very safe pick. CITATION

Why would the Chiefs be so interested in a safe pick? As I wrote above, it's the first ever draft pick for Joan (Andor? Doreid? none of these sound good to me) and they need to have a solid win to set themselves up for a long run in KCK, and this is the way to do it.

ALSO, Andy Reid is one of the safest playingest coaches in the NFL (except for the CASUAL SHIRTS he wears). Twice in the span of less than 6 months during the 2006 regular season and playoffs, he conservatively punted the ball away late in the 4th quarter to the Saints while either tied or down 3, and twice the Saints cranked out drives to run out the clock and send him home a LOSER.

So here's to playing it safe and trying to keep Alex Smith in good enough shape to reach his middling destiny with middling coach Andy Reid, and more importantly, here's to the start of the 2013 CSC Community Mock Draft.

Vote in the poll, and then let me have it in the comment section...

Thanks to all the CSC members who participated in this year's community mock draft. Without your help, none of this would be possible.

Below are the complete results from our community mock draft.

Catch up with all of the mock draft selections in our 2013 CSC Community Draft Section.