Luke

Joeckel

“I certainly hope so,” said a Chiefs source, referring to the availability of the Raiders’ pick at No. 3. Ideally, Cole reports, Kansas City would trade down with Oakland. The Raiders would draft Geno Smith first overall, and the Chiefs would take Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher at No. 3, while also netting a second-rounder for Branden Albert. If the Raiders truly love Smith, they may feel compelled to leapfrog the quarterback-needy Jaguars to secure Geno.

Joeckel was able to land a fully-guaranteed four-year, $21.2 million deal. His $13.8 million signing bonus is also the largest given to a rookie this season. With the Dolphins expected to insist on offset language, the deal could have an impact on negotiations with No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan.

Joeckel is the tenth first-rounder to sign. The signing should help the Chiefs hammer out a deal with No. 1 pick Eric Fisher. Joeckel was a dominant left tackle at Texas A&M, but he’s switching to the right side in Jacksonville due to the presence of Eugene Monroe. By all accounts, the transition has gone smoothly. Joeckel has said it’s “feeling a lot better than I thought it would.”

Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher, who is beginning to push Joeckel for the top spot among draft-eligible left tackles, did the exact same number of reps. It’s a strong total for players who both possess long arms, which makes it more difficult to perform lots of repeated bench-press reps. These two are neck and neck.

Top left tackle “competitors” Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson measured 6-foot-7, 306 and 6-foot-6, 303, respectively. Joeckel has 34 1/4-inch arms, which are ideal length for a left tackle. He’s a candidate to be drafted first overall.

Albert’s natural position is left tackle as well, but Dorsey seems to be suggesting a position change. “Who’s to say both of those guys are locked in to playing left tackle? Maybe one plays left guard, center, right guard, right tackle. You put your best five offensive linemen out there,” he said. As one of the few teams significantly under the salary cap, the Chiefs can certainly afford to bring back Albert. The status of his back injury will be a pivotal factor.

With a weak quarterback class and muddled offensive line and pass-rushing crops, it’s one of the weaker years in recent memory to own the No. 1 pick. The Chiefs could have trouble trading down since many teams may believe their preferred pick will fall. If Kansas City both acquires a quarterback and re-signs LT Branden Albert, it will be entirely uncertain whom they’ll target at No. 1.

The story indicates that GMs around the league rank Joeckel higher than Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher, despite some buzz that the two are on equal footing. This week’s release of incumbent RT Eric Winston indicates Kansas City will probably draft Joeckel and play him on the right side, even if that’s never happened before with a No. 1 overall pick. Branden Albert would stay on the left.

His vertical was 28 1/2 inches with an 8-foot-10 broad jump. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock says he charted four of Joeckel’s games from the 2012 season, and was a bit concerned by the way Joeckel handled speedy edge rushers. Mayock charted Joeckel getting beat to the inside by faster defensive ends and rush ‘backers “seven or eight times.” Joeckel is being pushed by Eric Fisher of Central Michigan to be the Chiefs’ draft pick at No. 1 overall.

This has been assumed, but not reported. Joeckel has been the most widely mocked player at No. 1 overall, and nothing has happened during the Combine that should change that. According to Rapoport, the Chiefs are the most interested team in the league in Alex Smith, which is an indication they aren’t planning to reach for a quarterback at No. 1. Joeckel-to-Kansas City rumors will really pick up if free agent LT Branden Albert reaches the open market.