Kansas City Chiefs Plan to Keep Branden Albert at Left Tackle

When the Kansas City Chiefs released right tackle Eric Winston, the immediate belief was that the team was planning on moving left tackle Branden Albert to the right side and then using the first-overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft to fill the void at left tackle with either Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher of Central Michigan.

That opinion speculation Branden Albert, but it looks like the Chiefs have other plans.

According to an NFL.com report, the Chiefs plan on working out a long-term extension with Albert in hopes that he will be their left tackle of the future. Albert is currently designated as the team’s franchise player.

That should be comforting news for Albert.

But what about the void on the right side of the offensive line?

Kansas City could still use the first pick in the draft to select a tackle and plug them in on the right side. By using the draft, the Chiefs could bring in a younger, cheaper option to replace Winston. It’s not often that a player is drafted first-overall with the plan to play him at right tackle, but new Chiefs head coach Andy Reid values the left and right tackle position the same.

If the Chiefs plan to select Joeckel or Fisher to play right tackle, they need to do further evaluation to see if either player is comfortable on the right side and if their footwork will allow them to be as successful on the opposite side of their college position.