Chiefs: 4 OT targets in 2021 NFL Draft after release of Schwartz, Fisher
By Hunter Neel
1. Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
With pick 31 the Chiefs sit at an awkward spot in terms of the tackles readily available to them. Many of the top tackles seem to consistently get mocked a few spots higher, leaving them at an interesting place with where they pivot. While offensive tackle does sit as the top priority for the team, the offensive line as a whole needs upgrades and the team should not overlook some of the versatility offered in this year’s draft class. A few of the interior linemen in this class could be appealing for the team, though the later rounds might be the sweet spot for this.
Among a very talented offensive tackle group lies one of the more underrated players in this year’s class. Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins is often overlooked by some of the bigger named prospects in the class, but he is just as talented.
Jenkins is a very experienced prospect, having 35 starts under his belt but he really came to life in the eight games he played this season before ultimately opting out. He has experience at right guard, left tackle, and right tackle, with most of his time spent at right tackle in his career, therefore offering the versatility the Chiefs need along their line.
Jenkins is a very well-rounded prospect that is technically sound across the board. He is a quick-setting tackle prospect and wins controlling defenders in pass sets and driving them off the ball in the run game. He thrives on generating plus movement off the ball in the run game thanks to his upper-tier strength and ability to control defenders. His athletic ability is limited though and he doesn’t have the lateral agility you wish for a prospect of his caliber. His lack of exceptional length has brought questions of a future at guard for Jenkins but from what he has shown on tape this past season he could be a successful starting tackle for a team, as long as you are okay with him not getting tons of depth in his pass sets.
If Jenkins is available for the team at pick 31, it seems to be a no-brainer, as he is one of the top tackle prospects in the class and an often overlooked one at that.