Chiefs Draft: Oklahoma offensive lineman Anton Harrison
The Kansas City Chiefs know what they need in the first round, but if that isn’t available, there should be a backup plan
It's pretty obvious the Kansas City Chiefs should be going after an edge rusher with their first pick at 31 in the first round. They have too much going on and too much unknown at the position to not go after an edge rusher when that position seems to be a good one in this draft class.
One of the prospects for the position that intrigues me the most is Will McDonald IV from Iowa State. But, there is a possibility he could be taken before pick 31, while there is also a possibility he could fall to the Chiefs. We still have no idea what will happen.
But, in case he doesn't fall to the defending Super Bowl champions, and there is no other edge rusher on the board that the team likes, they should have a backup plan. And they will of course, but it should consist of going after a left tackle.
With what is also going on with Orlando Brown Jr., they should think about getting a guy who could possibly replace him this year if they let him walk, or next year if they tag him this year.
That guy could be the offensive tackle Anton Harrison from Oklahoma.
Here is what Pro Football Focus thinks of Harrison:
Harrison isn’t the kind of explosive athlete who has any “wow” reps or should be expected to blow up the combine. No, his real impressive traits come from how easy he makes his job look. Harrison is 100% a tackle. You’re not moving his skill set inside. He could end up on either side of the line, depending on where he’s needed. Harrison’s ability to hold up to power rushes is borderline unplayable by NFL standards based on his 2022 tape. He’ll be in a quarterback’s lap every play. The good news is that we already saw a stark improvement from 2021 to 2022, and he’s on the record saying he’s working on it.
Harrison has given up just four sacks in the last three years for a team that has had mobile quarterbacks who like to pass the ball and sit in the pocket a little too long. This last season he only gave up one, and was by far the brightest spot on their offensive line. Of the seven guys entering the draft from Oklahoma, he is the best, too.
Harrison finished his 2022 campaign with a PFF pass-block grade of 83.3 which he accumulated in his 447 pass-blocking snaps.
Harrison has 1,866 career snaps, so it's safe to say he has seen a lot in his young career. The Chiefs could use a guy like him long-term, and it seems like he already fits a trend they like to follow – offensive linemen from Oklahoma, like Creed Humphrey and Brown Jr.
You can read the rest of what PFF thinks about Harrison here.
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