Jan 24, 2015; Mobile, AL; North squad offensive tackle Jamil Douglas of Arizona State (74) enters the field during player introductions before the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports
INDIANAPOLIS – The Chiefs are in the market to upgrade or add depth to guard and right tackle for an offensive line that struggled as an entire unit in 2015.
And the Chiefs apparently haven’t wasted time at the NFL Scouting Combine talking to a number of draft prospects, including Arizona State offensive lineman Jamil Douglas.
“I spoke to the Chiefs last night (Tuesday),” Douglas said Wednesday. “They’re going to pick your brain. All the teams pick your brain.”
Douglas offers a trait this Chiefs regime under general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid covet.
The 6-4, 304-pound Douglas is versatile, having played left tackle his senior season after staring at guard his sophomore and junior years.
Douglas said teams, including the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, indicated he projects at right tackle or guard.
Douglas said he has no preference because he can play either.
“I thought I was the most comfortable at guard when I started in my sophomore and junior year,” Douglas said. “Then my senior year moving out to left tackle became more comfortable there as well. I think I can play both positions and I provide that versatility for any team.”
CBS Sports and NFLDraftScout.com senior draft analyst Rob Ran agreed on the importance of a player’s flexibility, adding Douglas would make a good fit for Chiefs.
“He makes a lot of sense for Kansas City,” Rang said at the Combine. “Any team looking for athletic offensive linemen, zone blocking schemes, things like that. The number of screens and draws, things that Andy Reid is known for, whenever you have an athletic offensive lineman with experience at tackle as well as guard, I think it’s an easier transition for those types of players rather than guys coming from a power-based offense.”
Douglas already has a close tie to the Chiefs after working out with tackle/guard Jeff Allen during the summer of 2014.
“Jeff Allen is someone I’ve become close with,” Douglas said. “I got to sit down and watch film with him a little bit over this past summer. He’s a guy that’s really helped me get to where I’m at right now.”
Two other players are known to catch the Chiefs’ eye at the Combine.
South Carolina guard A.J. Cann, who measures 6-2, 313 pounds, said he spoke to the Chiefs, while Utah offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi said he was scheduled to talk to the Chiefs Wednesday night.
Like Douglas, the 6-6, 335 pound Poutasi can play either tackle position or guard, but he left little doubt where he feels the most comfortable.
“I feel more naturally at guard,” Poutasi said.
LSU tackle La’El Collins, who projects as a first-round pick, said he spoke to the Chiefs, Terez Paylor of The Kansas City Star reports.
