Jake Long

[DaSuperfan]

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/05...be-tenure.html

He's ended the season on IR the past two seasons. This year he had a triceps injury that put him on the shelf. He'll be a free agent in the offseason....his injury history is a concern, but he might be worth going for, considering there will most likely be limited options at LT through the draft.

[Moriarty]

Gonna be really expensive, but this is a team with dire need.

If they think they're going to try and contend one more time (doesn't look very realistic to me, but doesn't mean they won't), they almost have to.

Even if they intend to rebuild, it's something you've got to consider. I don't think the Bears have successfully drafted a LT since Covert 30 yrs ago.

[janos_51]

I don't know that he's a huge step up if he comes as he played this past season, but we don't know how healthy he was this year. Where the tear happened in his tricep will determine if he'd even play at 100% next year as upper tricep tears can take longer to heal in many cases as the shoulder muscles start to factor in.

He might come with some incentive. He played at Michigan, so he's not afraid of the cold. We don't have anyone on our roster who player at Michigan so thats a push. I think it boils down to how he feels about the offense and our coaches and players.

[DaSuperfan]

I mean it's alarming to think that a Pro Bowl LT would be allowed to venture off in FA. Ryan Clady could be a possibility as well just because of his ties with Cutler and Marshall. But he might want to stay in Denver with Peyton.

[Mikefive]

I mean it's alarming to think that a Pro Bowl LT would be allowed to venture off in FA. Ryan Clady could be a possibility as well just because of his ties with Cutler and Marshall. But he might want to stay in Denver with Peyton.

What are our other options?

[DaSuperfan]

What are our other options?

Yeah, not much. We may be forced to go at him as hard as we can. It's either rolling the dice through the draft or rolling the dice on Long's health. I threw Clady out there....he's a slight possibility.

[Navin101]

You have to think the Broncos will franchise Clady.

Brandon Albert will also be a FA an he's had a phenomenal season (unlike Long). It's not the slam dunk decision the Broncos have but you have to think the Chiefs will tag Albert.

[DaSuperfan]

You have to think the Broncos will franchise Clady.

Brandon Albert will also be a FA an he's had a phenomenal season (unlike Long). It's not the slam dunk decision the Broncos have but you have to think the Chiefs will tag Albert.

Yeah, which is why I said he's a slight possibility. I know the Broncos aren't that dumb to let Clady walk. Finding premium LT's is one of the more difficult positions to solidify next to finding a good QB.

As for Albert....no one should know him better than Phil Emery since Emery was a scout with the Chiefs from 2008-2011.

[brantcruz50]

Yeah, which is why I said he's a slight possibility. I know the Broncos aren't that dumb to let Clady walk. Finding premium LT's is one of the more difficult positions to solidify next to finding a good QB.

As for Albert....no one should know him better than Phil Emery since Emery was a scout with the Chiefs from 2008-2011.

You guys beat me to it on Albert. I've always been a big fan. The one saving grace with him vis a vis Clady is that KC may have a viable long-term successor (Donald Stephenson, who several of us liked prior to the draft, and has played very well the alst 2 weeks while Albert has been out with a sore back). And, the Chiefs will have lots of young contracts for good players coming up in the next 2-3 years. And, they badly need to find themselves a QB.

[DaSuperfan]

You guys beat me to it on Albert. I've always been a big fan. The one saving grace with him vis a vis Clady is that KC may have a viable long-term successor (Donald Stephenson, who several of us liked prior to the draft, and has played very well the alst 2 weeks while Albert has been out with a sore back). And, the Chiefs will have lots of young contracts for good players coming up in the next 2-3 years. And, they badly need to find themselves a QB.

I'm not completely sold on Albert. He's battled through some nagging injuries throughout his career and hasn't been the most durable guy out there. He's not a dominant LT and would have probably been a Pro Bowl LG had he wanted to stay at guard but insisted to play LT. In his fifth season he's yet to make a Pro Bowl at LT, had some struggles in 09 and 10. Started playing better in 11 and not sure about this season....but I'd be weary of a guy all of a sudden having a great season in the final year of his contract.

[The Kaiser]

The one saving grace with him vis a vis Clady is that KC may have a viable long-term successor (Donald Stephenson, who several of us liked prior to the draft, and has played very well the alst 2 weeks while Albert has been out with a sore back).

I was a big Stephenson proponent. I didn't know he was getting playing time at LT. Interesting. Sigh. Woulda, shoulda, coulda....

[DaSuperfan]

I was a big Stephenson proponent. I didn't know he was getting playing time at LT. Interesting. Sigh. Woulda, shoulda, coulda....

Stephenson went in the third round at 74 and we got Hardin at 79. We had no ammunition to trade up because we just traded up for Alshon Jeffery in the 2nd round. Unless you wanted Stephenson over Jeffery in the 2nd round....which is a different story. But Stephenson has only played a couple of games, no reason to think he's arrived just yet. I'm not sure we're missing out on anything.