KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs simply couldn't resist taking what they considered the most athletic and talented offensive tackle in the NFL draft – Eric Fisher of Central Michigan.
Chiefs general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid also took Fisher based on his versatility, which may come in handy after the much-rumored Branden Albert trade to Miami fizzled on Thursday.
In fact, multiple reports suggested that the Chiefs and Miami agreed to delay trade discussions on Albert until at least after the first round of the draft. And even if trade talks resume, the Chiefs no longer will be able to grab Miami's No. 42 overall pick, the selection the Chiefs coveted. That pick went to Oakland so Miami could move up to No. 3 in the draft.
What it all means now is that the Chiefs could end up with Albert at left tackle next season and Fisher at right tackle.
"We're in no hurry to move Albert to someone else," Reid said from the Chiefs' practice facility. "I consider Albert a good offensive lineman."
And Reid has a history of shifting his tackles to either the right or left sides, which could be the case for Fisher, who played mostly left tackle in college.
"I don't know where (he'll play)," Reid said. "Doesn't bother me (where he plays). We'll put the best five players out there. I don't really care. You need them all.
"If you know me, you know I can switch guys around."
That's fine with Fisher.
"Where ever they want me to play, I'll play," Fisher said in a teleconference call from New York. "I have no idea where they want me. I just want to help them get to a Super Bowl."
After all, Fisher was still getting used to the idea of being the 2013 draft's No. 1 overall pick. Even 90 minutes after the Chiefs made the selection, Fisher was still in disbelief.
"So many great players have been taken first overall," Fisher said. "And now you can throw me into that mix. I can't describe it. The last hour of my life has been crazy."
Fisher said even though he suspected the Chiefs would be calling to tell him he was their pick, his heart skipped a beat when they appeared to be calling, only to have his cell phone drop the call immediately.
"We weren't in the middle of a trade or anything," Reid said, laughing. "We didn't hang up. It just cut out."
The Chiefs finally reached Fisher and he spoke to Reid, Dorsey and Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt.
"I know a little bit about the Chiefs," Fisher said. "I know that they have a great quarterback right now in Alex Smith. I know he's had a Chippewa (Joe Staley) blocking for him in the past (at San Francisco) and now hopefully he'll have another Chippewa blocking for him."
With Fisher, who is 6 feet 7 and 306 pounds, the Chiefs got a lineman who is exceptionally athletic – he ran a 5.05 40-yard dash and he bench pressed 225 pounds 27 straight times.
That athleticism is what steered the Chiefs toward Fisher and not Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel (who ran a 5.30 40-yard dash). Joeckel went second to Jacksonville.
"Look, I'm not going to sit here and compare the two," Reid said. "They're both fine football players.…I will just say we really liked Eric's athletic ability."
The Chiefs also believed Fisher was equipped mentally to handle Reid's complex offense.
"He's not lacking for gigabytes," Reid said. "Smart kid. Majored in (mechanical) engineering. He can handle whatever we throw at him."
Fisher often has been compared that other famous Central Michigan tackle – Joe Staley, now a Pro Bowl tackle for the 49ers.
That comparison wasn't lost on Reid when they visited Fisher at Central Michigan.
"When you walk into (Central Michigan athletic offices) the first thing you see is this giant photo of Joe Staley on the wall," Reid said. "That gets your attention. So, yes, we like those comparisons."
Like Staley, most scouts view Fisher as quick off the snap with great balance, and a player powerful enough to drive block in the run game. Fisher has long arms and a thick waist, and most believe Fisher can still put on usable weight in his mid-section.
"I don't think it would be a problem playing with another 20 or 30 pounds," Fisher said.
Reid also suggested that Fisher could have some desired nastiness on the field. But Reid said the Chiefs also were impressed with Fisher's overall demeanor away from the field, too.
"He's a good kid and a hard worker," Reid said. "When you meet him, you'll find that out. When you sit with him, you get the sense that he's with you when you're talking to him.
"He'll be good for Kansas City. Level-headed."
Fisher thanked his mom for teaching him that nothing would be handed to him in life, and that he needed to go out and make things happen on his own.
"I owe so much to her for that, for teaching me that," Fisher said. "She made me who I am."
Fisher's mom, Heidi, has worked at a Volkswagen dealership in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, for 33 years as a data interpreter.
"But I told her she was going to put in for retirement as of now," Fisher said.
