The Kansas City Chiefs made left tackle Eric Fisher the No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft knowing full well that he was a work in progress. Despite a stellar career at Central Michigan, Fisher had yet to develop into the full-package when he declared for the NFL. Still, the potential and upside he offered was too great to be ignored.
Entering his fourth professional season, Fisher is still figuring things out at the NFL level. Unlike fellow first-round left tackles of recent drafts such as Trent Williams, Russell Okung and Matt Kalil, Fisher has yet to make a Pro Bowl or been named an All-Pro. Despite not living up to the hype and expectations, the Chiefs have no plans to part ways with the 25-year-old blind side protector.
Chiefs general manager John Dorsey has spoken recently of exercising the fifth-year option on Fisher's contract and even the potential of locking Fisher into an extension. Either option would keep Fisher in Kansas City for at least two more seasons, though Dorsey sounds like he hopes it to be longer.
"If you win your battles consistently, week in and week out, I think that's a good thing," Dorsey said of Fisher's progress. "Then all of the sudden, you have a self-belief that you take it to the next step, and the good ones, you always see they begin to exercise their will on the defenders.
"I think, as you saw with Eric as he went along in the second half of the season, you saw steady improvement. We said all along that it was going to be, year three, coming from where he came from, that he was going to begin to make steady strides. And he's been making steady strides all along."
Dorsey's faith in Fisher hasn't stopped him from signing an insurance policy in free agency. Earlier this month, the Chiefs signed veteran tackle Mitchell Schwartz. Though Schwartz has lined up at right tackle during his four NFL seasons, he did man the left side while in college at California. However, it doesn't appear as if the Chiefs are contemplating a bookend swap any time soon.
Follow Brandon Katz on Twitter at @Great_Katzby
