Cue up cliche football movie reference. 
 
Sandra Bullock is speaking, Lawrence Taylor is sacking, and Joe Theismann is suffering.  Oh yes, every housewife knows that after you pay the mortgage, you pay the insurance.
 
The Chiefs have already made the downpayment and signed its promissory note.  The name of our mortgage is Cassel.
 
And in 2009, we tried out the Brandon Alberts insurance policy.  It's time to go Progressive and find a new agent.
 
The name of the new policy should be Russell Okung.
 
The following chart represents all offensive tackles selected within the first five picks since 1993.  The data reaches back to the 1993 draft, and, considering the average life span of an NFL tackle will last less than 17 years (unless it gets all Bruce Matthews up in here!), this period of years provides a seemingly relevant timeframe to assess the value of a top-five offensive tackle.
 
Offensive Tackle
Draft No.
Year
Jake Long
1
2008
Orlando Pace
1
1997
Jason Smith
2
2009
Robert Gallery
2
2004
Leonard Davis
2
2001
Tony Boselli
2
1995
Joe Thomas
3
2007
Chris Samuels
3
2000
D'Brickashaw Ferguson
4
2006
Mike Williams
4
2002
Jonathan Ogden
4
1996
Levi Brown
5
2007
 
Imagine yourself as the general manager of your favorite respective NFL team.  How many of these players would you consider a bust if you were to select them with a top five pick?  If you go down the list, I'm guessing there's probably four: Levi Brown (although he's still got some time), Mike Williams (the inevitable "Who is that?" among the group), Robert Gallery (do I even need to mention that this dude went to Iowa?), and Leonard Davis (an alright player but perhaps more worthy of a pick outside of the top five).  The jury is still out on Jason Smith, so out of the 12 offensive tackles taken in the top 5, seven of those picks have been wise draft choices.  That's not to say that all of these tackles would fit into each and every system, but considering the ridiculously significant value of a solid blind side tackle, seven out of 12 hits seems like a rather low-risk proposition for a top-five pick compared to a quarterback or.....(do I dare remind Chiefs fans of the agony of (gulp!) Ryan Sims...yes, I must).....defensive tackle.
 
As every beloved Chiefs fan knows, the offense is driven by the guys on the scrimmage line.  During the early 2000s, when the Chiefs offense simply worked opposing defenses, the greatest asset to the offense was our offensive line.  To be sure, the offensive line included two first-ballot HOFs, which is simply not something that can be mimicked.  But it does provide a blueprint for offensive prowess.  And by the way, one of those HOFs was taken with the eighth overall pick.
 
Alright: we've made the case for offensive tackle.  But why not a safety?
 
Here's two reasons: Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu.  Both were drafted outside of the the top 15.
 
That's not to say that the safety cannot have an impact on the game.  I mean, who would argue that Ed Reed is not a legitimate gamechanger?  But quite frankly, the safety is not as valuable as a quarterback or blind-side tackle.  Since 1991, no team that has drafted a top 15 safety has won the Super Bowl with that player still on the roster.  Said differently, a safety can be replaced.
 
I like Berry (a lot!).  He gets the bona fide mancrush stamp.
 
But if you've got the fifth overall pick and Russell Okung is available, you take him.
 
Here's two good reasons why:
 
(1) You protect the king of the castle: All castle-puns aside, Matt Cassel has been named the Chiefs investment.  You hedge the risk by getting a solid back-up, but you protect the investment by drafting a solid left tackle.  Brandon Alberts is not the answer at left tackle.  Alberts can still be a heavy contributor on the line, but move him to guard.  Cassel will never have a chance to flourish if he doesn't have time in the pocket.  And if the Chiefs can't establish a running game, you can throw out Cassel success and an elusive Chiefs playoff victory.
 
(2) Russell Okung: We've thoroughly discussed the importance of the tackle position, but there's a reason your draft card reads tackle when the commish announces your choice.  If Cassell is king of the backfield, Okung is king of the scrimmage line.  King Kung! 
 
Okung was the anchor on a Cowboy offensive line that won four straight Big 12 rushing titles during his time in Stillwater.  Finalist for the Outland Trophy in 2009, Okung is the consensus number one for his position, and that's not even something the much praised Suh can assert.  In 2008, scouts were taken back by Okung's ability to neutralize Texas Longhorns end Brian Orakpo, who happened to be a Pro Bowler in his first NFL season.  Twice during the 2009 season, Okung faced the nation's leading sacker: Texas A&M's Von Miller and Texas Longhorn's Sergio Kindle.  The result of the match-up: no sacks given up by Okung.  Needless to say, the boy's a player.
 
But drafting a top five pick and potential franchise player has to include another assessment: what's his character?  King Kung ended his Cowboy career with a streak of 47 games started.  The boy is tough.  The boy's got heart.
 
So what are you getting with Okung: a proven rush and pass blocker who steps up in the big games.
 
When Commish Goodell steps up to the podium on draft day and announces the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft, Chiefs fans, pray that we hear Russell Okung.

I would like to thank my friend "Tony Dungy" for his contribution to the Jeff Report, more to come on the Chiefs Draft prospects.