Versatile offensive linemen are obviously hot commodities on draft night, and the same can be said of Cam Erving coming out of Florida State, with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs interested in drafting him, probably not alone in that as well.

Erving didn’t start out as a center, but moved to the spot and turns out it’s his better role. He was moved from left tackle to center and suddenly moved up from second round pick to a first round one, although he’ll probably end up outside the top 15.

That’s just fine with whoever has their eyes on him. The Denver Broncos need help at almost every position on the offensive line with Peyton Manning getting older and sadly, worse. Erving is being touted to be an All-Pro at center very soon, and if he can also help out fill other needs when he’s called up for it, it’s hard to see why the Broncos shouldn’t take him with 28.

The problem might be a team picking him sooner, like the Chiefs, also from the AFC West. The Chiefs have added guard Ben Grubbs this offseason but they still need help at center after losing Rodney Hudson to free agency. At first it seemed like wide receiver is their most obvious need, but signing Jeremy Maclin in free agency helps take the pressure off from that position.

As for Erving himself? He knows the change in positions has helped him and his draft stock. Any lineman who can play all three positions and excel with at least two of them is going to be a steal so late in the first round.

It’s definitely a good thing, it’s a big positive. I’ve always taken pride in what I do. So to be able to play center and tackle – haven’t played a lot of guard, never played guard, honestly – but knowing that they can stick me in and play guard as well is definitely a plus.

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