Nov 30, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; New York Giants guard Geoff Schwartz (74) is carted off the field after being injured in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
GEOFF SCHWARTZ
New Team: New York Giants
Contract: 4 years, $16.8 million
Schwartz was the guy many wanted the Chiefs to try and re-sign. In 2013 he had a +18.6 overall PFF grade and was solid both as a run blocker and as a pass blocker. He started every game from week 12 through the playoff game, and allowed only seven quarterback pressures over that time.
The two problems with Schwartz were his injury history and the money he was looking for in a contract. At $4.2 million per season, Schwartz is the 19th highest paid guard in pro football even though he has started all 16 games in a season only once in his career.
When he came to the Chiefs in 2013 he was basically a scrap heap pickup and played for near the league minimum for a guy with his years of service. In 2011 he missed the entire season with an injury and in 2012 he was unable to crack the Minnesota Vikings starting offensive line. This past season he played only two games for the New York Giants because of two separate injuries.
Schwartz is talented and was a fit for what the Chiefs want to do at the guard position, but his injury history along with his contract demands made it difficult for Dorsey to pull the trigger without causing salary cap problems in the future.
It was clear the Chiefs were going to have to solve their offensive line problems in the draft at that point. One wonders if Schwartz was asking for a little less money if he would still be in red and gold right now instead of in New York.
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