What’s The Deal With Stefen Wisniewski?

The Kansas City Chiefs lost center Rodney Hudson to the Oakland Raiders in free agency, a departure many believed would be offset by an aggressive courting of Stefen Wisniewski. Wisniewski, 26, spent his first four NFL seasons with Oakland but was allowed to hit free agency.

Viewed by many pundits as the second-best available center behind Hudson, the market was expected to be robust. Then Hudson signed a five-year, $44.5 million deal, and it seemed only a matter of time before a team gave Wisniewski a lucrative deal. Instead, Wisniewski has joined the ranks of Michael Crabtree as some of the name free agents that remain available into April.

With general manager John Dorsey having been so active in free agency, it was surprising the Chiefs didn’t at least bring Wisniewski in for a visit. Kansas City has a clear need at center in a year when the team is making a run at not only the postseason but an AFC West title. Eric Kush has been in the system for two years but only has one start under his belt, making him a major unknown at a vital spot along the offensive line.

Wisniewski has been all over the country thus far, spending time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars. On Monday, the former Penn State star is visiting with the Tennessee Titans, per Pro Football Talk.

When Seattle and New England — two of the model franchises in the NFL — both pass on you, something is wrong. Whether it is his recovery from surgery on a torn labrum earlier this offseason or simply an asinine asking price, Wisniewski is too talented to be marinating on the free-agency vine for this long.

Dorsey and the Chiefs clearly are out on Wisniewski barring a complete 180. It seems Kansas City is comfortable with Kush or planning to make a move for a starting center in the draft. Either way, it does not appear Wisniewski is the answer.