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What should the Kansas City Chiefs do with the offensive line?

By Lyle Graversen

Sep 28, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jeff Allen (71), center Mitch Morse (61), offensive tackle Eric Fisher (72) and guard Ben Grubbs (66) watch the final minutes of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jeff Allen (71), center Mitch Morse (61), offensive tackle Eric Fisher (72) and guard Ben Grubbs (66) watch the final minutes of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 9, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) battles Kansas City Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher (72) during the third quarter in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) battles Kansas City Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher (72) during the third quarter in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Lock up Eric Fisher long term

The Chiefs can exercise Eric Fisher’s fifth year option this offseason but I believe it would be in their best interest to go ahead and lock him up long term. While Fisher was labeled a bust early in his career he has slowly developed into a solid starting left tackle. Everyone would prefer that the first overall pick in the draft would become a perennial All Pro at his position, but just because Fisher isn’t the next Joe Thomas doesn’t mean he isn’t valuable. There are plenty of NFL teams that would kill to have a solid left tackle and KC would be foolish to let one go just because they may have hoped he’d be better than “solid”.

While I understand people wanting to see Fisher play out his fifth year option before giving him a contract I think that could be a mistake. Fisher has improved each year and I think the odds are greater that he will improve again this coming season than that he will play worse. Another year of improvement and the rest of the league seeing Fisher come into his own will only drive his price tag up. The Chiefs should be able to extend Fisher now at a reasonable price tag. The left tackle position is one of the premier positions in football in today’s NFL and if you can lock up a solid starter for several years without spending an arm and a leg that puts you at an advantage in terms of the salary cap.

I think the Chiefs would be wise to keep the former first overall selection in Kansas City and the best time to do that is this offseason.

So there you have it Addicts, my five steps to solidifying the offensive line this offseason. I understand that some of you would prefer to bring in more new players, but the Chiefs have a core group of young linemen that showed growth and improvement last season. I like the idea of an offensive line group next season made up of Fisher, Allen, Morse, Reid, a rookie tackle, and guys like Zach Fulton and LDT coming off the bench. I think the Chiefs coaching staff proved that they can develop players last season and with all of those players listed being in their early to mid 20s I think it would be a group that could grow into one of the better units in the league with time.

So what do you think? Do you disagree with any of these steps? Do you think KC needs to bring in more talent than that? Are you still holding out hope for Ben Grubbs to return to form? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

As always, thanks for reading and GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!

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