Chiefs race to build dominant offensive line
By Ryan Tracy
Cleveland did the Chiefs a favor that will be hard to repay. By pulling their standing offer to Mitchell Schwartz while at a negotiating impasse, the Browns new leadership let the best available free agent tackle walk.
He then ran (didn’t walked) to Kansas City. The Schwartz brothers talked about the deal on older brother Geoff’s podcast. Apparently on the advice of his brother, the deal for Mitch was done in under 45 minutes.
The move gives the Chiefs a top-10 NFL talent at a position of weakness in 2015. With Schwartz at right tackle, the Chiefs are infinitely more prepared to deal with the premiere pass rushers they will face in 2016, namely Kony Ealy, J.J Watt and Von Miller, who Schwartz goose-egged in their meeting last season.
At the same time, the team lost left guard Jeff Allen to Houston. While its more than made-up-for by the Schwartz signing, that loss stings. Jah Reid is best sliding to right guard. The team’s top options at left guard are limited to LDT and Zach Fulton.
The team needs to find a legitimate starting left guard in the remaining free agent pool or not later than the 2nd day of the draft. In that situation, Redi and LDT would compete to start on the right. That would leave the team in very good shape for backups at swing tackle and the interior.
Next: What’s going on in Oakland?