Cam Erving trade: The fallout for the Chiefs offensive line

The Kansas City Chiefs dealt for OL Cam Erving from the Cleveland Browns. What does that mean for the rest of the o-line?

No move is an island. Every acquisition in the NFL results in others, obviously, as one player in means another one is out. Thus the Kansas City Chiefs trade on Wednesday with the Cleveland Browns for offensive lineman Cameron Erving is going to shake things up. The question yet to be answered is exactly how things will play out.

The fallout from the trade is likely to only affect the second-tier of the line, which to be honest hasn’t looked all that great in the preseason. The starters are likely all set, with starting tackles of Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, starting guards of Parker Ehinger and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and center Mitch Morse. Erving is unlikely to replace any of those players in the next calendar year, although a very versatile player, he’s likely to sub any and all of those roles.

If Erving were to somehow blossom over the next year, he would definitely give general manager Brett Veach some options, depending on which position he was prepared to play. Mitch Morse is going to be a free agent in two years, the same time frame as Erving, so although much of Erving’s experience is under center, that’s not a likely switch. The Chiefs could rid themselves of Schwartz’s contract if they desired after this year for just a bit of dead money. The same could be said of Eric Fisher after 2018. But again, there’s little reason to believe the Chiefs would ever want to rid themselves of those performers. The guard spots are locked up long-term for now, especially with Bryan Witzmann also in the fold.

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Instead, Erving is likely to become the valuable swing tackle and super sub, an expensive sixth man along the line a la Jeff Allen two years ago and Jah Reid in the present. Reid is due $1 million more than Erving over the next two seasons (at $3.5 million this year and nearly $4 million in 2018), so if the Chiefs could trade Reid for a draft asset, it could clear up the cap space occupied by Erving with a bit extra left over. Reid is a decent veteran who can step into multiple spots along the line. Erving would offer more upside for a bit less money—all for the price of a fifth round pick next year.

If that seems like a lot to pay for a slight back-up upgrade, let’s not forget how high the ceiling is for Erving. He was a first round pick at No. 19 overall for the Browns out of Florida State heralded for his athleticism and quickness who is still learning the offensive side after years as a defensive lineman. Brett Veach is likely making a play here for potential, knowing the Chiefs coaching staff could have themselves a very valuable starting-level player in exchange for the known quantity (and average quality) of Jah Reid.

For now, it’s likely that Reid is the player on the outs in K.C., with Erving and Witzmann now locked in as the super subs on a line that’s all together through the 2018 season at least from No. 1 to 7 on the depth chart.

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