The Kansas City Chiefs search for stability at left guard

With Parker Ehinger and Bryan Witzmann vying for a starting spot, the Chiefs face questions at the left guard spot.

The Kansas City Chiefs seemed to have stability across the entire line just two years ago. Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz were the bookends at tackle. Mitch Morse was entrenched as the starting center. Parker Ehinger and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif were young starting guards who were already holding their own..

That season, Ehinger had a fantastic beginning for a rookie, playing 229 snaps and grading well against the run, per PFF. However, in week 8 against the Colts, Ehinger tore his ACL and hasn’t been the same since—or at least as his ability to get back on the field has changed.

In 2017, the Chiefs had to deal with the effects of the injury to their starting left guard, as well as the injury to Mitch Morse for much of the season. Their solution to this problem was sliding Zach Fulton in at center from left guard, and allowing Bryan Witzmann to take over as the starter at left guard.

This switch was a part of why the Chiefs struggled mid-season. The starting group of Fisher, Witzmann, Fulton, Duvernay-Tardif, and Schwartz was solid at times, but were atrocious in the run game for much of the season. While they averaged 5.16 yards on outside zone plays, they only averaged 2.93 yards on inside zone plays, good for last in the league.

An offensive line has to have chemistry not only with each other, but the entire rest of the offense. It takes time to develop that kind of a bond, which is why the Chiefs need stability. Left guard is the one position that the Chiefs need to find stability in. While Parker Ehinger is healthy and waiting, it could be smart to look at other options.

Here are a few directions that the Chiefs could go to fill the void.

In-House Options

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The first route that the Chiefs could go would just be to test out what they already have. After the early signings of the offseason, the Chiefs are a bit tied up in terms of cap space. The smartest move for the Chiefs would just be to hang on to what they have in order to use their remaining cap space in other areas of need, while still leaving room for their draft picks.

Bryan Witzmann was the starter at left guard this past season. While he was by no means the Chiefs’ best offensive lineman, he was a body that filled the position. In terms of financials, Witzmann is only $1,300,000 against the cap, according to Over the Cap, so he comes relatively cheap. One good thing with keeping Witzmann in at guard is that he knows the offense, and has chemistry with the other linemen.

Another direction they could go in is giving Parker Ehinger another shot at the starting job. In 2016, Ehinger took snaps at the left guard spot and played extremely well for a 4th round rookie, especially in the run. He needs to work on pass protection, especially holding up against interior linemen that are 50 pounds heavier than him. But at 6’7″ and 290 pounds Ehinger can develop into a solid guard for the Chiefs.

Free Agents

Brett Veach may not be done cutting deals this offseason. While the Chiefs only have $7+ million left to work with, there are still viable offensive linemen on the market that could come cheap.

Free agent guard Luke Joeckel might be someone to look at. The number 2 overall pick in 2013 (right after the Chiefs selected Eric Fisher at #1), Joeckel is a player that deserves to get more looks in free agency. Although he hasn’t played up to his first round pick status, he has fared better in recent years for Seattle and Jacksonville (played left guard). Joeckel’s strength has always been in the run game, with a good motor and lower body power.

Even in the passing game, he has shown improvement in recent years, digging in when being pressured with improved footwork. The only question with Joeckel is his injury history, as he has only one full season under his belt (2014). However, Joeckel would be a valuable signing as the Chiefs could sign him for a one year prove-it deal at low cost.

Another player to consider is veteran guard Jahri Evans. This would be a great signing for a relatively young offensive line, as Evans is an established veteran. Once considered one of the top guards in the NFL, he is still a viable starter in the league. Evans graded as a 71.7 overall with Green Bay in 2017, according to PFF, which was good for the 30th best guard in the league.

While Evans is accustomed to the right side, he is experienced enough that he could slot in on the left side. He has always been solid in the run, and especially in the passing game. Evans has quick feet, which helps with his timing in making a block, and he great awareness which allows him to eye what blocks need to be made down field. This is exactly what the Chiefs need with a quarterback like Mahomes. Evans may be another name to watch going forward.

Draftees

There are a number of talented offensive linemen in the draft this year that could come in and help the Chiefs right away.

One player that I believe the Chiefs will have done lots of research on is Isaiah Wynn from Georgia. He is a tad bit smaller than desired, which is why he is not considered a top prospect, but Wynn is a dependable run blocker who protected Jake Fromm well all season. Playing left tackle at Georgia, Wynn was able to cut off the rush and get in front of the opposing pass rusher. This will help him temendously in the NFL, especially after playing on a big stage like the National Championship Game. Wynn has the athletic ability to play guard or center, and his versatility is what makes him so attractive. The Chiefs could call Wynn’s name in the 2nd round of the draft in April.

If the Chiefs want to use their earlier pick on a defensive player (which they should), they may want to wait until a later round to bolster the offensive line. The guard class in this year’s draft is relatively deep, so Kansas City can afford to do this. One player who could fall into the Chiefs’ lap in the third round is Braden Smith of Auburn. Smith has ideal NFL size, length and weight for an offensive lineman, however he could use a bit more base strength to be able to hold back pass rushers. His athleticism will help him succeed, but he needs to be able to push into a defensive lineman in the pros. Smith is durable, as he started all 16 games in 2017, leading up to an All-SEC second-team selection.

The Chiefs will have options in free agency, the draft and even on their own roster to decide who to bring out on opening day along the offensive line. It’s time to find stability at the left guard position and have a consistently performing line.

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