Jeff Allen remains a versatile free agent offensive line option

For teams looking to add a versatile offensive lineman to the mix for training camp, former Kansas City Chiefs lineman Jeff Allent is still waiting to be signed.

Every year we hear the same thing around free agency and the NFL Draft: there’s a dearth of quality offensive linemen all around the league. Few teams, if any, could boast an embarrassment of riches at the position, and many teams seem to flounder to even find a quality starting five. Myriad reasons have been given, but the fact remains that NFL coaches continue to wish the college game was graduating more and more pro-ready linemen.

All of this to say, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher why an offensive lineman like former Kansas City Chiefs player Jeff Allen remains available in free agency. Allen, who just turned 29-years-old this year, comes with plenty of experience and versatility, yet he’s also young enough to still project a few seasons in him if a team was interested in such a commitment. Then again, at this point, Allen would take a single-year contract.

Allen returned to the Chiefs last season as a free agent to help provide depth when injuries took out starting center Mitch Morse and his backup Jordan Devey. Austin Reiter ended up the new center, but Devey’s role as a versatile lineman brought the Chiefs to the precipice and Brett Veach, the team’s general manager, decided to bring in Allen.

For teams interested in Allen, they would be getting a player with starting reps at left guard and right guard, center and right tackle. The blindside is pretty much the only place into which Allen could not step in, making him a valuable member of a roster in need of potential help in numerous places.

The Chiefs drafted Nick Allegretti and have Jimmy Murray back from last year’s team, but they lost Morse in free agency to the Buffalo Bills and Devey to the Oakland Raiders. Bringing Allen back to K.C. could be a possibility if the young guys don’t seem ready, but the Chiefs might be waiting until training camp is well underway before they want to make a call that could prohibit the growth of developmental talents like the aforementioned options or Kahlil McKenzie, their sixth round pick from 2018.

While he might have to wait a bit, injuries take their toll and Allen’s talent and experience should bring him an opportunity shortly. His time will come at some point, but it just seems too early to think Allen is done with the NFL just yet.