Chiefs rumors: Jeff Allen set to re-sign with Kansas City
By Matt Conner
Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz says another former lineman, Jeff Allen, is set to re-sign with the team.
If you believe one former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman, then you should expect to see another former offensive lineman re-signing with the team soon enough. Geoff Schwartz took to Twitter to say that Jeff Allen is soon going to join the Chiefs for another season.
Allen is a well-known commodity in Kansas City since he’s been with the team for two separate stints. Allen was originally drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, when Scott Pioli was general manager, and has remained a valuable, versatile option for the team’s offensive front for several seasons.
Allen played out his rookie contract with the Chiefs in 2016 and went on to sign a big-money deal with the Houston Texans, but injuries hurt his stock despite starting 26 games over two years. Houston cut ties in 2018, just two seasons into a four-year, $28 million deal, and Allen re-signed with the Chiefs for a single year at the veteran minimum. It should be noted that the Texans are still on the hook for just over $1 million due Allen in 2019.
The return of Allen can be viewed in two ways. Bringing Allen back gives the Chiefs plenty of experience and security along the offensive line. Allen can play left guard to right tackle to center, if necessary, so the Chiefs can feel that much better about their line heading into a season in which their only goal is the Super Bowl.
That said, the need to bring in a veteran with so many young players hoping to make a move up up the depth chart is a bit disappointing. Jimmy Murray is a holdover from last year’s active roster (who was often left inactive), and Nick Allegretti was a sixth round choice this year. Alex Hunter was a promising tackle, and the team already has Cam Erving as a super sub, of sorts. Dino Boyd also looked solid in the team’s last preseason game, and Kahlil McKenzie remains on the roster as a project.
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The addition of Allen means that the development of some young players is a bit stunted, a bit of a surprise given the coaching staff’s tremendous work with current starters like Andrew Wylie and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.