Chiefs roster evaluation: Offensive line outperforms lingering concerns
By Scott Loring
What we learned for 2020
Looking ahead to 2020, there is a lot more to be excited about than there are questions. Fans should not take Fisher and Schwartz for granted. I will argue that, with Mahomes in place at quarterback, the two most important positions for general manager Brett Veach to build on this team are left tackle and right tackle. Each are coming out of their prime years, so while they are both still at the top of their game, it’s got to become a priority for Veach, Reid and Heck to find a swing tackle in 2020 that can fill in should one of them go down again. Fisher will be a hefty cap hit at almost $15 million in 2020, and Schwartz isn’t far behind at $10.8 million. But that’s the way it should be. You should have quality tackles that are being appropriately compensated, especially when you have the greatest quarterback in the NFL operating behind them.
Erving will not be retained in 2020, so the Chiefs have a few options on the 90-man roster to replace him as the third tackle. Rankin, when he returns from injury, could be in the mix to start at guard, but could also be an option at either tackle position. Barton played both left and right tackle in college. Senat has a chance to make the team as depth, but both of his first two seasons in the league have ended prematurely with injuries and he probably cannot be counted on as a contender to start yet. If the team sees a viable option at tackle in the 3rd or 4th round in this year’s draft, it might be a good idea to take a guy who can become a long-term piece.
The interior of the line is a little more murky. If Wylie had just been benched from Week 16 through the Super Bowl, it would be one thing, but he was inactive. The team clearly had him in the doghouse, and while we don’t exactly know why, it’s hard to imagine the team will retain him in 2020. Duvernay-Tardif is a potential cut candidate after an overall down season for him. The 29-year-old is due $8.9 million in 2020, but the team can save almost $5 million in cap savings by releasing him. Reiter will probably return for the final year of his contract, in which he will earn a little under $3 million.
Wisniewski is a free agent, but it is highly likely the team will be interested in re-signing the 30-year old veteran. His experience as a Super Bowl winner gave his position group a voice of leadership during the Chiefs’ stretch run, and he also committed zero penalties. He was a definite upgrade over Wylie.
The team really likes Allegretti, and the second-year player will be in the mix for a bigger role in 2020. The Illinois grad has an outside shot to challenge Reiter at center, but it’s more likely we’ll see Allegretti as a second-teamer at center and guard. If Duvernay-Tardif is released, the team may look for another starter at right guard if they can find one in free agency for the right price.
Another option is the NFL draft. Picking at No. 32 overall in the first round, it’s not uncommon to find elite talent on the offensive interior after some of the more pivotal positions have been combed through. If the Chiefs see a player that they think can start right away, they might go that route on the opening night of the draft. We would be surprised if one of their five selections is not spent on an offensive lineman.
Overall, the outlook in this position group is a positive one entering 2020. Andy Heck has proven time and time again that he can get the best out of players, and there is a lot of veteran experience combined with young talent already on the roster. After free agency and the draft, we can expect the Chiefs to field a top-ten offensive line in 2020, and that is certain to help keep the Chiefs offense at the top of the NFL.