The most pressing post-draft roster concerns for the Kansas City Chiefs
By Scott Loring
2.) What to make of the interior offensive line?
The Chiefs struggled in the middle of their line for much of the 2019 season. In fact, you could argue that the three weakest links out of the Chiefs 22 starters on offense and defense could possibly be center Austin Reiter and guards Andrew Wylie and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.
By adding TCU offensive lineman Lucas Niang in the third round, the Chiefs acquired a future starter at left or right tackle; but general manager Brett Veach also implied that Niang will be in the mix to play guard this season. And they could use that in the middle, especially in the run game, where Reiter, Wylie, and Duvernay-Tardif struggled mightily in 2019.
Amidst some question as to whether the Chiefs would release him this off-season, Duvernay-Tardif restructured his high-priced contract just days before the draft, and is poised to return to his position at right guard. But there was noticeable decline in his play in 2019, and the Chiefs need the Canadian Doctor to return to his 2016-2017 form.
Wylie started the majority of regular-season games at left guard in 2019, but clearly fell out of favor with the offensive coaching staff, who inserted mid-season acquisition Stefen Wisniewski into the lineup during the playoffs. Perhaps the most condemning evidence against Wylie’s favor among Chiefs coaches was that he was a healthy scratch during the playoffs. The staff didn’t even keep him as a reserve in those games.
If there is one position on this team’s depth chart that doesn’t have a starter, it’s left guard. Wylie will enter training camp with a chip on his shoulder after the way last season ended for him. Niang will get a chance, at the very least. Martinas Rankin, a swing tackle who played well at guard last year in relief of Wylie, should be in the mix again after he recovers from his torn ACL he suffered in Week 10 of 2019. And there is also newcomer Mike Remmers, who was signed this offseason to replace the departed Cameron Erving. The 31-year-old Remmers has started at three different positions along the offensive line in his eight-year career and could get a chance as well.
Reiter appears to be in line to start at center again, although he will be hard-pressed by second-year lineman from Illinois Nick Allegretti and rookie UDFA Darryl Williams of Mississippi State. With there being less time for the team to work together in person this offseason, Reiter is likely to retain his position on the depth chart, as the team will want to prioritize the center-quarterback exchange.
Reid loves versatile linemen, and he’s got a lot of them. Wylie, Remmers, Niang, and Rankin are each able to play both tackle and guard, so the team should be able to assess each player and put the five best players on the field.