Ten Kansas City Chiefs players who need to step up in 2020

2. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has one of the best stories in all the NFL: A Canadian medical student who was drafted into the NFL and became a starting offensive lineman while continuing medical school and becoming a doctor. It really is incredible. I’m a huge fan of LDT and I’m proud that he’s been a Kansas City Chief. That having been said, his 2019 season on the field was a disappointment.

The doctor had the third largest salary cap hit on the team last season, making more than both of the Chiefs’ starting tackles. Despite that, Duvernay-Tardif was an average—at best—offensive lineman. Duvernay-Tardif had his lowest graded season by PFF in his fifth year of starting for the Chiefs. His 59.7 overall grade was 50th amongst starting guards. He had an okay 68.6 pass blocking grade, but his 54.3 run blocking grade put him near the bottom of starting NFL guards.

Duvernay-Tardif restructured his deal to stay in K.C. this season at a reduced cap number, but if they are going to sign him to another deal to keep him after this season, he is going to have to have a much better 2020. You can make a strong argument that the interior offensive line is the weakest point of the team’s high powered offense, and LDT is supposed to be the best interior lineman they have. Instead, I don’t think any Chiefs fans would be upset if he lost his job to either Martinas Rankin or rookie Lucas Niang at some point this season.

Duvernay-Tardif has a great story, but if he can’t improve his play and help solidify the Chiefs interior offensive line this season, it may be time for him to hang up his cleats and make the move to practicing medicine full time.

Finally, we end the list with a high-priced defender that hasn’t even come close to living up to his contract.