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

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Guard for the Kansas City Chiefs Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (R) and Center for the Kansas City Chiefs Austin Reiter (C) look on during Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on February 2, 2020. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) /

7. Austin Reiter

Austin Reiter was the starting center on the Super Bowl champions and a member of an offensive line that gave up the third fewest sacks in all the NFL last season. Despite that, many fans in Kansas City would like to see the Chiefs upgrade the center position. Reiter enters 2020 as the starting center on the last year of his contract.

Reiter wasn’t bad last season, but he wasn’t great either. The bottom line is that Reiter is a really solid pass blocker, grading out with Pro Football Focus’ 9th best pass blocking grade, but just 25th in run blocking at center. So he’s an above average pass blocker, but a below average run blocker.

The Chiefs have a couple of low investment center options that could push Reiter if he doesn’t produce this season. Nick Allegretti was a 7th round draft pick last season and has center experience. The Chiefs also signed rookie free agent Darryl Williams out of Mississippi State who was viewed as the best center prospect to go undrafted this year.

Reiter enters the year with a starting job on a Super Bowl winning offensive line, but with his contract up at the end of the year and his performance to date being just adequate, he needs to step it up in 2020 if he wants to hold off some younger and cheaper options—and have a chance at re-signing for 2021.

Next up, a player that showed promise last year, but the Chiefs need even more from in 2020.

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