A look at the Chiefs options to replace Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in 2020
By Matt Conner
Kelechi Osemele
The Chiefs acted quickly after news broke that Duvernay-Tardif had decided to opt out. Within 24 hours, the signing of veteran offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele to a one-year contract was announced.
Osemele is a familiar face to the Chiefs (and their fans) after watching him man the starting left guard role for the Oakland Raiders for several seasons over the last decade. Osemele was known as an above average guard who even earned an All-Pro and Pro Bowl nod for his stellar work during the 2016 season.
In 2018, however, injuries began to affect his abilities and the Raiders decided to turn the page at the position. They traded him to the New York Jets before the 2019 season and that chapter was even more frustrating for Osemele due to a shoulder injury. The lineman wanted to get surgery for it, but the team demanded that he play through it. Osemele went ahead with the surgery and the Jets released him.
Now the Chiefs enter the picture hoping that Osemele can overcome not only the surgery from last fall but any previous injury concerns that also come with being 31-years-old and a veteran of 96 starts in the NFL.