A look at the Chiefs options to replace Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in 2020
By Matt Conner
Mike Remmers
The Chiefs signed Mike Remmers this past spring in a move that brought in valuable outside experience and versatility to bolster the line. The Chiefs had decided against bringing back Cam Erving in the swing tackle role, and he left to sign with the Dallas Cowboys. The team did attempt to bring back Wisniewski but the hometown pull was too much. Remmers, then, became the experienced backup.
Remmers has been a starting lineman for three different teams over the last five years, including the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and, most recently, the New York Giants. In that span, he’s averaged nearly 15 starts per year, showing his dependability, but most of those starts have come at tackle. However, he did log a full season at right guard as recently as 2018 with 16 starts there for the Vikings.
To have that sort of experience available on the roster—a former 16-game starter who can immediately step in—is very valuable, although it seems the Chiefs were hoping to keep that option on the bench for security during a very long season. Still Remmers is serviceable, at least, and gives the Chiefs a higher floor than other teams might have in the same predicament.
The downside? In a league where many teams struggle to put together an offensive line, Remmers is now with his fourth team in five years. The floor might be higher here than with an unknown, developmental player but the ceiling is also likely lower.