2021 NFL Draft: KC Chiefs are in perfect pre-draft position along offensive interior

As we continue our positional preview looking at each spot on the K.C. Chiefs roster before the 2021 NFL Draft, it’s time to assess the offensive interior and ask a simple question: what sort of investment should fans expect along the middle of the offensive line?

Along with cornerback, the offensive interior is one of the most interesting positions because it looks loaded in the present yet there are also reasons for future investment. Corner is a bit more needy if the Chiefs don’t bring back Charvarius Ward and/or sign a veteran free agent, but both are likely to happen, which makes that a sealed door for any real rookie reps in 2021. The same can be said at guard and center—or can it?

While the offensive line is the most-discussed position on the Chiefs roster, it’s largely about the uncertainty of the tackle spots. But not enough have been said about the strength of the interior at this point—particularly with depth—and how well the Chiefs have built a stable of dependable performers.

Joe Thuney is the new star along the line, and the line’s primary leadership and strength shifted inside after his arrival. It’s a new mantle for the Chiefs after relying on Mitchell Schwartz for so many years there, but Thuney has the championship experience to come right in and handle it well, so there are no worries here. The Chiefs are also paying him handsomely precisely because he can handle being that pillar.

The K.C. Chiefs are in a perfect pre-draft position along the offensive interior.

With Thuney set at left guard, the Chiefs have upgraded the right guard position as well by bringing back last year’s starter Andrew Wylie to compete with the now-unretired Kyle Long and the returning Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. All three men have a lot of starting reps as a guard in the NFL and whoever comes out on top will have earned that role. If Long is pushed out of guard, he also has a very real chance to earn reps at right tackle along with Lucas Niang and Mike Remmers.

As for center, Austin Reiter has been replaced as the starter for the last two seasons with Austin Blythe, who arrived in K.C. on a one-year deal from the L.A. Rams. Nick Allegretti, who started at left guard last season, is also capable of playing center, and Thuney even played some snaps at the position for the Patriots when they were in a pinch last season (when David Andrews was injured).

When you consider that Remmers, Darryl Williams, Bryan Witzmann, and Martinas Rankin are also possible contenders at guard, if needed, then things start to look very, very crowded along the interior, especially at guard, moving forward.

So why would the Chiefs add a rookie to this mix? If the team already has this much depth and a cast of reliable players waiting to step up and perform, shouldn’t they utilize their draft selections elsewhere, even outside at tackle? That’s not necessarily the case.

First, consider that Laurent Duvernay-Tardif had previously restructured his deal before last year’s draft in a move that voided the final year of his original five-year extension. In short, he’s going to be a free agent next year. The same can be said of Long, Blythe, Remmers, Wylie, Rankin, and Witzmann. Suddenly, beyond this season, the only interior linemen on the Chiefs roster will be Thuney, Allegretti, and Darryl Williams. Suddenly the selection of a center or even guard makes sense when the view is zoomed out a bit.

Second, it’s important to note that the interior ceiling still isn’t all that high. Thuney is an impact player at guard, but there’s no great differentiator between Blythe and Reiter in the bigger picture, so center could use a long-term upgrade. Even at right guard, Wylie has outplayed his undrafted status but a ceiling is clear. Long was just out of football for a full year, and the same can be said of LDT. In other words, a high-caliber right guard could supplant them all.

All this to say, the Chiefs can go into the 2021 NFL Draft feeling comfortable about their roster along the offensive interior for another year. No moves need to be made. At the same time if the value is there, general manager Brett Veach absolutely should feel good about taking a player for the long-term investment he would provide for a team that’s going to need players inside as soon as next season.