How does KC Chiefs offensive line rank against other NFL teams?
The ending of the ’20 season left a sour taste in the mouth of the entire K.C. Chiefs organization. It has been well-documented how the Chiefs were completely manhandled by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. Much of the blame for that loss fell to the play of the makeshift offensive line after injuries to tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Patrick Mahomes was constantly under duress, and this offseason, the Chiefs’ front office made sure that their $450 million quarterback would no longer run for his life like he did at times in ’21.
Kansas City had one of the busiest offseasons of any team in the league this year. Veach and the front office prioritized adding as much help on the offensive line as possible. The Chiefs brought in Joe Thuney in free agency, Orlando Brown Jr. in a blockbuster trade with the Ravens, Kyle Long out of retirement, Austin Blythe, Creed Humphrey with one of their their second-round picks, Trey Smith with their sixth-round pick, re-signed Mike Remmers, and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Lucas Niang who return after opting out last season.
The left side of the line is as formidable as it gets with Brown. playing left tackle and Thuney starting at left guard. Humphrey should win the center job over Blythe, who would be a solid depth piece at the position. The right side of the line is where there are some levels of uncertainty, based on the fact that there are a number of options that can step in and make key contributions. Kansas City went from having little depth to having one of the deepest offensive lines in the league.
With all of that in mind, how good is Kansas City’s revamped offensive line compared to other NFL teams?
1. Cleveland Browns
Last season, the Browns hired Kevin Stefanski as their head coach after he spent multiple years as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator. Stefanski’s offensive scheme is built around the run game, allowing the offense to run on second and third down. The constant success of the run game then allows the play action to exploit the middle of the field with linebackers selling out for the run.
It is no surprise that Baker Mayfield had his best season in 2020 when Stefanski allowed Mayfield to play to his strengths. Mayfield threw for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while leading the team to a 11-5 record and a playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were also benefactors from Cleveland’s offensive line play. Chubb ran for 1,067 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games due to a sprain MCL he suffered against Dallas in Week 4. Hunt ran for 841 yards and six touchdowns behind the stellar offensive line.
Last offseason, the Browns committed to improving the offensive line through free agency and the draft. Cleveland would sign Jack Conklin and draft Jedrick Wills Jr. The Browns closed the 2019 season as the 23rd ranked offensive line, but entering the 2020 season, Cleveland was ranked as the sixth best offensive line. During the 2020 season, the Browns proved they had a top offensive line unit.
The additions of Conklin and Wills Jr. bolstered the Browns offensive tackle weakness that had been transparent for a while. Conklin ended the 2020 season as the highest-graded right tackle in the league, per Pro Football Focus. The former Tennessee Titan was graded at 84.3 overall, and was the only right tackle in the NFL to allow a pressure rate below 3.0% on 250 or more pass-blocking snaps.
Guard Wyatt Teller took a huge jump from 2019, and was a pleasant surprise throughout the 2020 season. Teller’s 92.9 PFF grade was the highest among right guards last season, and it was a huge improvement from his 56.7 overall grade in 2019. Cleveland will continue to utilize the run-heavy scheme in 2021, and should be viewed as a top contender in the AFC.
Projected Starting Offensive Line:
- LT – Jedrick Wills Jr.
- LG – Michael Dunn
- C – JC Tretter
- RG – Wyatt Teller
- RT – Jack Conklin