KC Chiefs still have surprising players available in free agency
By Matt Conner
Austin Reiter, OL
This offseason felt like the first time Austin Reiter might have earned a bit more coin. His story has been a great one so far to watch, one exemplifying hard work and perseverance in the face of some early career frustrations. After two seasons in K.C., it felt like a potential breakthrough in the marketplace was going to give way. To date, however, Reiter remains very much available as a free agent and surprisingly so.
Reiter has served as the starting center for a Super Bowl winner and contender for the last two years, fighting off competition brought in to strengthen the role in the process. He’s earned positive marks from Pro Football Focus, and in an offseason where the candidates at center in free agency weren’t all that great, Reiter is still waiting for a team to sign him.
Reiter was originally a seventh round choice of the Washington Redskins back in 2015 but didn’t earn his first real playing time until he was with the Cleveland Browns for two seasons in 2016-17. During that time, he’d turned heads enough to earn a chance to start at center, but tore his ACL in the process and was buried once again on the depth chart after that. The Chiefs claimed him shortly before the 2018 season and liked him so much that they offered him an extension to stick around for another two years. Reiter not only made the roster, but became the long-term starter after the loss of Mitch Morse in free agency to the Buffalo Bills.
So where is the love now? The Chiefs have moved on after signing Austin Blythe of the L.A. Rams to a one-year deal and drafting Creed Humphrey in the second round. Blythe is the security and Humphrey is the upgrade, which is a good move for the Chiefs, but there are not 32 starting centers better than Reiter in the NFL right now—that much is for sure. Perhaps teams are waiting for competition to shake out in minicamps and training camp, but Reiter provides a team with a proven floor and championship experience and it’s surprising no one has chosen to sign him thus far.