KC Chiefs: Who will likely start the season at right guard?
By Matt Conner
Andrew Wylie
All Andrew Wylie has done ever since he signed with Kansas City is fill in admirably wherever he’s been asked to line up and provide solid reps at multiple positions. He’s the sort of quiet performer and burgeoning leader who helps provide the glue for the Chiefs’ long postseasons runs, and he deserves more attention and respect than he likely receives from the average fan.
That said, Wylie should certainly be mentioned in conjunction with the right guard position because he held it down last year while the Chiefs tried to come up with solutions in the wake of opt outs from Duvernay-Tardif and Lucas Niang.
The Chiefs could have saved themselves over $2 million this offseason by allowing Wylie to enter free agency, but they retained his rights with a restricted FA tender that brought him back for a solid pay increase. That clearly shows the front office’s appreciation for the versatility and proven production he brings across the offensive interior.
Much like former Chiefs center Austin Reiter (and perhaps even LDT), fans likely fail to appreciate the quality of Wylie’s contributions overall, but it’s also true that the Chiefs could stand to upgrade at the position with another investment.
If Wylie is the starting option at right guard, it will mean more about the men around him than anything else—a likely combination of others not being ready due to time away from the game, injury status, or inexperience.
Week 1 Odds: 25%