3. Leave the door open for Mitchell Schwartz
If this seems silly, I get it.
The Chiefs have turned the page. It’s a done deal. Lucas Niang has not only staved off veteran competition, but he’s now installed as the starting right guard on a line that’s featuring three rookies who have all been together since the preseason. There’s some real continuity and chemistry at work right now and the Chiefs are likely going to be all the better for having put the kiddos out there so early when the postseason rolls around.
It’s also understood that the Chiefs already have a loaded offensive line group. The backups all have starting experience, from Andrew Wylie to Mike Remmers, Austin Blythe to Nick Allegretti. Kyle Long is also still on the physically unable to play list. In short, the one area where the Chiefs are “set” is the offensive front.
We agree with all of that, so we’re not advocating for handing over starter’s reps at this point (although honestly they could come). Instead, we’re saying that we’d be very sad to see Mitchell Schwartz ever play for another team and that if he’s interested in coming back at all, the Chiefs should leave a door open for a player who meant so much to them for so long.
Schwartz lives in K.C. and seems to love it. The fan base feels the same. If Schwartz heals up and his doctors give him the all clear (and if he’s still interested in playing), it’d be a wonderful story to have him around again, since he clearly likes to compete. He might sit behind Niang or maybe he pushes him for real competition for the next year, but the Chiefs would be better for it, all the way around.