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KC Chiefs free agent profile: Andrew Wylie is Chiefs’ Swiss Army lineman

By Jacob Milham

Nov 7, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Andrew Wylie (77) on the line of scrimmage against the Green Bay Packers during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Andrew Wylie (77) on the line of scrimmage against the Green Bay Packers during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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It was not long ago that the offensive line was the Kansas City Chiefs‘ weakest unit. The lack of blocking was apparent against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, where Andrew Wylie started at left guard.

The former Eastern Michigan Eagle took a long road to the Super Bowl, starting as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2017. Wylie bounced between the Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, and Cleveland Browns in 2017 as a practice squad player. On Dec. 29, 2017, the Chiefs signed him to their practice squad then promoted him on Jan. 8, 2018. Wylie has been a Chief since.

Wylie went on to win the 2018 Mack Lee Hill Award, recognizing the Chiefs’ rookie of the year. Several Chiefs greats won the award, including Will Shields, Tony Gonzalez, and Justin Houston. That is not terrible company by any means.

A look at the upcoming free agency of Andrew Wylie and what it means for the Chiefs.

Yet, the 27-year-old is currently a free agent. He returned in 2021 on a one-year, $920,000 deal, following a two-year, $1,050,000 deal. While the average or backup offensive lineman market is not very lucrative, one wonders if Wylie is closely watched by teams around the NFL. Wylie has been an underappreciated member of Kansas City’s offensive line depth for years. His career as a consistent player mirrors core Chiefs, especially quarterback Patrick Mahomes. That continuity and consistency are important for the five players protecting a franchise quarterback.

The team’s starting unit ended 2021 as the league’s fifth-best, according to PFF. While Wylie is not a member of the starting unit, he filled in for right tackle Lucas Niang down the stretch. He did his job and flexed from his normal guard spot to a starting right tackle, facing some of the NFL’s top edge rushers.

But, free agency is all about what a player can do, not what they have done. Wylie has shown fans and his peers what he can do. But, has it earned him more years in Kansas City?

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