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

Why bring him back?

All in all, it comes down to Wylie’s versatility.

Thankfully, guards Joe Thuney and Trey Smith did not go down with an injury at all in 2021. Guard is Wylie’s natural position and is where he started in Super Bowl LV. But, when the rubber met the road in 2021, Wylie was the choice to replace Niang at right tackle. His versatility is key, similar to Nick Allegretti. That is what Kansas City needs in their backups: players who can fill in several roles for little money.

Wylie is not terrible by any means, but he is not great either. His arm length and ability to set the pocket were exposed this season. But, he started nine games and contributed to a unit that only allowed 28 sacks in a season. Wylie is not the ideal starting option but is a great player to have in a pinch. He excels at guard but can be average on the edge.

Also, Wylie should be available for little commitment. He is coming off a single-year, league-minimum deal, so a new deal should not be crazy. Wylie might pursue a multi-year deal at this point of his career, something the Chiefs have not given Wylie.

Why let him leave?

At the end of the day, Wylie is a natural guard. The Chiefs have both guard spots locked up for the foreseeable future with Joe Thuney and Trey Smith. That limits not only limits Wylie’s playing availability but also his necessity in Kansas City. The Chiefs will not commit too much capital to a depth player, especially with many important free-agent decisions looming.

With Kyle Long, Austin Blythe, and Mike Remmers all notable free agents, Wylie might be an odd man out. If Remmers or Long come back, they backup the offensive tackles while Nick Allegretti holds down the inside. If other moves are made, Wylie wouldn’t have room on the team.