KC Chiefs: The biggest swings Brett Veach can take at left tackle
By Matt Conner
Make right tackle the sexy spot
We’re not sure this makes a lot of sense, but if the Chiefs are reticent to make a major move like a Tunsil trade (a Tunsilectomy?), then it might at least help to make one side of the offensive line excellent rather than none.
Remember this: the Chiefs are set to lose both Brown and Andrew Wylie in free agency—or at least those players will be free to negotiate with every team in the league. And both should receive a nice raise on what they have been making. It would be nice to see Wylie in particular rewarded for his hard work and versatility for the Chiefs over the years.
There are, however, some celebrated right tackle options available this offseason that could make the stomach punch of losing a left tackle a bit easier to take.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be in the business of selling off parts and they’ve already cut Donovan Smith to get under the cap. But a smart team would at least check on the availability of Tristan Wirfs, one of the five best offensive tackles overall in the game, to see whether or not he’s available. Even on the right side, he would elevate the Chiefs’ line immediately with his elite hand work and athleticism.
The Atlanta Falcons faced a choice of franchising a tackle of their own in Kaleb McGary but they’re also allowing him to test the open market. Interestingly, McGary was selected at No. 31 overall, where the Chiefs are picking this year, back in 2019 and has played in every game but two since then. This year, he stepped up his game considerably and turned in a very good year on the right side of the Falcons’ front line.
Either approach here would be a fairly significant upgrade (or a major one in Wirfs’ case) for the Chiefs on the right side, which might ease any pain of downgrading on the left. (Or rolling with a rookie such as…)
Why they wouldn’t do this: Right tackle ain’t left tackle and while this sounds great, you’re still left with the same void as before—unless you’re asking someone to switch positions here.