What Can We Expect in 2021?
I believe the Chiefs number one goal with the offensive linemen in 2021 will be their health. While talent and depth are important, this past year, the length of seasons taught everyone a lesson.
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— The “Chiefs Goal” is going to the Super Bowl every year —
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We as fans, media alike, and I presume the Chiefs organization learned the importance of health with an offensive line unit as a whole. What should Brett Veach’s makeup of the offensive line be going forward? Key word would be “cohesiveness” which should be of high importance, all the while talent and depth are still needed. Though injuries cannot be avoided, it does need to a be goal, and that cannot be done with aging veterans. So, as a first step we saw Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz released on Thursday, and while it’s a painful thought to not see them any longer as our All Pro bookends, it’s a must.
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Current Offensive Lineman on the Chiefs Roster
- Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
- Martinas Rankin
- Nick Allegretti
- Lucas Niang
- Bryan Witzmann
- Yasir Durant
- Prince Tega Wanogho, and
- Darryl Williams
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Nick Allegretti
Nick Allegretti could be a linchpin this year:
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- Team captain for both his junior and senior years
- 36 straight starts to end his career, with only 1 QB hit, and no sacks allowed his senior year
- Played and started at guard in all 12 games his senior year, started all 12 games, eight at guard and four at center his junior year, started all 12 games, 11 at guard and one at center, his sophomore year
- Played in all 12 games as an offensive lineman -both Center and Guard- and on special teams his freshman year
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Allegretti’s Career in Kansas City
Nick originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (216th overall) of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2019 NFL Draft.
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| Year | Games | GS | Holding | False St | Offset |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
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The Chiefs were forced to start Nick before he was deemed ready, when Kelechi Osemele was injured in week 5 last year. Allegretti performed adequately and was the most durable offensive lineman in 2020. Now in 2021, he has earned a starting position going forward… just exactly which position will it be? While in college he played mostly as a guard, but he did start five times as a center. Now with salary cap restraints the Chiefs need an experienced player to trust as a replacement for ineffective Austin Reiter, but at a bargain or reduced salary. If Nick is not the answer at Center, then he will be the starting left guard. If Nick is not moved to Center, then the next best available — salary wise — is a rookie, do-able but a scary proposition. Darryl Williams would get a chance to earn backup duties as a Center.
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Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
Doctor LDT opted out last year because of the Covid-19 epidemic, but now he has vowed to return, and he has proven to be a quality right guard. He will be inserted as the starter again in 2021.
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Kelechi Osemele (UFA Guard)
Could be re-signed at a veteran’s minimum salary, and in his limited snaps last year he exhibited a high value of blocking skills that are much needed by the Chiefs. Only one negative with him, as he has had multiple injuries throughout his career.
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Martinas Rankin
Martinas Rankin could have value as a starting guard next year, and if healthy I believe he would be better than what we saw from Andrew Wylie last year. Martinas was listed as injured by the Chiefs most of last year, playing only in the week 17 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Competition for depth at the Guard position would come from Bryan Witzmann, Yasir Durant, Prince Tega Wanogho, Darryl Williams,and any other camp bodies, low round draft picks, UDFAs, or any other players not yet on the current roster.
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Lucas Niang
As a third round draft pick in 2020 offseason Lucas was drafted with the thought of being groomed to play as a starter at one of the guard positions initially, but he opted out for the 2020 season because of the Covid-19 epidemic. The extra year away from football did allow him more time to recover from a torn hip labrum surgery sustained during his senior collegiate season, with no future complications expected.
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From NFLMocks.com at Fansided:
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“Niang was a massive offensive tackle prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft who showed great mobility and power at the point of attack at TCU. He has extremely long arms, strong hands and moves well in pass protection.”
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After the 2020 season has ended, Lucas posted videos on YouTube of him working out as a right tackle on his own accord. Now we know, through Nate Taylor, who has been quoted as saying that Lucas Niang is working out as both left and right tackle positions.
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In the Friday’s piece called, “The Evolution of the Chiefs Offensive Line,” Ladner Morse stated that “Lucas Niang will be the next left tackle”, to which I agree is a distinct possibility. It was stated by the Chiefs brass after the draft, that he could develop to play on either side, and that he was intended to be a long term solution at the tackle position.
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The Left Tackle Questions
Who do we want protecting the “Franchise’s” blindside?
Who do the Chiefs want protecting Patrick’s blindside?
Who can the Kansas City Chiefs organization afford as the next left tackle?
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There does not appear to be qualified choice in the current list of unrestricted free agents, left or right tackles that the team could afford, with the present salary restraints. Sportrac offer the following list:
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| Player Left Tackles | Age | Last Year’s Salary |
| Trent Williams | 33 | $13,600,000 |
| Russell Okung | 33 | $12,000,000 |
| Riley Reiff | 33 | $11,750,000 |
| Alejandro Villanueva | 33 | $6,000,000 |
| Jason Peters | 39 | $4,050,000 |
| Kelvin Beachum | 32 | $1,187,50 |
| Sam Young | 34 | $1,050,000 |
| Dakota Dozier | 30 | $1,000,000 |
| Julién Davenport | 26 | $746,605 |
| Player Right Tackles | Age | Last Year’s Salary |
| Ricky Wagner | 32 | $5,500,000 |
| Ty Nsekhe | 36 | $5,000,000 |
| Matt Feiler | 29 | $3,259,000 |
| Kendall Lamm | 29 | $2,250,000 |
| Daryl Williams | 29 | $2,250,000 |
| Demar Dotson | 36 | $1,500,000 |
| Le’Raven Clark | 28 | $1,200,000 |
| Mike Remmers | 32 | $1,187,500 |
| Marshall Newhouse | 33 | $1,050,000 |
| James Hurst | 30 | $1,047,500 |
| Germain Ifedi | 27 | $1,047,500 |
| Josh Wells | 30 | $935,000 |
| Brent Qvale | 30 | $910,000 |
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Brett Veach would have to again perform some magic money maneuvering within the salary cap structure, which would probably mean finding a qualified Free Agent who is willing to accept a back-loaded contract with a low base amount this year. Most all NFL teams will be forced to make hard choices in roster building more difficult, than in any other normal year. It’s not anyone’s ideal choice, but the Chiefs could be forced to start two rookie (first year) tackles. Let’s hope for the best result available. I’ve heard rumors of the possibility of Mike Remmers being re-signed, but I’m hoping only as a backup offensive lineman.
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ChiefWire is filled with all sorts of Mocks, but here’s one of their Mock-Trade ideas:
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To see that one come true, well, here’s the details of that Mock-Trade… but remember, it’s just an idea:
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The Chiefs give up: Round 1, Pick 31 + CB Charvarius Ward + WR Mecole Hardman and
Then the Saints give up LT Terron Armstead, plus a future conditional pick.
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The End Result
As I stated above, these are the attributes needed within a successful offensive line unit.
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- Cohesiveness– meaning the same five players playing multiple snaps week after week for an entire season. Many viewers analyze a player’s individual skills and results, but as football is a Teamwork event, how is said player helping the player next to him. All five positions need to work well together, and it only takes one weak link to have a defective chain.
- Talent– of the highest quality that fits within the salary structure is needed to achieve a successful desired efficient offense. With how the Chiefs mostly attempt to move the ball through the air, offensive lineman need to excel at pass blocking. But at the same time, enough run blocking skills to keep defenses honest are needed also. Communication skills and the ability to play within the rules is a desired attribute also.
- Durability– on an offensive line is a must need, as a 16-17 week season plus playoffs is tough on anyone playing in the trenches. Injuries cause the cohesiveness of the teamwork to suffer, multiple injuries to multiple player’s can be disastrous to the long term success of a team’s season-long goal, as was well observed in the Super Bowl.
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My Predictions
- Nick Allegretti at Center
- Laurent Duvernay-Tardif at Right Guard
- Kelechi Osemele at Left Guard
- Lucas Niang at Left Tackle
- A Draft Pick at Right Tackle
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I don’t foresee this lineup changing by way of Free Agency, but the acquisitions in the draft could determine any one of the individual selections. While I’m far from a qualified personnel guru, I don’t see a better option. Although late into my finishing touches of this article I heard on sports talk radio, that Mahomes is restructuring his contract saving the Chiefs $17 million in salary this year. With that done, it allows a high level signing at any individual position, likely within the offensive line roster. Stay tuned… changes happen quickly this time of year.
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Summary
No one individual should be blamed for last year’s failures with the offensive line. During the offseason a strong unit of starters along with a desirable level of depth was assembled by Brett Veach. From that point on throughout the season we observed events beyond his control affect the players available each week. A reminder: the Chiefs suffered losing 4 high quality starters, and 2 key backups by the time the Super Bowl arrived. In Super Bowl LV we saw only one player at their original intended position, which was Austin Reiter, and his level of talent has been questioned much of the time.
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Not many teams around the league could survive as much adversity across the entire offensive line as what the Chiefs did and still come within one loss of a World Championship. So, as dire a situation it seems to be right now, the Kansas City Chiefs don’t need an All Pro level offensive line. What they do need is the same five quality lineman playing together for a high majority of the time. Patrick Mahomes has proven many times when he is protected from the rush of the defense, he will distribute the ball to the playmakers at the right time and place to manifest wins!
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Alan Haupt — ArrowheadOne
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