Chiefs: Brett Veach is Boldly Going Where No GM has Gone Before – We have seen some news over the last few Days. Sad News for sure. The Chiefs separated from three Offensive Lineman. Austin Reiter(C) is gone and K.C. made it clear he would not be re-signed… Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz are gone, cut outright. It’s the end of an era in Kansas CIty for those two great players, historically good players. I take heart from their responses. I’d have to include Anthony Sherman in that genre as well. So Long, Gents.
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However, all the news, end the end, is just the reality of the Pro Football game and business. It’s the reality part that “hurts,” the business part, which, all of us have to face in one way or another. All three men bade farewell to the teams with remarks that had panache. Worthy of the men who penned or spoke them.
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Boldly Going Where No GM has Gone Before
A Ripping the Bandaid Off, Opportunity!
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I cannot say this with 100% assuredness, but I am pretty sure that a GM who releases (or doesn’t re-sign) three starting offensive linemen in the same season is something that has been done before… but I doubt it. In my view, our own Alan Haupt provided a glimpse of this occurrence by suggesting that both Fisher and Schwartz be released with injury settlements. I don’t think Alan anticipated Reiter’s departure. The reality? The Chiefs must replace three offensive linemen from their 2020 starting group on the front 5.
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Well, no. That is not true. Nick Allegretti was not a starter opening day in 2020. Nor was Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. This means that from opening day, 2020 to Opening day 2021, The Chiefs will field five players who were not opening day starters in 2020. Wow! What does that mean? Brett Veach has made a decision to, “Rip the band-aid off,” as Peter Schrager @pSchrags of Good Morning Football said on March 12th on @GMFB.
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I’m sure that there are going to be people out there who bemoan what has just occurred. There is no way that anyone will be able to assuage your ill feelings that this is a horrid set of events. I can tell you that from my own perspective, having written about preparing for the departure of all three players, sadly about the bookend tackles, that the fact is, it was bound to happen sooner than any of us would have liked. Both FIsher and Schwartz would have had to return from injuries to play football in 2021, but both are in the 30 and over crowd now. They would be departing the Kingdom soon at any rate.
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The Money Makes the World Go Round, Opportunity!
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One thing that must also be faced is the fact that the Chiefs were about $20M over the cap. That was causing a huge hoopla in the Chiefs Kingdom and as Craig Stout tweeted on the 12th — and I had to laugh about this as soon as I saw it because there are so many fans, pundits and observers crying in their beer, while deriding Patrick Mahomes in the process:
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All of it is so amusing because you have a Tom Brady follower who immediately had to address himself to demean Patrick Mahomes being lauded as the GOAT. Well, that fan is correct. Brady is the GOAT. Patrick Mahomes’ story is being written as we watch. It is unlikely that I will live long enough to see Patrick Mahomes in a Super Bowl 20 years from now, but…
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I cannot see where it will go this year, but I suspect that Brett Veach has some cards up his sleeve and can pull rabbits out of his many hats and sign big free agents, just like last year when the Chiefs supposedly only had $177.00 in cap money available. I think the Chiefs will go from the $10M cap space, which Stout writes about, to more than $30M. Take my word on that!
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Other actions which I believe will take place are: Extension for Tyrann Mathieu and very possibly others, while restructuring contracts for players such as Anthony Hitchens, Chris Jones, Frank Clark and even more.
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Who Does That Leave Us, Opportunity!
Whenever Fisher and Schwartz were going to retire, their departure was going hurt, but to have it happen in the same season and be due to injury appears to add insult. In 2020, the Chiefs had already begun to prepare for this situation by drafting Lucas Niang in the 3rd round.
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Lucas Niang(OT) – Niang sat out last year due to the Covid, but he has been working very hard to prepare for his return in 2021. Nate Taylor @ByNateTaylor of the Athletic covered Niang and his work outside of the Kingdom in preparation for 2021. He is ready to Rock and Roll and prepared to play left side or right side according to Nate’s article in “The Athletic.” He delved into the work by Niang with Brett Yarris to
prep for 2021. [Note: Here’s Nate’s article: Chiefs tackle Lucas Niang working hard to be part of team’s O-line solution, but you must have a subscription to read the material.
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Opportunity Knocks! Plus Players Who May be Re-signed
Nick Allegretti (OG/OC): Nick was tossed to the wolves in 2020 when Kelechi Osemele was injured. His play was not remarkable. He had good games and bad but he will be part of the solution in 2021. Still, I have a very favorable view of Nick and believe his 2021 season will be a step up in the level of play he brings to the OL Group. I can see him as possibly being moved to the role of Center as well.
LDT(OG): After a year layoff using his medical skills, Dr. Larry returns to the Chiefs. If he plays as he did in 2018 and before, the Chiefs are solid at ROG.
Martinas Rankin (OT/OG): Rankin’s return bodes well for the OL. He is listed as a tackle, but can play inside or outside. Personally, I very much believe in what Rakin can do. I do not know about that as a starter except as an OG.
Mike Remmers (OT): I think the Chiefs will add back Mike Remmers. He was totally exposed on the left side in the Super Bowl, but played ROT with assuredness in one game. Low cost as depth. This certainly depends on players like Yasir Durant or Daryl William and whomever else the Chiefs might look to, draft or sign.
Kelechi Osemele (OG): In week five, Kelechi was lost to injury. Two knee surgeries, but neither the serious kind. During the first 5 games I saw a man-mover who greatly benefited the Offensive Line, especially in the run game. If he could return and play at the same level, at a similar cost, that’s a starting OG solution. Wait and see where this goes. Osemele is currently on the IR and I don’t know his true status, but if he can play as he did in 2020’s first five games, sign that man back up! He may only be a bridge player to the next young man up, a draft pick for example, but that’s the way to go. We need to get the point where our OL is set, experienced as much as possible, with man-moving heft and intelligence to boot. I am not certain though, that Kelechi will be ready to role come training camp even if he is considered by Veach and Co. Still, I won’t pencil in Osemele as a member of the Chiefs roster for 2021.
Other Players on the Roster: will be given a chance to emerge in 2021: Yasir Durant, OT, but he should move inside, Darryl Williams, OG, and Prince Tega Wanogho. Injury diminished him in the 2020 draft, he was drafted by the Eagles in the 6th round, cut, then picked up by the Chiefs so, he an unknown factor. Daniel Kilgore could return for depth. I ‘ not seeing Andrew Wylie returning.
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How To Spend the Big Bucks, Opportunity!
I have one idea that I think really could make things go, sign Center Corey Linsley. He’d be a very solid IOL, but it won’t be cheap. Linsley grades out well in both pass protection and run game blocking at PFF. An Opportunity!
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My projected Interior 3 would be, if all things were perfect:
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· Kelechi Osemele – LOG
· Corey Linsley – Center
· Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – ROG
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I can then worry about the depth issue and focus on Offensive Tackles and I posit that Lucas Niang is the starter on one side or the other, leaving only an exposure in manning the other position. If Remmers returns it only as a Swing Tackle.
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From his Presser more than a week ago now, Brett Veach told us that his focus would be upon the OL, DL and LB. Veach can then turn to the other positions, like TE. Why? Kelce has no backup that comes close to presenting a threat to the opposing defenses. That counterpart is needed especially when you consider how things might look if Kelce is injured. Next, it’s WR. as it’s very likely that Sammy Watkins and possibly Demarcus Robinson will be employed elsewhere in 2021. CB is another position group that must always be considered (as stated by Reid previously) followed by the Safety position.
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If Demarcus Robinson and Sammy Watkins are not re-signed, there will be a need for replacing them. I know there are other qualified #4 or #5 WR’s in house. I have hopes that Byron Pringle but, I expect the Chiefs to draft at least one WR. There could be a F/A WR signing that the Chiefs would covet. At least one newcomer is due either way.
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Closing Thought? An Opportunity
Some are feeling that this is going to be a disaster in the making. I see it as a huge opportunity to build for the future, having had it forced upon the Chiefs. Glass half full or half empty? I think now is the perfect time to get this work done, despite losing players we highly respect. Have faith you naysayers and doomsday fans, Brett Veach will handle this due to a very top notch scouting crew. The financial wizards will fund the deals and the coaching staff is pretty darned good. They know their business and are an integral part of the process. At this point: IVWT*
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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* In Veach We Trust
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At noon today we’ll offer our first Mock Chalk Talk and we’ll talk about
the Chiefs possible approaches to the draft
and everyone can submit their own mock.
See you then.
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