Chiefs Martinas Rankin: Hidden Gemstone – Sometimes you can’t see what’s right in front of you. Has that ever happened to you? Of course, in this case, I’m referring to the Chiefs Offensive Lineman, Martinas Rankin. Not only is he a possible answer to the Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Line questions, but it’s a good bet you and I just don’t see what Head Coach Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach see. Not only that but, I’ve always wondered how players in the league, who have already gone through the drafting process, feel… as these newest prospects coming out of college get 99.9% of the attention. Why bring that up? Because there are players who were drafted previously, who are sitting on the Chiefs roster, who may be the exact player they’re looking to promote.
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Patrick Mahomes is a good example. He had 62 snaps in his first season (backing up Alex Smith) and almost all of those came in week seventeen. Another, perhaps more relevant player, who’s been through a similar growth pattern is IOL Nick Allegretti. He received 1% of the snaps in his rookie year, two seasons ago, then had 63% of the snaps last season.
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This year, that’s especially important because players like: Taco Charlton (played 8% of his possible snaps), DeAndre Baker (played 4% of his possible snaps), Mike Danna (played 31% of his possible snaps in 2020), BoPete Keyes (played 7% of his possible snaps), Byron Pringle (played 14% of his snaps in 2019, and up to 22% of his possible snaps in 2020)… should all see an uptick in their usage as a result of their development. Now, to some, this is a big “SO-WHAT??”… but in reality, this is the basis upon which the Chiefs championship team was/is built.
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It’s also critical in understanding what Andy Reid and Brett Veach have been cooking up this offseason, in terms of their plans for these players, moving forward. The idea that the Chiefs are banking on the development of in-house players includes an Offensive Lineman who is highly likely to be an unseen answer to what has become a very public question(s): who is going to start at Left Tackle and who is going to start at Center?
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Martinas Rankin
Pedigree
If you haven’t noticed by now, the Chiefs, under Andy Reid, like to draft and sign high football IQ guys. Martinas Rankin is no different. He grew up in Mississippi and went on to play at a Junior College before being recruited by more than 7 universities, but ultimately chose Mississippi State. He redshirted his first year there then immediately became a starter and was projected to the first round of the 2018 draft prior to his Senior season at Miss. St..
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This is where his oodles of noodles (brainpower) comes in, as Rankin was a semifinalist for the 2017 Campbell Trophy, which is considered the Academic Heisman Award… plus, that same year, Rankin won the Kent Hull Trophy which is given annually to the Best Collegiate Offensive Lineman in the state of Mississippi. Rankin was also named to the All-SEC team in 2017. It wasn’t until Rankin had a high ankle sprain in the 2017 Gator Bowl that his draft stock fell, and he wasn’t able to accept an invitation to play in the 2018 Senior Bowl, where Senior prospects put their skills and abilities on display.
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Even after Rankin’s ankle issue in the Gator Bowl, Matt Miller still Mocked him to the Raiders with pick #75. You can see why Brett Veach and company were keeping tabs on him.
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The Houston Texans took Rankin in the 3rd round of the draft with the 80th pick overall in 2018, then they turned around one year later and traded him to Kansas City for RB Carlos Hyde, who was originally drafted in the second round of the 2014 draft by the 49ers. The point here is: that Rankin had a high draft value and then… was traded for another player with a high draft value. You might say Veach & Co. finally got their man, a man who they had their eye on and was at one time targeted to go in the first round. He has that kind of talent.
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A Center Solution?
While many are twisting in the windstorm of the Twitterverse and claiming: the Chiefs have done little to nothing this offseason to improve their Offensive line, a line that was primarily responsible for their SB LV flop… the reality may be closer to the idea that Reid, OC lIne Coach Andy Heck, and GM Brett Veach have a plan that includes players they already have on their roster, who have been developed and are ready to step in and step up, in ways we’ve not yet witnessed.
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Sports analyst, Lance Zierlein, had at one time thought Rankin would struggle with the speed of DEs in the NFL, but that he could benefit from moving to Center. Zierlein once said:
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“As a left tackle, Rankin will struggle with edge speed and as a right tackle he may have issues as a run blocker handling the power he will face. While he offers tackle flexibility and may get an early look at right tackle, his best position might be at center where his instincts and intelligence will stand out. The further Rankin kicks inside the better he will be. He may be average as a tackle or guard, but he could become a good NFL starter if he gets his shot at center.”
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Zierlein doesn’t always get it right, but this will probably be Rankin’s make-or-break year. Everyone wants to see the Chiefs field experienced starters along the OL this year, including me. However, that may not be what happens at OC. Not only could I see the Chiefs drafting an OC early (in rounds two or three) who might step in to start this year, but, Ron Kopp Jr., at ArrowheadPride, wrote about Rankin and Nick Allegretti:
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“Martinas Rankin had experience at the center in college, but no one on the depth chart has regular-season experience — even Allegretti.”
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How does one get experience when he/she has none? The answer is, jump in with two feet. No one told me how to start a website five years ago… I just jumped in and did it… a learn-as-you-go proposition (why do I hear Laurel and Hardy in my head saying: “And a fine mess you’ve made too“).
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A Tackle or Guard Solution?
Martinas Rankin filled in for a couple of games at Right Guard (293 snaps) in 2019 when LDT went out with an ankle injury. Rankin did an excellent job. Andy Reid has been famous for holding his young player’s feet to the fire by giving them starters snaps early and often. A sixth round pick in 2014, OG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, got 81% of the possible snaps in his rookie year, and 87% in his second season. You can count on Reid counting on his players already on the roster. That may be one good reason Reid once said during this offseason: the outlook is not bleak by any means [referring to the OL]:
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“With the guys that are injured that are potentially coming back, or opted out or potentially coming back, we’ll kind of get all that covered here in the next couple of days. I don’t think the outlook is bleak by any means.”
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There’s also the possibility that Reid was counting on both Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz to return.
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The way Andy Reid has traditionally looked at his Offensive Linemen has been based upon: valuing versatility. So, if a lineman can play more than one position, he’s higher up the value food chain. With both the Chiefs most recent OL additions — Joe Thuney and Kyle Long — saying, neither Reid nor Veach had spoken to them about playing a specific OL position as they interviewed before being signed by K.C., it means Reid has even more pieces he can move around his OL chessboard. In his mind, he has a lot of players who he can “dial up” at any time, at any OL position. Here’s what he may see for the possible positions each of his key offensive lineman can play, who he has in-house right now:
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Martinas Rankin
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If Martinas Rankin does move to Right Tackle, in this scenario, Lucas Niang shifts to Left Tackle.
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Joe Thuney
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If Joe Thuney moves to Left Tackle, Lucas Niang stays at Right Tackle, his natural position. In that case. Martinas Rankin may be first up at Left Guard. However, Thuney’s natural position is Left Guard.
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Nick Allegretti
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Nick Allegretti gives Reid even more options with his starting experience in 2020. For now he appears headed to Center.
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Lucas Niang
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Lucas Niang is an unknown quantity. He has excellent feet and should be able to handle speed rushers on the left or the right side. The right side is his best position.
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Kyle Long
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Kyle Long gives Reid a high quality backup… in case of fire: break glass! Since I can’t remember when the same offensive linemen ended a season, who also started a season, having Long will go a long ways towards calming the perpetual Musical Chairs OL IR Jitters.
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Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
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Laurent Duvernay-Tardif: “Is there a doctor in the house… or a Right Guard?”
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Yasir Durant
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Also from Ron Kopp Jr. at ArrowheadPride, he had this to say about Yasir Durant:
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“The 2020 undrafted free agent is labeled a center by the Chiefs because he started all 13 games his senior year there following two seasons as a left guard. He didn’t make the active roster after his rookie training camp but spent the entire season on the practice squad. He was released after the regular season but then re-signed with a reserve/futures deal.”
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Prince Tega Wanogho
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At 6-5, 309, Prince Tega Wanogho was born in Nigeria, moved to Alabama as a child, started out in basketball, player DE originally, before going to Auburn. He was drafted in the 6th round by the Eagles last year and was signed to the Practice Squad by K.C. this January. Still raw and needs work.
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While some may be uncomfortable starting a UDFA lineman, let’s not forget that Tershawn Wharton was a UDFA last year too, and he not only had a very good year, but still has a ceiling to paint his name on.
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Darryl Williams
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It’s a bit funny how excited fans get when the Chiefs make a move like that, signing a UDFA for a $100K+ deal, and then forget he’s even on the roster a year later. If there is a place for Darryl Williams on this line, Reid will find it. Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire once wrote of Darryl Williams:
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“While Williams played center with the Bulldogs, the 6-2 and 304-pound athlete also has the ability to play guard. The more you can do in the NFL, the better chances you have to stick around.”
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Summary: Rankin(g) the Gemstone
Martinas Rankin has the pedigree and the draft value to be a player who is first in line to get starter’s snaps this year. At least three OL can play LT as shown above, but I’ve not covered offensive linemen such as Andrew Wylie or Mike Remmers above. Still, you get the idea and can see the way Reid prefers to utilize his linemen. It gives him options when the worst possible scenario — like Super Bowl LV (coughs and coughs, nearly choking) — plays out. It’s also telling in the sense that Reid isn’t feeling like a desperado, wandering aimlessly across the prairie lands of Free Agency in search of his next kill… err, offensive tackle. Reid probably already believes he has that guy (Martinas Rankin anyone?)… or option, on his roster. Not only a dancing bear kind of guy… but a flexible dancing bear kind of guy, who’s capable of exotic goat Yoga poses and… uh… wait… what?… forget I said that last part… Reid is probably feeling good right now… that’s all you need to know.
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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