How the Chiefs Will Battle Opt Outs in 2020

How the Chiefs Will Battle Opt Outs in 2020 – The NFL and the NFL Players Association have agreed on an opt out clause for the 2020 season. With the Coronavirus still at large in the United States, all players are being offered the option to opt out of their 2020 contracts in exchange for $150,000. Kansas City Chiefs right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the first NFL player to opt-out, as he plans to continue to put his doctorate in medicine to work this year, helping to fight COVID-19.

Many players all across the NFL have followed suit — a total of 50, as of this writing — including Chiefs running back Damien Williams, who decided to opt out of this season to spend time with his mother who was recently diagnosed with Stage-4 Cancer.

The deadline for NFL players to opt out is Thursday, August 6, so it is still possible we see another Chief elect to opt out. However, the Chiefs are going to have to plan around both departures of starting offensive players from last season. So let’s take a look at how the Chiefs will battle opt out in 2020.

Chiefs Battle Plan for Opt Outs: OG

To do so, Wylie will have to really prove himself, as his recent time spent at left guard did not go over so well. Although he may have the most recent experience of all the Chiefs options at guard, is he a better choice than our next option, Mike Remmers?

Plus, it isn’t like he used to play guard five years ago and has been playing left tackle ever since. Remmers played both guard positions in 2017 and started at right guard all season in 2018 while a member of the Minnesota Vikings. A signing like Remmers is just good football sense. You can plug him in for anyone at the four guard and tackle positions if need be, and may just be the best option for Andy Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck.

Another obstacle standing in Rankin’s way of the starting job is his health. He was recently added to the Chiefs PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list during training camp. Although this knee issue is not expected to be a long-term injury, he was the one people kept pointing at to fill in for Wisniewski after his departure to Pittsburgh. With Osemele joining the team, that makes Rankin’s shot at earning a starting job a little bit tougher this year, but certainly not impossible.

Lastly, Lucas Niang, the rookie third-round draft pick out of Texas Christian, could also be available to slide over to guard from his typical tackle position. I really like Niang and was thrilled to get someone as talented as he is for some quality depth at the most important position on the offensive line. A week ago, before the Chiefs signed Kelechi Osemele, I wouldn’t have doubted Niang stealing one of the open guard positions. He has good, strong hands with a technique that is improving every day. With the players available today, I don’t think Niang will be starting his rookie season unless we see an injury or two. However, if the worst happens and he is forced to play this year, there are certainly worse options than Lucas Niang.

Throw in the rest of the Chiefs depth at the position in Ryan Hunter, Yasir Durant, Nick Allegretti, and Jovahn Fair, and the Chiefs seem like they are going to be just fine at the guard position without Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.

Chiefs Battle Plan for Opt Outs: RB

Now for the easy one: running back. Why does missing Damien Williams for the 2020 season have an easy solution? His name is Clyde Edwards-Helaire, or CEH, the first-round draft pick in last year’s NFL draft. This kid is a stud.

Although he may be short in stature, he more than makes up for it in his raw power, speed, athleticism, vision, balance, has good hands and his all around playmaking ability. As an early favorite to win the Offensive Player of the Year award, CEH has been put in the perfect situation for a player of his ability. Based on pure talent and potential alone, I think CEH would have cemented a spot high up on the list of candidates for this award, but the fact that he is joining the Kansas City offense boosts him to the top of this list. Watch and see Edwards-Helaire jump out of the gate and solidify himself as a top-tiered running back in the NFL. The Chiefs have found a Kareem Hunt replacement in this kid, and the offense around him has him poised to put up numbers like Kareem did in his rookie season (for the NFL rushing title).

The depth at running back is where this gets a little trickier. Having Damien Williams alongside Clyde Edwards-Helaire would have really been something special to watch. However, the Chiefs still have a few viable options for a second-string runner behind CEH. Personally, I think the second-string will be more of a committee effort, but let’s take a look at the guys who will follow up CEH this year.

Darrel Williams has been pretty consistent for a third-string running back in the NFL. Although he doesn’t always get any touches, he has stepped up big in some key spots throughout his few years in the league. He is a solid runner with good awareness and vision to find the opening. He is also a good pass-catcher, which should come in handy for any checking down Mahomes might need to do this year.

However this year, I’m looking at something intangible as to why I think Darrel Williams is going to be the second-string guy this year, and that is his relationship and chemistry with Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Williams was a mentor of a young CEH while they were together at LSU. As such, they are sure to complement each other’s games and will be great together in the locker room. Darrel Williams has the talent to be a bona fide second-string talent in the NFL, and I think this year is the exact situation that will help everyone else realize his potential.

Darrel Williams is the guy I’m rooting for to have a breakout year behind Edwards-Helaire, as I tend to root for the guys drafted within our system over others who were picked up in free agency.

The next guy is Williams’ biggest threat to the second-string job: free-agent signing DeAndre Washington. I think Washington is a solid backup running back, don’t get me wrong, I just like to see Chiefs draft picks succeed… it makes me think that all the pistons are firing at maximum efficiency that way.

Then again, one of those pistons is free agency, and the signing of Washington back in April has already paid dividends now that Damien Williams has opted out. Washington hasn’t had his breakout year, but was still a solid third-down option in Oakland the past three years. I think these two will be the front-runners for the second-string job behind rookie, soon-to-be sensation, Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

The final running back who will be putting up a fight for touches this year is Darwin Thompson. Another Chiefs draft pick, Thompson has so far been underwhelming in his few appearances, although he has shown a glimpse of promise here and there.

Thompson has shown flashes of great balance and a drive to put his hand in the turf and fight for every last yard. And even though his overall production could easily warrant his replacement in free agency, someone who fights and works as hard as Darwin Thompson does has the tendency to stick around longer than anticipated.

Chiefs Battle Plan for Opt Outs: Summary

Overall, I think all three of our current backup running back options will work as a committee to relieve Clyde Edwards-Helaire in replacing Damien Williams. Mike Remmers and Andrew Wylie are going to fill in nicely whoever gets the starting nod to begin the season. With further depth coming from Martinas Rankin and Lucas Niang, the right guard position will be filled with a quality player no matter who is starting week to week. All-in-all, I think the Chiefs are still in a great position this year. For having two Super Bowl starters opting out for the season, the situation could certainly be a lot worse. For context, Bill Belichick has seen eight of his players elect to opt out of the season. Although the Chiefs are no longer returning a whopping twenty of twenty-two starters from last season, eighteen returning starters and plenty of quality depth should keep the Chiefs in the front-running for a repeat championship.

David Beck — ArrowheadOne

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