The Chiefs 2020 Offensive Line: What About the Buffalo?

The Chiefs 2020 Offensive Line: What About the Buffalo? – the saying that “the war is won in the trenches” fits the Kansas City Chiefs situation with their offensive linemen. The struggles they had in 2019 illustrate this perfectly.

The title is chosen because of a story of my youth: the American Bison and a friend out of nowhere asking me “but, what about the Buffalo?”… from a TV comedy of the 1960’s. Later, I would become enamored with hunting in Africa and the Cape Buffalo, which I regard as the most dangerous animal of the big 5 of Africa. They are mean, they are nasty, they come at you with rapidity… and that bulk of nastiness is a scary proposition. For me to say that these men who play these positions are “Buffalo” is not an insult. It is a fearsome thing to behold. That is why I hope the Chiefs improve their front line players each year in the draft. Could they play effectively with the players on the roster? Yes. Could they improve? Yes.

For the Chiefs, mobility, toughness and Short Area Quickness (SAQ) are requirements. Also included is team persona: the personality fit for the the Chiefs, intelligence and that difficult to define and measure quality related to love of the game.

What Happened in 2019

The Chiefs struggled all along the front five in 2019. It really never fully settled down as player after player was injured. which led to a lot of instability.

It was not because of inept play. The offensive line struggled for perhaps 3 reasons:

1. Injuries affected the offensive line capability from the opening game. Immediately, Eric Fisher went down and that meant that the Chiefs, for the next eight weeks would have a substitute play that position. The option that was used was Cam Erving. Erving played poorly until Fisher returned to the line up.

2. Pat Mahomes suffered a sprained ankle and a knee injury, the latter forcing Matt Moore to be inserted into the lineup when the injury occurred and the next two games. The effect of Mahomes playing through a sprained ankle was totally obvious. His mobility suffered, his play suffered and the Chiefs success in winning games was affected.

3. To think that an ankle injury would have such an effect affected other players as well. LDT, Andrew Wylie, Martinas Rankin and even Mitch Schwartz had injuries as well. All of this resulted in an offensive line that was limited each game due injuries. Late in the season they brought aboard an experienced hand when Stefan Wisniewski was brought on board. This move by Brett Veach added the player who would be inserted late in the season and help stabilize a struggling front five.

After the loss to the Titans in week 10, having seen the defense unit solidify their play and finally gel, the Chiefs went an a tear and won out including the finalé at Miami.

Penciling in the Starters for 2020
Across the front, the Chiefs boast two, more than solid, players at the bookends: Eric Fisher (LOT) is a Pro Bowl level player who anchors the left side of the Chiefs offense. Mitch Schwartz (ROT) owns the right side. Schwartz also owns the distinction of being the most undervalued, underrated and underappreciated OT in the NFL. A lot of money is invested in these two players.

Prior to 2020, the Chiefs were forced to use Cam Erving as their swing tackle. Not any more. in 2020 the Chiefs will have additional options since they brought aboard Free Agent Mike Remmers (OT). Remmers duty should not include the idea that he would win out a starting role at OT. I think he was brought aboard for strength, experience and position depth at OT and will be the Chiefs first-in player for both Eric Fisher or Mitch Schwartz to give each player a blow and the opportunity to rest their legs and keep fresh in the flow of the game. Remmers is versatile enough to play inside as well. Also, it could be that the Chiefs view Remmers as competition for the guard position as well.

Starting last year at guard was Andrew Wylie (LOG) and his contract was extended for 2020. Wylie at the LOG position is going to be penciled in. It’s his job to lose. One of the difficulties in assessing Wylie’s play in 2019 was the the effect of all the injuries to the front 5. Suddenly, in week one, the man you have counted on playing to your left is gone. Wylie was unable to translated his experience of 2018 into improved performance and that could be due to Fisher being gone for 8 games. Or, perhaps he had reached his ceiling and suffered a setback. Add to that he suffered a severely sprained ankle which affected his play when he returned to the lineup.

On the right side, the beloved “Doc” Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (LDT) also suffered a severe ankle sprain with like effect. Bottom line was a season of playing the position that suffered, likely due to injuries of other players and playing through his own severe ankle sprain.

Substituting in at the guard position was Martinas Rankin (OT/OG) but, even he suffered an injury which ended his season.

At this point, we can pencil in the starters as: Andrew Wylie (LOG) and LDT(ROG). The play of Martinas Rankin in 2019 showed he is capable and could be a starter in 2020. This may indeed be how Brett Veach sees it. Rankin did not give up a sack in 271 snaps in 2019.

Releasing or trading Austin Reiter and LDT would provide Brett Veach about $10M in cap savings with which he could accomplish other tasks. In LDT’s case he has 2 years remaining on his contract and that cost is over $18M for the duration. Regaining $10M in cap space in 2019 would allow Veach to use those funds to complete the signings of Stone-Cold Jones and/or Bashaud Breeland, or possibly bring other free agents aboard.

At Center, Austin Reiter will be another penciled in starter next to LDT. Reiter’s performance in 2019 did not show growth, rather he took a step backwards. The instability of the players was referenced above due to injury so, you have a second year player in Reiter holding fort while players shuffled in and out of the line up due to that fact.

I think that instability had a big effect on Reiter. It could also demonstrate his limitations as a starter and which Reid & Co. will have provided the correct feedback to Brett Veach identifying the role of the Center as a highly needed player position for the draft.

Nick Allegretti (C/OG) was the backup Center in 2019. That position is penciled in but Allegretti earned a lot of praise last year from the coaching staff. As noted, the Chiefs may go a different direction in 2020 by releasing Reiter and drafting his replacement. At any rate, this remains a nebulous situation until the draft, as to how the Chiefs proceed in determining who will start… at any IOL position. 

Hopefully, Nick will be the catalyst to improve the play of Center, whether he starts or not. That he was the backup in 2019, says a lot about how the Chiefs view his potential.

Potential Draft Picks: The IOL 

When reviewing the draft picks that are potentially to be added to the roster, I have listed CB and LB as the two most needy positions of the draft. The third position of need is the offensive line. How that works out with the limited draft picks Veach has to work with will be a study in GM effectiveness.

If the need to draft an Interior Offensive Lineman is high, then on a needs based input to the Veach Big Board will certainly have such players earmarked. Ransom Hawthorne will undoubtedly take a hard look at drafting for the offensive line.

I have players that I have investigated, watched some film and reviewed/assessed and determined that the Chiefs will find a player to add to the offensive line. Written about in prior articles many times is a view that the Chiefs need to continuously add a player to the offensive line each draft year (or find the perfect match with a skilled Free Agent (F/A) or a UDFA to bring aboard and develop.

Drafting an OG?

Here is a brief list of OGs who fit the Chiefs:

*  =  players I would target

Player – School – Position – Round

• • Cesar Ruiz, Michigan – C/OG round 2*
  • Ben Bredeson, Michigan – OG Round 3/4*
  • Jonah Jackson, OSU, OG round 3/4
  • Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU C/OG 3 (don’t like Lloyd for Chiefs)
  • Logan Stenberg, Kentucky OG round 3+
  • Matt Hennessy, Temple – C/OG round 3*
  • Netane Muti, Fresno St, OG/C round 3+
  • Nick Harris, Washington, OG/C round 3*
  • Solomon Kindley, Georgia, OG round 2/3 (Kindley doesn’t fit K.C.)
  • Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin, C/OG – round 2/3*
  • Ben Bartch, St. Johns, OT/OG – round 3* (rapidly rising eval.)

Potential Draft Picks: The Tackles

After adding Mike Remmers as a Free Agent, from a “Needs” point of view, I do not see this to be a sore point. With the possible 8 man player rotation observed above, a drat pick of an OT must be the BPA type of player to add to the mix. I do consider Fisher and Schwartz being replaced in the fairly near future. Age plus, wear and tear, have their applicability and effect. Too, the cost of retaining players escalates each season. For example, Fisher, Schwartz, and LDT are pretty expensive players for the roster. Here is a list of targets for OT.

Drafting an OT?

Tackle prospects that I think are draft worthy talents:

*  =  players I would target

Player – School – Position – Round

• • Andrew Thomas, Georgia – OT round 1
  • Jedrick Wills, Jr. Alabama – OT round 1
  • Josh Jones, Houston – OT round 1
  • Mekhi Becton, Louisville – OT round 1
  • Tristan Wirfs, Iowa – OT round 1 *
  • Austin Jackson, USC – OT round 2
  • Isaiah Wilson, Georgia – OT round 2 *
  • Ezra Cleveland, Boise St. – OT round 2/3
  • Lucas Niang, TCU – OT round 2/3 *
  • Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn – OT round 2/3
  • Ben Bartch, St Johns – OT/OG, round 3* (listed twice)

Fait Accompli – is not yet realized

I cannot see the OL position solidifying until after camp has gotten underway. There are too many variables to consider the offensive line as a completed task.

The potential of the above players to fit the Chiefs and perform in the NFL is present in this draft. However, when viewing the OL I do not believe there is a true #1 type talent in this group. The players listed are very capable of being top players in the NFL with a positive forecast.

Sometime soon, I’ll give an analysis of each player for the appropriate round to be selected in, if Brett Veach were to make that player a draft pick. While the OL draft picks have historically been considered safe picks, it doesn’t appear to be the case in today’s NFL as I’ve not yet targeted round one rated players for this draft.

David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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