Ranking 5 possible offensive line combinations for the 2021 Chiefs

After the preliminary wave of free company signings, the Kansas City Chiefs have just one place group that has seen any type of makeover: the offensive line.

It started with the releases of both Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. When the legal tampering period began, the Chiefs rapidly locked up free agent Joe Thuney. In addition they signed the formerly retired Kyle Long earlier than re-signing two acquainted faces: Mike Remmers and Andrew Wylie. On high of all that, two gamers are anticipated to re-join the staff after opting out of the 2020 season: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Lucas Niang.

It appears impossible at this level that Week 1’s beginning 5 for 2021 can have any repeats from 2020. Final 12 months, it lined up with Fisher at left sort out, Kelechi Osemele at left guard, Austin Reiter at heart, Wylie at proper guard and Schwartz at proper sort out.

Contemplating 4 of these gamers are now not with the staff (though there’s talk of the Chiefs wanting to re-sign Reiter) we’re more than likely seeing a completely completely different unit when the staff takes the sphere in September. I ranked 5 attainable mixtures from my most most well-liked to the one which worries me probably the most.

Photograph by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Photos

Mixture 1

Left sort out: Veteran signed to a one-year deal

Left guard: Joe Thuney

Middle: Nick Allegretti

Proper guard: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

Proper sort out: Kyle Lengthy

Professionals: The offensive sort out positions are occupied by veteran gamers. A free agent sort out like Russell Okung, Allejandro Villanueva or Ricky Wagner isn’t probably the most thrilling resolution, but it surely’s higher than beginning a rookie. Thuney stays at his All-Professional place, whereas there’s at the least some degree of continuity on the different inside positions.

Cons: Lengthy hasn’t performed proper sort out since 2015. On high of that, the suitable facet as a complete didn’t play soccer in 2020. Allegretti has no regular-season expertise at heart. Whoever the veteran left sort out is, he might be a downgrade from Eric Fisher.

Mixture 2

Left sort out: Lucas Niang

Left guard: Joe Thuney

Middle: Nick Allegretti

Proper guard: Kyle Lengthy

Proper sort out: Mike Remmers

Professionals: A veteran left guard may help Niang in his first NFL expertise. Each guard positions are crammed by high-level abilities. Middle and proper sort out have some degree of continuity.

Cons: Duvernay-Tardif is both benched or launched; he has a no-trade clause. A technique or one other, there’s cash being wasted on him. The beginning left sort out could be taking his first snaps as an NFL participant and hasn’t performed soccer since October 2019. Niang mixed with the 32-year-old Remmers is an uninspiring sort out duo.

Photograph by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos

Mixture 3

Left sort out: Joe Thuney

Left guard: Mike Remmers

Middle: Draft Decide

Proper guard: Kyle Lengthy

Proper sort out: Lucas Niang

Professionals: Left sort out is occupied by a veteran participant that ought to be capable to give above-average play at a minimal. The inexperience at heart is supplemented by veteran guards. Niang is ready to play the place he performed in school with a veteran guard subsequent to him who has performed proper sort out himself.

Cons: Thuney has solely performed 9 snaps as an offensive sort out within the NFL, and it will take away him from his All-Professional place. Niang’s inexperience as an NFL participant is regarding. Remmers has a low, outlined ceiling as a starter.

Mixture 4

Left sort out: Martinas Rankin

Left guard: Kyle Lengthy

Middle: Joe Thuney

Proper guard: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

Proper sort out: Mike Remmers

Professionals: Whereas Rankin doesn’t have in depth NFL expertise, he has performed left sort out for 337 complete snaps over his three-year NFL profession. He and Lengthy have began at these positions earlier than. Thuney has NFL expertise as a middle and would doubtless be probably the most impactful heart Patrick Mahomes has had in his profession. The precise facet of the road has expertise.

Cons: Rankin began each snap at left sort out within the 2020 Week 17 recreation however hasn’t performed exterior of that since his knee harm halfway by way of 2019. Thuney is faraway from his All-Professional place.

Photograph by Jim McIsaac/Getty Photos

Mixture 5

Left sort out: Excessive draft decide

Left guard: Joe Thuney

Middle: Nick Allegretti

Proper guard: Kyle Lengthy

Proper sort out: Mike Remmers

Professionals: A veteran left guard may help a rookie left sort out. Each guard positions are crammed by high-level abilities. There’s continuity with Remmers at proper sort out.

Cons: Beginning a rookie left sort out is nowhere close to a great state of affairs for a Super Bowl-contending staff. The precise facet of the road is aged.