Kansas City Chiefs extend Bryan Witzmann through 2018

 It probably wasn’t the move that anyone expected to hear, but the Kansas City Chiefs have extended backup lineman Bryan Witzmann through 2018.

The start of training camp is an excellent time for teams to start working on some contracts. The whole team (hopefully) is gathering together to get to the business of football, and for many that means taking care of actual business. For the Kansas City Chiefs, part of that was retaining backup lineman Bryan Witzmann through the 2018 season.

No, this is not the kind of move that is going to blow up the headlines. In fact, I’d wager there is a very large portion of Chiefs Kingdom who doesn’t even know who Witzmann is. However, there is something to like about this move as it gives KC some depth looking ahead.

The obvious good news here for Bryan Witzmann is that the team is showing some confidence in him. A new contract like this doesn’t guarantee he’ll make the final roster this year, but it does show that the team thinks pretty highly of him. That says a lot to both the player, and the fan base.

A Continuing Theme

In fact, this maybe shouldn’t be all that unexpected. The Chiefs have been very active in trying to shore up the offensive line over the past couple of years. It’s a large group, so there is always work to be done. Teams often end up in a position where they are losing either a starter or a depth guy.

However, the Chiefs now have Eric Fisher, Parker Ehinger, Mitch Morse, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Mitchell Schwartz, Jah Reid, and Bryan Witzmann under contract for 2018. That’s not a bad position to be in for KC.

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New Chiefs GM Brett Veach would seem to be picking up where John Dorsey left off in terms of focus. It’s often said that football is won in the trenches. If that is the case, then Kansas City can look forward to winning a lot over the next few years.

Other Options?

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Keeping Bryan Witzmann under contract for next season could also serve another purpose for the Chiefs. It is well documented that quality offensive line play is becoming a very rare commodity in the NFL. However, Kansas City happens to have a solid stockpile of linemen at their disposal. That’s got to be tempting for another team to make an offer for.

There are two names especially that jump out in regards to a trade: Zach Fulton and Jah Reid. The Chiefs appear to have a solid starting group, which means both Fulton and Reid are set to be reserves. Both players have significant starting experience, and could be valuable commodities.

If KC likes Bryan Witzmann enough to extend him, then that may signal their willingness to deal either Zach Fulton or Jah Reid. We have seen the Chiefs be aggressive in the trade market in the past. Brett Veach may be new to the GM role, but he was a part of that front office.

Maybe that’s just a shot in the dark, but there is no denying that the Kansas City Chiefs have options right now.

There is a lot to be excited about with the Kansas City Chiefs this year. This team has built one of the strongest rosters in the entire NFL, and have shown the ability to play with the best teams in the league. The Chiefs certainly have some high hopes for this year, but are still keeping an eye on moving forward.