Kansas City Chiefs: Ranking three best position groups in 2020
By Kole Berrey
Three Best Position Groups for KC Chiefs – Number 3: Offensive Line
This is a group that doesn’t get as much love as it should for the Chiefs. Against the 49ers in the Super Bowl, the offensive line was crucial in keeping the vaunted 49ers pass rush at bay. Even though Mahome still faced pressure in that game, a lesser line would have absolutely been eaten alive.
The talent in this group starts with the two big fellas manning down the edge.
Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz might be the game’s most underrated player. His playoff run this year was one of the more dominant runs any tackle has seen in the history of the sport.
On the left side, Eric Fisher is also starting to come into his own. A former first overall pick, Fisher was seen as a disappointment and potential big time bust early in his career. Fast forward to last year when Fisher suffered an injury, and the team found out just how valuable he was to the team.
On the interior, the Chiefs have a ton of intriguing names and prospects to be excited about. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Andrew Wylie, and Austin Reiter are the presumed interior starters. They may not blow you away, but they all play at an above average level, mostly due to their knack for pass blocking. Behind them though is a list of players who could challenge for starting spots.
Martinas Rankin and Lucas Niang are both former third round picks with potential to be high level starters. Rankin was acquired in the Carlos Hyde trade last year, and was a starter on the left side until he went down with injury.
Niang is a rookie who if it wasn’t for an injury of his own in college, may have been a first round pick this year. Niang didn’t surrender a single sack in his college days, playing a total of 1,027 pass blocking snaps and zero sacks allowed. That is no easy teat, considering he had to block the likes of Nick Bosa and Chase Young.
The Chiefs have all the components necessary to field a sneaky good line next year. Rankin and Niang offer young players with upside who could push for starting spots. If those players do end up starting, established veterans become back ups, solidifying the depth of the line and earning its spot as one of the Chiefs’ strongest units.