Kansas City Chiefs must address offensive line issues this offseason

It’s no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs have had their issues along the offensive line this season.

Heading into the 2020 season, it appeared that the Kansas City Chiefs had a starting offensive line they could work with. Then the pandemic hit, forcing two vital o-linemen to opt-out of the season, and then of course injuries always occur at the position, as it’s one of the more tasking positions in the league.

The Chiefs went from having a pretty solid group to suddenly having to plug a few guys in as starters when that probably wasn’t the plan. Even with Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Lucas Niang hopefully returning for 2021 (those were the two players who opted out), both Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz enter the final year of their contracts next season.

This is why the offensive line is a huge need for the Chiefs to address this offseason. The thing with their offensive line situation is that the Chiefs could draft any position along the line and fans wouldn’t complain. Even with Schwartz still under contract next season, his back injury this season saw him struggle, and eventually we knew why, as he missed time. Finding a better backup tackle option is a solid game plan.

The guard positions could always use help, especially the left guard spot, which has been a revolving door over the years. Finding someone who could be a permanent fixture at left guard would be the best-case scenario for the Chiefs this offseason because they haven’t been able to find a mainstay at the position.

Center is also an area that needs upgrading this offseason. Austin Reiter isn’t the answer at center and it’s time for the Chiefs to find a legitimate option there. Daniel Kilgore has gotten some reps there as well, but he hits free agency after the season concludes.

The Kansas City Chiefs need to put a strong emphasis on the offensive line in 2021.

Having a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes is a rare gift and the Chiefs now need to protect that gift by providing him an above-average offensive line. They’ll get LDT and Niang back for the 2021 season, but they can’t be content with just that. Kansas City might not have the funds to make a huge splash in free agency, but they can spend at least two picks on the o-line in the draft.

Mahomes has only been sacked 14 times this season, but the pass protection he’s getting isn’t where it needs to be. If anything happens to Mahomes, the Chiefs’ season would be headed in a different direction (we can’t expect Matt Moore to come in and bail us out every time), so protecting the investment is priority No. 1 for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Getting LDT and Niang back next season will help, but don’t stop there, Brett Veach. Go out and sign some depth pieces and spend a draft pick or two at the position. When it comes to protecting the franchise quarterback, a team can’t have too many solid offensive linemen.