What KC Chiefs’ offensive line could look like after the Joe Thuney signing
The KC Chiefs signed Joe Thuney, upgrading their offensive line in the process. How could their o-line look after this big acquisition?
On the first day of free agency (or at least the “legal tampering” part of free agency), the Kansas City Chiefs made a huge splash by signing offensive guard Joe Thuney to a five-year deal worth $80 million. Thuney is just 28 years old and will turn 29 in November, making this a really smart signing by the Chiefs.
Thuney being young isn’t even the best part of this deal, however. Where the Chiefs really hit the jackpot is finding a lineman who can stay healthy (he’s yet to miss a game in his career) and play pretty much anywhere on the offensive line. Thuney has mostly spent his career at left guard — a position that the Chiefs have struggled to find consistency at — but has also played at tackle and at center during his career.
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Thuney has also played in three Super Bowls throughout his five years in the NFL and has been the anchor of two Super Bowl-winning offensive lines. This guy is used to playing in big games and won’t be phased by the bright lights whatsoever.
How does the Joe Thuney signing impact the KC Chiefs’ offensive line?
The Chiefs likely plan to put Thuney at left guard, which — as I mentioned above — has been a position they’ve struggled to find talent at. Thuney now gives them durability there for the next half-decade.
Nick Allegretti played well at left guard last year, but the Chiefs initially had Allegretti as a backup to Austin Reiter at center, so that could be the plan here, especially with Reiter unlikely to return. That gives us Thuney at left guard, Allegretti at center, and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif at right guard.
That leaves the two tackle spots open. The Chiefs more than likely will address at least one of the two spots in the draft and use Lucas Niang to fill the other tackle spot (he played right tackle in college). It’d be great if the Chiefs could land a high-end talent at tackle in the draft, but in order to do that, they’ll have to trade up into at least the top 15 (honestly probably the top 10 if we’re being realistic).
The signing of Thuney definitely helps KC’s offensive line, but the two tackle spots are still up in the air. While Trent Williams could still be an option, the Chiefs aren’t in a position to spend $20 million on him. He’s probably going to the highest bidder and that’s not a battle the Chiefs should try to win.
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How do you think the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line will look in 2021?