Austin Blythe gives the KC Chiefs more experience on their offensive line
The KC Chiefs have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with center Austin Blythe, who spent the past four years with the Rams.
The Kansas City Chiefs went into this offseason knowing that addressing the offensive line was critical and it took Super Bowl LV’s disastrous performance to make it a major concern for the team.
Brett Veach has made it a priority to upgrade the o-line by adding Joe Thuney and Kyle Long early on in free agency. Now, he’s struck again, as the Chiefs signed Austin Blythe to a one-year deal. Blythe gives this team another seasoned veteran and another o-lineman who can play multiple positions.
Blythe spent last season at center for the Rams but played right guard in the previous two seasons. He started all 16 games a year ago, so he’s a durable player and this is a nice late free agency pickup for Veach and the Chiefs.
Austin Blythe gives the KC Chiefs another depth piece along the o-line.
The Chiefs agreed to a 1-year deal with center Austin Blythe, per a source.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) March 30, 2021
With this addition, the Chiefs will likely pit Blythe and Nick Allegretti against each other for the starting center job. Allegretti did a nice job at left guard last year, but that’s Thuney’s position and the Chiefs aren’t paying him $80 million to play out of position. Allegretti played center during his college days at Illinois, so he’ll battle it out with Blythe for that job.
Right guard could be another place for Blythe, but the Chiefs have plenty of options there (Long and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif being the main ones). Center is probably where Blythe gets a shot to start, but he’ll have to battle it out with Allegretti if he wants the gig.
Veach has shown that he’s determined to improve the offensive line and that’s really all Chiefs fans can ask for. This addition means the Chiefs don’t have to put as strong of an emphasis on a center in the 2021 NFL Draft (though they should still draft one) and even though the Chiefs have added three offensive linemen this offseason, the draft should still see them add some names.
Blythe brings to Kansas City five years of experience and the guy is durable, something the Chiefs didn’t experience much with their o-linemen a year ago. If he wins the starting job and plays well, perhaps the Chiefs will be able to sign him to a longer contract (he’ll be 29 when the season begins) and utilize him as their starting center of the future.
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How do you feel about this acquisition, Chiefs fans?