How the KC Chiefs will benefit from having Joe Thuney and Kyle Long in 2021
The KC Chiefs made big changes to their team, signing guards Kyle Long and Joe Thuney. With the new changes, how will that change the dynamic?
The biggest move that the Kansas City Chiefs made this offseason was signing former Patriots guard Joe Thuney to a five-year deal worth $80 million. They also signed former Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long, who had spent the 2020 season out of football after retiring following the 2019 season.
Hopefully, these two guys will bring some relief to Patrick Mahomes. Last season, as we all know, the offensive line was plagued by injury, especially in the Super Bowl and that left Patrick Mahomes without the right support. Now he will have two experienced players protecting him and Thuney is one of the most durable linemen out there, not having missed a single game in his five-year career.
Long is no stranger to the professional football field. His father Howie is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and his brother Chris is a retired defensive end. Long has also made a name for himself. He received three Pro Bowl selections from 2013 to 2015 and played well at both right guard and right tackle.
Long retired after the 2019 season and is now ready to return to football with the Chiefs. Long’s challenge will be catching up after a year off of the field, which is no easy task for anyone.
Thuney has been the most exciting addition to this Chiefs team. He has experience playing in Super Bowls, having played in three (winning two), which is something that’s important in Kansas City, as they’ve been to the past two and hope to make it three in a row this season.
The KC Chiefs are excited to have Joe Thuney and Kyle Long.
While Long has typically played at right guard throughout his career, there’s a chance he winds up at right tackle. The Chiefs have Laurent Duvernay-Tardif returning after opting out last year and right guard has been LDT’s job since he became a starter in 2015, but with him not playing last year, he and Long are on even playing fields as far as the Chiefs coaching staff is concerned.
Mahomes will benefit the most from the new linemen and if the Kansas City Chiefs want to protect their $500 million investment, these are the kind of moves they need to continue making. The offensive line has to be able to protect Mahomes well because he’s the franchise quarterback and if he goes down for more than a handful of weeks, the Chiefs won’t be a Super Bowl contender.
Next. 4 Positions That Don't Need to Be Addressed in Draft. dark
Chiefs fans can expect a better performance from the offensive line this season. Thuney and Long can take away some of the pressure Mahomes had to face last year and contribute to making a stronger offensive line.