Since the Kansas City Chiefs lost 31-9 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, the most popular topic of conversation around the club has been what he intends to do in the pack positions – and indeed the offensive line as a whole.
Chiefs player Patrick Mahomes has had more pressure in Super Bowl LV than any quarterback in Super Bowl history: 29 times, or 52% of his setbacks in the game. Part of the reason was the injuries to the two longtime book props, left tackle Eric Fisher and right tackle Mitch Schwartz.
The Chiefs said goodbye to the attacks in mid-March – and on Monday, Chiefs coach Andy Reid was the first opportunity to address the maneuvers in public.
“With Schwartz and Fish, you come up with a cap in these situations,” Reid said. Referring to the $ 18.3 million capital space that the Chiefs saved with the cuts. ‘(General Manager) Brett Veach and his crew did an excellent job of managing it to provide us with opportunities to continue working as a football team at the top of the league, and some of these things had to be done, but the biggest thing about this is that guys – with their stay in Kansas City – go out as champions. They can keep it with them and they will be honored here forever and celebrated forever for it in this city. ”
But Reid did not want to close the door all season for possible returns for the duo.
“Again, you never know,” Reid said. ‘It’s a small brotherhood of teams, so you never know. What goes around can come back to haunt you. Not that they are not with us again at some point, but that door always stays open. These guys did it the right way here. ‘
But while Fisher is rehabilitating a torn Achilles and Schwartz is recovering from back surgery, the team is still very clearly planning for life without it. Asked about possible starting candidates, Reid mentions for the first time the team’s 2020 selection in the third round, Lucas Niang, who did not choose the 2020 season.
“We fit it right, but we had the desire to possibly transfer Niang to the place (left-wing approach),” Reid recalls. “He seemed to have potential for that when we last had him. It’s clear Kyle (Long) is so flexible – to be able to do such a thing. He also played inside. Most of the time he played inside, but also outside he was not bad. And then we have guys coming back – so whether it’s Rem (Mike Remmers) or whether it’s Andrew (Wylie) – we have guys who also have the flexibility to play in those places. ”
In addition to Niang’s return, the Chiefs expect Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to be back by 2021. Like Niang, Duvernay-Tardif has opted for the 2020 season. He was the Chiefs’ forward right-back from 2015-19 before skipping last year to work at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. Reid mentions that he had Duvernay-Tardif back several times during his conversation with the media.
Of the five positions on the line, Reid and the Chiefs should feel best on left-back, where they could acquire best free agent Joe Thuney on a long-term deal.
“Joe gives you great flexibility,” Reid remarks. ‘He can either play center or play center at a Pro Bowl level, so probably one of the better guards in the league if you look at him over the last few years. He just did a great job, so we thought the addition to it would be great. He comes from a great culture from New England, understands what it takes to be in a winning team and to keep winning, so we welcome him with this and think it’s important to get him. ”
Reid has suggested that Veach is not finished as the Chiefs have eight choices in the NFL draft and there will be another period for free agencies to follow.
“You know how he rolls – he’s very aggressive and he stays on the game,” Reid said of Veach. ‘I’ll not tell you anywhere that we’re done. We are always going to keep our eyes open, trying to improve ourselves, what we need to do.
“We have to do it. When you sit in our position, you are not just trying to stay the same. You’re trying to get yourself better. ‘