KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With the release of tackles Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher the week before the start of free agency, the Chiefs had plenty of question marks along their front five — the men tasked with protecting superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
After agreeing to terms on a five-year deal with guard Joe Thuney, the Chiefs have reportedly made another move to address their offensive line.
The Chiefs are signing veteran guard Kyle Long to a one-year contract worth up to $5 million, ESPN reported Wednesday evening. If Long joins the Chiefs, their first two free-agent signings of this free-agency period will have addressed the offensive line.
Long, who can also play tackle, would return from a one-year retirement and add an accomplished presence to the Chiefs’ offensive line. He entered the league in 2013 as a first-round pick with the Chicago Bears and spent six seasons in the Windy City.
Before his retirement, the 6-foot-6, 332-pound University of Oregon product was a three-time Pro Bowler (2013-15) and second-team All-Pro selection in 2015. Injuries, however, took their toll, starting in 2016 — Long missed eight games that season. From 2017 to 2019, he missed 26 additional games with assorted injuries.
Now apparently healthy, the 32-year-old Long would give the Chiefs another option to consider for what will be a retooled front, especially at the tackle positions, this fall.
With Thuney and Long, provided he signs and stays inside, the primary candidates at guard project to include Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Andrew Wylie and Nick Allegretti, who could also play center.
