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The Kansas City Chiefs reacted quickly to the start of right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, opting not to participate in the 2020 season, already finding a veteran right guard who is a serious contender to start at Duvernay-Tardif’s place this year. According to Yahoo Sports Terez A. Paylor, Kansas City agreed to strike a one-year deal with veteran guard Kelechi Osemele.
Osemele, a two-time Pro Bowl right guard with the Oakland Raiders in 2016 and 2017, was also an All-Pro first team in 2016. He has played most of his career as a left guard, starting 51 games with the Baltimore Ravens and 42 with the Raiders, even starting in Super Bowl XLVII as a right tackle for Baltimore.
Osemele spent the 2019 season with the New York Jets, but played only three games before sustaining a torn shoulder. He started the three games on guard.
The Chiefs found that Duvernay-Tardif would be out for the 2020 season on Friday as he will continue to work at a long-term care facility in Quebec to help combat the pandemic. A provision in the revised CBA allows players to stay out next season.
Kansas City has options as a right guard, which is why Osemele will have to compete for the job. Andrew Wylie started 11 games for the Chiefs last season and is also a favorite to replace Duvernay-Tardif. Free agent Mike Remmers signed started 16 games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 and Martinas Rankin started five games for the Chiefs last season.
The Chiefs had a valuable reserve at Stefen Wisniewski, but he left for the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. Wisniewski started for the team in Super Bowl LIV as a left guard.
Kansas City will certainly allow the right guard situation to unfold with many worthy candidates, but it seems the team relies on Osemele to win the job.
