The Kansas City Chiefs will be making sure Patrick Mahomes is protected for 2021.
Who knows at the Kansas City Chiefs would have been able to win Super Bowl LV with a fully healthy offensive line. Patrick Mahomes made acrobatic throws left and right but the pressure from the Tampa Bay buccaneers front seven was too much.
General manager Brett Veach understands the window to win is now. On Friday, he made sure that Mahomes would be well protected for 2021 and beyond.
The Chiefs have traded with the Baltimore Ravens for Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Jr. The Ravens will receive the No. 31 pick on April 29 and Kansas City’s third-round (No. 94) and fourth round selection (No. 136) , along with 2022 fifth-round pick. In return with Brown, the Chiefs will receive the No. 58 pick and a 2022 sixth-round selection.
Kansas City finds their Eric Fisher replacement
Entering the 2021 season, it was evident that the Ravens would be forced to move off Brown. The former right tackle filled in well for Ronnie Stanley at the left tackle spot following the All-Pro suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brown insisted following the season she would be a left tackle only. For the Ravens, they were set up the position after giving Stanley a five-year extension worth $98.75 million. Ultimately, it was best for the two parties to split sides.
The Chiefs need to upgrade both tackle positions after the release of Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Entering the first round, many believed they would select either Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood or Texas’ Sam Cosmi. The overall depth at the position is strong for Kansas City still to add another name on the right side.
Brown enters the final year of his rookie deal worth $3.384 million. As reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Kansas City is not expected to offer him an extension before the start of the next season. The hope is what was seen in 2020 can be transferred over permanently on the blindside in 2021.
It’s a gamble for Kansas City, but one that could bode well in their favor later on.
The window to win is wide open right now for the Chiefs. The hope though is that they can keep their All-Pro quarterback operate every snap. Brown doesn’t fix all the office of line needs, but with the addition of him and Joe Thuney, it’s another step in the making sure Kansas City remains the No.1 team in the AFC.