The Chiefs are bringing in more outside help for their offensive line. They will sign former Rams starting center Austin Blythe, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. It’s a one-year deal.
Blythe will join Joe Thuney and Kyle Long as Chiefs interior O-line additions this offseason. Blythe started three seasons with the Rams, doing so at both center and guard. The Chiefs had used Austin Reiter as their primary center over the past two seasons, and although the team made an offer for Reiter to return, they appear to be moving on at the position.
A full-time guard starter on the Rams’ Super Bowl LIII-qualifying team, Blythe has started 47 regular-season games since the start of that 2018 season. The former seventh-round Colts pick established himself as a quality Rams starter and will be in line to work as the Chiefs’ starting center. The Rams moved Blythe to center last season, and Pro Football Focus graded him ninth at the position.
The Rams claimed Blythe off waivers in 2017 and turned to him as a replacement for the suspended Jamon Brown in 2018. Blythe kept his job after Brown’s reinstatement and played guard in 2019 as well. The Rams re-signed Blythe last year but will lose him. Despite Sean McVay wanting the team to retain Blythe this year, Andrew Whitworth and right tackle Rob Havenstein remain from Los Angeles’ Super Bowl O-line.
Blythe, 28, will check off a key box for the two-time reigning AFC champions, who can shift their O-line focus to the tackle positions.
Nice great
And here everyone thought the Chiefs couldn’t make any deals because of the Mahomes’ contract.
Rebuilding the line nicely