Chiefs tackle Mitchell Schwartz makes NFL Top 100 for the first time

On Monday evening, NFL.com began releasing its annual list of the NFL’s Top 100 players.

The national headline for players listed from 91-100 may have been the fall of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz from number three to number 96 — but for Kansas City Chiefs fans, the big headline is the appearance of right tackle Mitchell Schwartz at number 94.

This ranking is long overdue for Schwartz. A 2012 second-round pick by the Browns, Schwartz has never been a Top 100 pick despite making second-team All-Pro in 2016 and 2017. Schwartz elevated his game a notch in 2018, though. He was named first-team All-Pro and won PFF’s Matthews Award for best offensive lineman in the NFL. He was one of just three tackles with a top-10 grade in pass and run blocking. For the high-flying Chiefs offense, offensive line play is critical. Schwartz handled his business in 2018 and remains a vital piece on the right side of the line.

There’s even a cool video featuring Schwartz.

Recently signed to a contract extension that will keep him with the Kansas City Chiefs through 2021, Schwartz is a smart, soft-spoken ironman who holds the NFL’s longest active streak of consecutive snaps played. Per Pro-Football-Reference, Schwartz has now played 7,386 consecutive regular-season snaps over his seven seasons in the league. His former Browns teammate Joe Thomas has the unofficial NFL record with 10,363. With his new contract, Schwartz will have the opportunity to beak Thomas’ record in a Chiefs uniform.

Schwartz is just the first Chiefs player who will appear in the annual ranking. In the coming days, we’ll keep a running list as each portion of the Top 100 is announced.