Identifying Mike Remmers’ 2020 role with the Chiefs

When the Kansas City Chiefs acquired former New York Giants free-agent right tackle Mike Remmers on Friday night, it would have been easy to assume that their intention was to replace Stefen Wisniewski, who started the last five games of the 2019 season at left guard before departing for his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers last week.

While Wisniewski remained at the team’s starting left guard even after former starter Andrew Wylie had recovered from a late-season ankle injury, it now seems clear the Chiefs want Wylie to return to at least compete for that job. They have tendered him an exclusive-rights free agent contract for 2020 while allowing Wisniewski to move on.

So it might be better to consider Remmers as the likely replacement for former swing tackle Cameron Erving, who is now a free agent after the Chiefs declined his 2020 contract option.

“Mike Remmers is an excellent depth signing for the Chiefs,” said Ed Valentine of our sister site, Big Blue View, which covers the Giants for SBNation. “He is an adequate starting right tackle in the NFL — and he certainly wouldn’t be a liability if he ends up starting for Kansas City at that spot. He isn’t, though, going to give you All-Pro or Pro Bowl-caliber play.”

Valentine told us that even tough he started 14 games for the Giants at right tackle last season, Remmers’ ideal role was as a backup for nearly every position on the offensive line.

“What Remmers might be at this point in his career — entering his ninth season at what will be age 31 — is a really good sixth man on an offensive line. His best position — and the one he prefers — is right tackle. He has left tackle experience, though. He also has considerable experience at guard.”

In other words... just the kind of role that Erving fulfilled for the Chiefs — but backed with more experience and likely at a lower cost.

“He is exactly what you want in a backup offensive lineman,” continued Valentine. “A guy who has experience, who knows what he’s [doing], who can play multiple spots and can come off the bench and perform adequately without a lot of practice snaps.”

Picking up Erving’s contract would have carried a $4.7 million cap hit for 2020. Although the Chiefs had to eat $1.4 million in dead money to move on, Remmers will likely cost less than Erving’s $3.2 million compensation would have been. While the terms of his contract with the Chiefs are not yet known, Remmers’ one-year deal with the Giants totaled only $2.5 million, including a signing bonus of $500,000 and a roster bonus of $875,000.

It’s likely the Chiefs were able to come to more favorable terms.