Chiefs re-sign offensive lineman Mike Remmers

According to a tweet from his agent Brett Tessler, the Kansas City Chiefs have re-signed veteran offensive lineman Mike Remmers.

Remmers — who joined the Chiefs last season on a veteran salary benefit deal as a versatile reserve offensive lineman — ended up playing in 13 regular-season games, starting 10 of them at positions all across the line. He played solidly in most of them — particularly at right tackle after Mitchell Schwartz was lost for the season.

So Remmers has certainly earned the opportunity to return in 2021 — and has a valid argument to get a bigger paycheck; he played a big role in getting the team back to its second Super Bowl in as many years.

But the agent’s characterization of his client’s role as the “starting right tackle” is a bit... curious. The Athletic’s Nate Taylor reported a little more information.

This makes a bit more sense. It’s reasonable to think that Remmers’ contract includes not-likely-to-be-earned (NLTBE) incentives based on how many games he starts in 2021. If earned, these incentives will count against the cap in 2022 — meaning that under offseason Top-51 salary-cap rules, the contract numbers Taylor has reported for Remmers’ contract would have an immediate cap impact of around $2.6 million.

As they continue their search for another veteran tackle in free agency, that’s a number with which the Chiefs can live.

In the meantime, Remmers’ agent will still be able to trumpet his client’s status as one of the team’s starters— even if he ends up giving way to redshirt rookie tackle Lucas Niang, or — because of an injury somewhere else — he gets shuffled into another position.

However it plays out, Remmers will be back in 2021.