The Kansas City Chiefs have a number of players entering free agency that have been tremendous depth pieces. Not all of these names will initially steal headlines. However, Kansas City has truly received crucial boosts from these bargains on the depth chart. One of those players is offensive tackle Andrew Wylie.
Of course, the other starting offensive tackle from 2022, Orlando Brown Jr., is also set for unrestricted free agency. The situation and decision to be made by the Chiefs is already complex surrounding him. Yet, the free agent profile of Wylie is extremely intriguing entering this particular offseason.
Can Kansas City possibly retain both offensive tackles, if they want to keep both? Is Andrew Wylie going to be a Chief for life, so to speak? Or, will opposing teams with a need at offensive tackle look to throw major dollars his way? Let’s kick it off.
Steady Growth
Andrew Wylie went undrafted in 2017 and took a longer, winding road to join the Chiefs than most may remember. Originally, the Eastern Michigan product signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts. He would spend time on the practice squad on each of the Colts, the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Chargers. Late in the 2017 regular season, Kansas City signed him, with the Chiefs promoting him to the active roster for that postseason.
For a good stretch, Chiefs fans were used to the steady presence of Laurent Duvernay-Tardif on the interior offensive line. It was only a handful of games into 2018 where he suffered a devastating leg injury, though. As a result, Andrew Wylie stepped in and was the man to fill his shoes. Wylie was simply an unknown commodity to most in that moment. Yet, he provided a calming presence that season, playing in all 16 games and starting the final 10 contests. His performance earned him the team’s Mack Lee Hill Award for best first-year player.
From that season on, Andrew Wylie has held a foundation in some way, shape or form for Kansas City. He has improved with his blocking technique. He has stood tall against some of the NFL’s toughest pass rushers. Finally, Wylie has become one of the Chiefs core leaders.
A Perfect Fit
Besides being a top leader and voice for the Chiefs, Andrew Wylie has been able to relish in any role that the team needs him to fill. Because of that, this blocker has been a perfect fit for the Kansas City offense. Wylie has appeared at both guard positions and right tackle during the last five seasons. With that versatility, the Chiefs know that he will be prepared for different body types and play styles from opposing defensive linemen.
Moreover, Andrew Wylie is sneakily athletic, a huge component for blockers inside of Andy Reid‘s offense. His lower half strength and ability to adjust quickly appear to give defenders fits. On the flip side, Wylie is quietly smooth with his pass sets. This offensive lineman has truly been able to fly under the radar with the Chiefs.
What Path Do Chiefs Take?
As we discussed in another FPC Chiefs article earlier this week, the initial expectation is that Kansas City will franchise tag Brown Jr. for the second straight season. That decision is easier said than done, nevertheless. The Chiefs could tag him, and he may play on the franchise tag salary, once again. They could also trade him for future assets after tagging him, if they wish. But, there is a sense that Brown Jr. would like to remain in Kansas City. His coaches and teammates have also spoke fondly of him the last two years. Reportedly, he turned down a long-term contract offer last offseason.
So, how does the decision on Brown Jr. affect the Chiefs’ decision on Andrew Wylie? For starters, Wylie is obviously not going to cost as much as Brown Jr. on a long-term contract. The longevity of Wylie, as well as his play style, may make Kansas City feel comfortable about committing to him for multiple years. All told, the stable presence and reliability that Andrew Wylie has shown may be held in high regard by the Chiefs. You also have to take possible future contract extensions for names like Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith into consideration, as well as Joe Thuney‘s salary cap hits.
Is A Pay Raise Guaranteed?
Is a pay raise for Andrew Wylie guaranteed? Whether it comes from the Kansas City Chiefs or from opposing teams on the open market, the short answer is yes. Wylie re-signed in Kansas City last year for only $2.5375 million on a one-year contract. With that low of a salary, and his steady results, the Chiefs or any team would likely look to give him a significant rise in pay on his upcoming contract.
Outside of his past play, Andrew Wylie should benefit greatly from a weaker free agent class of offensive linemen. The options on the open market are fairly sparse, when it comes to top-tier names. If he stays at offensive tackle, Wylie is arguably in the prime age of his career. Most of the other free agent offensive tackle options are either nearing the end of their careers or are extremely limited in their NFL experience. Outside of that, the continued growth, past success and ability to lead in the locker room should net Andrew Wylie a nice pay raise this offseason.
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