Kansas City Chiefs taking risk by cutting Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz
After what transpired in Super Bowl LV, the Kansas City Chiefs’ decision to cut starting tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz is a big risk.
In Super Bowl LV, the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line was pushed around repeatedly and had quarterback Patrick Mahomes running for his life. This was due largely to having reserves start at both tackle spots, usually occupied by Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, both of whom were out for the game due to injury.
On Thursday, the franchise made one of its riskier decisions to part ways with not one but both starting tackles, as reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. While the move does help Kansas City get closer to being under the new salary cap, releasing both players onto the 2021 NFL free agency market can be seen as questionable given what just transpired more than a month ago.
In their attempt to repeat as champions, Kansas City strolled into Tampa Bay with a make-shift offensive line that was expected to pick up the slack and perform at a high level. Safe to say, the Buccaneers were licking their chops in a 31-9 victory, especially edge rusher Shaquil Barrett, who dominated against reserve tackle Mike Remmers — something he’s unfortunately familiar with thanks to another Super Bowl matchup against Von Miller.
The Kansas City Chiefs must address their offensive line in both free agency and the draft.
As evidenced by the Super Bowl collapse, no offense — not even one like the Kansas City Chiefs’ — can function at a high pace if the line of scrimmage isn’t controlled. Had the Chiefs been fortunate to have both starting tackles on gameday, the result might have been different. Now, not only are they not available for the games, they aren’t even on the roster.
There is no doubt that Mahomes will likely have to restructure his record-breaking deal, as will some of the other stars on the team to get under the salary cap. Still, it bears mentioning that the first-round pick for Kansas City will now likely be an offensive tackle unless they choose to sign one in free agency, but it’s probably the best idea to draft one as well.
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When trying to construct a Super Bowl roster, the salary cap can be your best friend. But when it drops, or it comes time to pay your players, or when you have to make decisions on who to cut, it can be a nightmare. Kansas City found out the hard way in the Super Bowl how much they missed their starters, and now, both are gone in this offseason. Either they find a solution, or Mahomes will continue to keep running away and having to make miraculous throws just to avoid being sacked.