Chiefs Reportedly Expected to Part Ways with Center Austin Reiter

In the third major move on the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line in one day, the team is now reportedly expected to move on from starting center Austin Reiter.

In the third major move on the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line in one day, the team is now reportedly expected to move on from starting center Austin Reiter.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network was first with the report, noting that Reiter will "hit the free-agent market and is expected to land elsewhere."

More changes on the #Chiefs offensive line: Starting center Austin Reiter will hit the free-agent market and is expected to land elsewhere, source said.

With Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz cut today, Patrick Mahomes' protection is set to look at least 60% different in 2021.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 11, 2021

Following Thursday morning's release of starting tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, the Chiefs' offensive line is now poised for an extreme overhaul, with at least three starting positions changing from 2020 to 2021. The Chiefs opening-night starting guards in Week 1 of 2020 were Kelechi Osemele, who was later injured and is now an unrestricted free agent, and Andrew Wylie, who is now a restricted free agent.

What does this mean for the Chiefs?

The Chiefs' offensive line situation is getting thinner before it gets better. Reiter is probably a league-average center who the Chiefs can survive without, but it's yet another vacancy on an offensive line that — noting the pending nature of Osemele and Wylie — could start 2021 with five new starters a year removed from Week 1 of 2020.

Backup center Daniel Kilgore started four games for the Chiefs in 2020 but is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, leaving the Chiefs without any sort of meaningful on-roster options at center unless they choose to move guard Nick Allegretti to center, where he spent some time in college.

With incredible amounts of turnover across the offensive line, the Chiefs are clearly planning a head-to-toe overhaul of the position group in hopes of better-protecting their franchise quarterback for years to come.

Read More: What's Next for the Chiefs Without Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz?