Parker Ehinger poised to be Chiefs left guard
The Kansas City Chiefs offensive line has been heavily under the microscope. The unit played well last season, despite injuries, and shuffling. The left guard position is up for grabs, and one of the Chiefs fourth round picks is poised to grab it.
Parker Ehinger has been taking the first team reps, during the team’s OTA’s and minicamp at left guard. Andy Reid’s plan for Ehinger seems to be at guard, which makes sense. But he’s made it known that first team reps this early, mean little to him.
“The starting five isn’t decided in OTAs,” Ehinger explained after practice. “We have a lot of football left to be played. Just going through this, it’s been a cool experience playing next to Eric Fisher and Mitch Morse. They’ve been good mentors to me.”
Many were curious where Ehinger would line up with the Chiefs. Eric Fisher seems to have a firm grasp on the left tackle spot, after having a bounce back season in 2015. The team signed right tackle Mitchell Schwartz in free agency from the Cleveland Browns. He’s entrenched as a starter there.
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Ehinger was a three year starter at left tackle with the Cincinnati Bearcats, during his collegiate career. He’s making the transition into the interior line, but clearly has shown enough to warrant first team snaps at left guard. That should be a positive sign to Chiefs fans, especially after losing Jeff Allen to free agency.
The Chiefs invested one of their 4th round picks in 2016 in Parker Ehinger. Many draft insiders projected him to go in the 6th-7th round range, but his overall statics prove he was selected in the correct round. The Chiefs found their left guard of the future, at least that’s what it seems.
Ehinger had the second most passing blocking snaps last season, out of all the draft eligible offensive tackles (560). He gave up three sacks, allowing 13 hurries, and an overall of 24 pressures. Those numbers might not seem fantastic, but for the amount of pass-protection snaps Ehinger played, they’re pretty good. Expect those numbers to even be better, now that he’s transitioning into the interior of the offensive line.
Ehinger’s main competition for the left guard spot is Jarrod Pughsley. Pughsley played guard and tackle for the Chiefs, during the 2015 preseason. He was apart of the 53 man roster cutdown, but was brought back in December, due to the many injuries along the interior line.
The expectation is for Ehinger to win that competition. He’s more suited for offensive guard, as we stated earlier. He should pair well with Eric Fisher this season, and hopefully prove to be a long-term solution for what’s been a shaky position for the Chiefs. If Ehinger can live up to his potential, become the player Andy Reid believes he is and entrench himself as the left guard, the Chiefs got a steal in the 4th round.
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