Mitchell Schwartz

Limited to six games by back woes in 2020, 33-year-old Schwartz spent 2021 as a free agent. The No. 37 overall pick of the 2012 Draft by the Browns, Schwartz had his best years after arriving in Kansas City in 2016, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2018. He was a second-team All-Pro three more times as a Chief. Schwartz remained one of the best right tackles in football until his back problems set in. Those injury issues combined with Schwartz's age means we probably won't be seeing any comeback attempts.  

Both he and LT Eric Fisher's releases create roughly $18 million in cap space and signify Kansas City's desire to overhaul that unit immediately through free agency and the draft. 32 in June, Schwartz is also said to be eyeing retirement, rather than testing the market, after his 7,894 snap-streak came to a halt this year. Fans should expect another significant transaction in the next 48 hours as the Chiefs remain $5 million over the cap.

Schwartz's back injury limited to six games last year. There was hope he could return for the playoffs, but he never got cleared. The surgery likely knocks Schwartz out for OTAs and makes him questionable for the start of training camp. Schwartz should be fully healthy for Week 1.

It's uninspiring news after the Chiefs lost LT Eric Fisher with an Achilles' injury in Sunday's win over the Bills. Kansas City has plugged holes up front with Mike Remmers, Andrew Wylie and Nick Allegretti to this point and will likely be forced to continue doing so with Schwartz eyeing another absence for the Super Bowl. Wylie, an undrafted free agent guard, will continue replacing Schwartz in Tampa Bay.