Patrick Mahomes is getting some reinforcements up front.
After the Kansas City Chiefs were forced to cut offensive linemen Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher, the team responded by signing left guard Joe Thuney, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The deal is for five years, $80 million.
Thuney, 28, spent the last five seasons with the New England Patriots where he was part of two Super Bowl-winning offensive lines and was considered to be the best guard available on the free-agent market.
The Patriots used the franchise tag on Thuney last season and were reportedly trying a last-minute effort to persuade him to return to New England.
The New York Jets, with plenty of cap space to throw money around, were also believed to be heavily interested in the guard.
Alas, Thuney now will get a chance to win compete for more Super Bowls with the Chiefs by offering Mahomes some protection.
Per Pro Football Focus, Thuney has allowed just three sacks in 1,733 snaps since 2018.
The Chiefs quarterback was under duress the entirety of Super Bowl LV against the Bucs without his two best offensive linemen, so the addition of Thuney addresses the team’s biggest concern.
While Thuney could play left tackle in a pinch, the team still needs to protect Mahomes’ blindside with the departure of Fisher.
By signing Thuney, though, it seems unlikely the Chiefs will have the cap space to make an additional run at free agent Trent Williams, whom the 49ers will do everything they can to bring back to San Francisco.
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