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Kansas City Chiefs: What Jovahn Fair can provide in 2020

By Leigh Oleszczak

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Kyle Gibson #25 of the UCF Knights is pursued by Jovahn Fair #70 (R) of the Temple Owls during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 18, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. UCF defeated Temple 45-19. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Kyle Gibson #25 of the UCF Knights is pursued by Jovahn Fair #70 (R) of the Temple Owls during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 18, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. UCF defeated Temple 45-19. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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Keeping the offensive line up to snuff is vital for the Kansas City Chiefs. Can Jovahn Fair help them in that department?

Whenever a team is fortunate enough to find their franchise quarterback, they have to make sure the offensive line is able to protect him. While the Kansas City Chiefs‘ offensive line was decent in 2019, it could still use some help.

The Super Bowl in particular showed that the Chiefs offensive line – while improving – wasn’t as good as it needed to be. Patrick Mahomes was pummeled throughout that game and teams are going to continue to try to add defensive talent up front to attempt to slow him down.

Realistically, the starting o-line will be Eric Fisher at left tackle, either Andrew Wylie or Lucas Niang at left guard, Austin Reiter at center, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif at right guard, and Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle. Left guard and possibly center are probably the only true competitions to be had along the line.

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While Wylie and Niang are likely the two in the running for the left guard job, there are some dark horse candidates who could find their way in that role. We discussed what Missouri tackle Yasir Durant could provide and he has a chance to make the roster, but what about Jovahn Fair of Temple?

Fair’s role as a rookie probably isn’t anything more than a depth piece and even then, he’s probably destined for the practice squad. As we’ve all witnessed over the years, however, offensive line is a taxing position and injuries occur frequently. Not everyone can be as durable as Schwartz.

Last season, injuries occurred to Fisher, Wylie, LDT, and Martinas Rankin and those injuries paved the way for other players to see offensive snaps. That’s more than likely how Fair finds his way onto the football field is if another player gets injured.

Wylie was impressive as a rookie in 2017, but last year wasn’t as good and not getting his job back once he was healthy enough to play indicates that the team isn’t married to the idea of having him play left guard. Fair is probably the least likely to win that job, but if he impresses in camp and preseason, maybe he’ll be able to find a backup role with the team and work his way onto the field when the time comes.

What expectations do you have for Jovahn Fair in 2020?

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