NFL veteran 0ffensive lineman Austin Blythe signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Blythe spent the 2020 season with the Los Angeles Rams.
Austin Blythe, Kansas City Chiefs, Agree to Contract
As a 28-year-old, Blythe started all 16 regular season games for the Rams, including two playoff starts in which Los Angeles beat the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round before losing to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round. Blythe played 1120 snaps in 2020 which ranked as the third-highest among centers. Moreover, the 6-foot-3, 298-pound lineman put together a solid year, earning himself a Pro Football Focus grade of 69.3 in the regular season. Blythe’s 2020 postseason was equally as impressive as he allowed just one sack and earned a 69.2 PFF grade.
Blythe struggled with the Rams in 2019, earning a PFF grade of 50.2, his second lowest PFF grade since being drafted in 2016. Additionally, Blythe added to his down season by playing just 996 snaps which ranked 17th among centers. Blythe’s best season came in 2018 with the Rams as he played and started in all 16 regular season games. Blythe played 1,101 snaps which ranked sixth among centers and earned himself a career-high regular season PFF grade of 76.4.
Blythe started all three postseason games for the Rams in 2018, playing in 100% of the team’s offensive snaps before losing to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. During their 2018 playoff run, Blythe allowed just one sack and allowed himself a 63.8 PFF grade. In 2017, Blythe joined the Rams in a depth role and while he did start one game, Blythe played just 196 snaps over the course of the season. In 2016, Blythe was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round as the 248th selection. Blythe successfully made the team as a backup and went on to appear in eight games for the Colts playing just 89 snaps and earning a career-low 35.3 PFF grade. The Colts would eventually put Blythe on waivers where the Rams claimed him.
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