:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63993637/1035225800.jpg.0.jpg)
Back in May the Seattle Seahawks declined the fifth year option on fourth year right Germain Ifedi, foregoing the opportunity to secure his services for the 2020 season for $10.35M. Many fans supported this decision in light of the fact that exercising the option would have quickly made Ifedi one of the highest paid right tackles in the NFL, and only the fourth making $10M a year or more.
Wednesday repirts emerged that the Kansas City Chiefs had added a fourth member to the $10M right tackle market, with Mitchell Schwartz having earned a contract extension with his performance on the field the past few seasons.
The #Chiefs are giving RT Mitchell Schwartz a 1-year extension worth $11.255M, source said, making him 2nd highest paid RT. That’s essentially his signing bonus, too. Accordingly, Schwartz’s 2019 and 2020 season (he did an extension with both years left) are fully guaranteed.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 12, 2019
Of note are several items. First off, while Schwartz did make the All Pro team this past season, he has never made the Pro Bowl. In addition, he is not young, having turned 30 this past Saturday. Thus, this extension will take him through his age 32 season.
In contrast, Ifedi celebrated his 25th birthday earlier this month, so could command a significant youth premium compared to the contract Schwartz was given.
In any case, the market for Ifedi and his services continues to climb, and with free agency potentially looming next spring, Ifedi stands to cash in in a league where offensive line play comes at a premium.