KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs officially announced the signing of free-agent guard Paul Fanaika.
While the Chiefs did not disclose terms of the deal, Fanaika signed a three-year, $8.1 million contract, a source familiar with the situation confirmed Thursday with ChiefsDigest.com.
Aug 24, 2014; Glendale, AZ; Then-Cardinals guard Paul Fanaika (74) against the Cincinnati Bengals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The signing comes a day after the Chiefs and Fanaika agreed to terms, as previously reported by ChiefsDigest.com.
“Paul is a good football player that we feel can add value to our offensive line group,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said in a statement. “He has familiarity with Coach Reid’s system and expectations. We are looking forward to working with him.”
Fanaika arrives the same day the Chiefs sent a fifth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for two-time Pro Bowl guard Ben Grubbs.
The Chiefs have not announced the Grubbs transaction.
The 6-7, 327-pound Fanaika provides much-needed depth, and more importantly starting experience.
He joins the Chiefs after logging 30 starts the past two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. The native of San Mateo, Calif., has appeared in 33 career games since entering the league in 2009 out of Arizona State as a seventh-round pick (213th overall) of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Fanaika’s signing reunites him with members of the Chiefs coaching staff, notably head coach Andy Reid and assistant offensive line coach Eugene Chung, who held the same position in Philadelphia from 2001-12.
Fanaika turns 29 on April 9, and has spent time with the Eagles, Cardinals, Washington, Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks.
The Chiefs now have guards Fanaika, Grubbs, Zach Fulton, Ricky Henry and Jarrod Pughlsey on the offseason roster. Fulton started all 16 games at right guard in 2014 as a rookie, while Henry and Pughsley spent time on the practice squad.
Offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, whom the Chiefs drafted as an offensive tackle, enters his second season and projects as a guard. Versatile Jeff Allen started at left guard from 2012-13 before suffering a season-ending elbow/biceps injury at right tackle during the 2014 season opener.
The Chiefs have a gaping hole at left guard left vacant by Mike McGlynn and Jeff Linkenbach.
McGlynn and Linkenbach combined to allow 9 ½ sacks, which marked the most on the offensive line. McGlynn was responsible for seven sacks in 13 starts before being benched the final three games in favor of Linkenbach. The Chiefs as an offensive group allowed 49 sacks in 2014.
McGlynn and Linkenbach are currently unrestricted free agents.
