Even as the Kansas City Chiefs finally completed the long-awaited acquisition of seven-time Pro Bowl tackle Willie Roaf on Monday night, the team was considering other major moves designed to strengthen its offensive line.

The team on Monday made a formal proposal aimed at re-signing unrestricted free agent Victor Riley, its starting right tackle. That proposal was made even as the Chiefs finalized the agreement with Roaf and was not contingent on the trade for the New Orleans star again falling through.

Under the scenario planned by Chiefs coaches, Roaf will play left tackle, and Riley would line up at his usual right tackle spot, if re-signed. Three-year veteran and 1999 first-round pick John Tait, the starter at left tackle the past two seasons, would then move to guard. The final two starters on the line would be right guard Will Shields and center Casey Wiegmann.

Most observers assumed that Tait would simply move from left to right tackle if Roaf was added via trade, but the Chiefs would prefer to retain Riley to play the strongside position. Riley has met with several teams since the start of the free agent signing period on March 1 but the market has fallen off for him, in part because he faces a one-game suspension in 2002 for a domestic abuse case from last year.

Discussions between the Chiefs and Riley are expected to continue on Tuesday morning. Riley has been discussing the possibility of signing a one-year contract elsewhere and then going back into the free agent market next year. The revived interest of the Chiefs could change that stance.

As for Roaf trade, it is a gamble for the Chiefs and could well be a gaffe for New Orleans general manager Randy Mueller and agent Peter Schaffer.

Roaf will be 32 next month, is coming off knee surgery and may not be fully rehabilitated until just before the start of the regular season. Mueller, who vowed to keep Roaf rather than release him, extended the deadline for paying the tackle a roster bonus due March 20 on three different occasions. That was hardly a show of strength for him. And Schaffer settled for a six-year, $21 million contract on which Roaf will earn far less in 2002 than he would have by remaining with the Saints.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.