The Kansas City Chiefs are set to visit with a potential replacement for Donovan Smith, who walked into free agency this month. The Chiefs must fill a few positions after losing several quality players due to cap space concerns.
The Kansas City Chiefs need to replace premium positions
The Chiefs have lost two key starters at premium positions this offseason. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed was traded to the Tennessee Titans so he could sign for a $76 million pay raise. But the Chiefs have a bigger concern in protecting Patrick Mahomes blindside next season.
2023 third-round pick Wanya Morris is penciled in as the starter at left tackle. Last season, he struggled in pass protection, giving up two sacks in 102 pass-blocking attempts. He earned a 55.6 overall grade for his rookie year by Pro Football Focus.
The Chiefs need to explore other options at OT.
Kingsley Suamataia is set to visit the Chiefs
According to Tony Pauline with Sportskeeda, BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia is set to visit the Chiefs for an official 30 visit. He will also meet with the Dallas Cowboys, who lost offensive tackle Tyron Smith to the New York Jets this offseason.
Kingsley Suamataia/T/BYU visiting the @Chiefs this week and also has an official 30 set up with the @dallascowboys
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) March 26, 2024
Suamataia excels at run blocking
Per the NFL.com, Suamataia is ranked as the ninth-best offensive tackle prospect in the draft. According to Lance Zierlein, the six-foot-five, 326-pound OT is a much better run blocker than in pass protector:
A five-star recruit coming out of high school, Suamataia spent time at Oregon before transferring to BYU and finding two years of starting experience. He has good size and adequate play strength, but sloppy hand placement limits control and consistency as both a run and pass blocker. Suamataia could struggle to handle NFL edge speed in pass protection, but he’s quick enough for move-blocking duties in outside zone and in space.
He can redirect and mirror counters when he’s postured up and appears capable of dealing with bull rushers. The tape is more solid than spectacular, but Suamataia has the ability to become an average starting tackle on the right side.
NFL Draft Buzz projects Suamataia as a late-second-round pick.
The issues in pass protection are concerning, especially in a division he will line up across from Maxx Crosby, Khalil Mack, and Joey Bosa. But the Chiefs could get better in their rising attack, and Suamataia could provide a boost for an offense that prides itself in using cheap labor at the running back position.
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