Offensive line became an immediate priority for the Kansas City Chiefs once they hit the offseason. Through free agency, they have retooled this unit with several moves. The Chiefs franchise tagged Trey Smith, holding onto arguably the best right guard in the league. Smith would have been one of the most coveted free agents had he become available.
Kansas City then traded Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears before signing Jaylon Moore in free agency. Now, it appears they will turn to the draft with their eyes on adding another piece. Moore does not much of a starter’s pedigree. With the rest of their line unchanged, it’s clear any pick they spend on a lineman will be on a prospect with the ability to vie for a starting role.
Sitting at No. 31 in the first round, they may be in a favorable spot to land the player of their choosing. Insiders have not detected much movement on Day 1, but according to ESPN’s Matt Miller, the Chiefs could be the team to shake things up. “I’ve heard that the Kansas City Chiefs are actively looking to trade up in Round 1… A move up in Round 1 would likely be for a long-term offensive tackle solution; I heard the goal would be to move in front of the Houston Texans (No. 25) and Los Angeles Rams (No. 26) if the Chiefs like a specific left tackle still on the board.”
The Chiefs climbed up the board not too long ago to snag Patrick Mahomes in 2017. Now, they could use a similar maneuver to beef up their protection for him. Both the Texans and the Rams could be in the market for a lineman, specifically Houston whose line crumbled around C.J. Stroud last season.
Kansas City needs to do a much better job in their own right fortifying protection around Mahomes. For that reason, sacrificing some future capital to get in position to grab an ideal prospect makes plenty of sense for the Chiefs. If the Chiefs land such a player and show a determination to solve this concern, fans should feel good not only about the offensive line but also the team’s mindset in keeping this extraordinary run going through next season.
