The Kansas City Chiefs have two of the best offensive pieces in the NFL in quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid. However, shortcomings in the running game, pass protection, and wide receiver play and health have kept them from hitting their ceiling over the past couple of seasons. Much of the offseason focus has centered on the left tackle, wide receiver, and running back positions, but the left guard spot deserves attention as well.

In order to free up the money needed to keep Trey Smith, the Chiefs made the long-term decision to trade away All Pro guard Joe Thuney. When that happened it all but guaranteed Kingsley Suamataia would be moving inside to guard in his second season. While Andy Reid isn’t closing the door on Suamataia still playing tackle in the future, his immediate path to the starting lineup is to replace Thuney as KC’s starting left guard.

Kingsley Suamataia may not be Joe Thuney, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t bring something new to the left guard position.

Even if Suamataia is more comfortable and finds more immediate success at guard than he did at left tackle last season, it’s simply not reasonable to expect him to match the overall play of someone like Thuney. Thuney is the ultimate pro who is rarely fooled with nearly flawless technique. Suamataia won’t match that standard, but he does have one advantage over Thuney: his physical upside.

Let me start by saying that Thuney is probably underrated when it comes to his physical tools. He has enough power to hold the point of attack against some of the NFL’s strongest defensive tackles and had enough athleticism to fill in on the outside at left tackle. However, I think it’s fair to say that Thuney’s excellent technique helped him maximize the athleticism he has, but at 32 years old, he simply can’t match Suamataia’s raw physical tools.

Both Thuney and Suamataia are listed at 6’5″, but Kingsley weighs nearly 20 pounds more. Unlike many 320-plus-pound linemen, his weight is well distributed and not excess bulk. He also moves exceptionally well for a lineman of that size. His struggles at tackle last season weren’t due to a lack of athleticism—they stemmed more from footwork and technique. Add in the fact that Suamataia did 31 bench press reps with 34-inch arms, and you start to see the kind of physical upside we’re talking about.

Of course, that upside won’t matter if he can’t get into position, recognize assignments, and use proper hand technique. But that should be easier to accomplish, playing in a phone booth on the interior. If sliding inside allows him to play more aggressively, without the fear of getting beat off the edge, he may be able to tap into those natural tools more effectively.

The Chiefs’ moves this offseason point towards Isiah Pacheco being the clear top back again this season. While Pacheco brings energy and toughness to the position, he doesn’t often create yards on his own. He needs the offensive line to open holes and generate forward push. If Kingsley can harness his potential, the combination of him with Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith could give Kansas City the kind of physical interior line they need to revive the run game.

Kingsley Suamataia can’t be Joe Thuney—that bar is simply too high. He’s going to make more mistakes than Thuney did as the starting left guard. But if he can capitalize on his superior physical tools, especially in the ground game, the drop-off in reliability may be easier to live with. And if that happens, the Chiefs’ decision to trade Thuney and move Suamataia inside will look like a smart one.