Chiefs Rookie Entrusted with Almighty Responsibility

Not all rookies are thrust into the regular season spotlight immediately, but the Kansas Chiefs evidently have the almighty confidence in one of their draftees.

Chiefs Rookie Entrusted with Almighty Responsibility

He’s Kingsley Suamataia, a man on deck to play left tackle in Kansas City as soon as two weeks from now when the Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens for Thursday Night Football on September 5th.

With very few options remaining in free agency at left tackle if the Chiefs get cold feet and men like Wanya Morris, Chukwuebuka Godrick, and Griffin McDowell behind Suamataia on the depth chart, the 2nd-Round rookie is a full go to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side in 2024 and beyond. Of course, it helps to have Jawann Taylor on the right side of the line. Taylor has never set the world of fire to the tune of the Pro Bowl or anything of the sort, but he’s an adept pass-blocker who has never missed a game due to injury or otherwise. He’ll set a sweet blueprint for Suamataia in that regard.

Suamatia will also have to limit penalties, as such infractions were the previous man’s undoing — Donovan Smith. This offseason, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell claimed penalties — almost singlehandedly — explained Smith’s exit from the franchise. “Smith has 29 over the last four seasons, which ties him for the third-most of any player. No. 1 is former Chiefs teammate and fellow tackle Jawaan Taylor, so that should be proof that penalties alone can’t keep players from winning a Super Bowl. Smith is 30 and missed the final five games of the regular season with a neck injury before returning in the postseason, so there might be some medical concerns around him as well,” Barnwell wrote in March.

It’s also worth noting that Smith remains a free agent if the Chiefs become antsy at all during the 2024 campaign with Suamataia’s performance.

Suamataia has also experienced action in the preseason, a necessary precursor for a rookie tasked with keeping Mahomes upright. He said after Kansas City’s first showing earlier this month, “It was great. Got to showcase flying around the ball. Had a couple end-arounds in the game — definitely got to go out there and fly around and show my athleticism. But it was fun being out there with the guys, just competing.”

Last season, the Chiefs ranked 18th per offensive line grading, according to Pro Football Focus, meaning the group wasn’t exactly elite. On the surface, one might’ve guessed that a more trusted or veteran solution would’ve been sought in free agency, but the Chiefs’ brass said no thanks, scooping Suamataia out of Round 2.

And now the man has arguably the most important job in sports. No pressure.

Kansas City — predictably — has the best odds to win the Super Bowl in 2024 (+600) and would become the first team ever to hoist the Lombardi trophy thrice consecutively if so.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.