The Kansas City Chiefs have perhaps the NFL’s highest floor on a yearly basis. That’s thanks to head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones. The club’s 2025-26 ceiling, however, might be set by someone outside the aforementioned core four.
Offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia is an overlooked piece for this coming season. The former second-round pick desperately needs to have a second-year breakout in order for the team to get where it wants to go.
Luckily for the Chiefs, the early returns on Suamataia’s second training camp are positive.
Andy Reid Gives Positive Update on Kingsley Suamataia’s Progress
Speaking to the media following August 1’s practice, Reid checked in with a progress report. When asked about Suamataia’s confidence, he said there’s no need to rebuild it. Suamataia believes in reaping the benefits of his work.
“He has been on a mission since he got back,” Reid said. “Heâs been pretty focused in on that. I think he likes that spot. Heâs sure taken to it well and heâs willing to work. Thatâs never been his issue, man. He comes out and he works his tail off. Weâve been happy with what we see. Weâve got to keep going, but powerful kid.â
To say 2024 was an interesting year for Suamataia would be an understatement. After getting picked 63rd overall out of BYU, many Chiefs fans thought he’d be a potential left tackle of the future. A strong camp and preseason added even more fuel to that fire. It took just two regular-season starts, though, for him to get yanked from the lineup. Suamataia logged 108 snaps in Weeks 1 and 2, then had just 87 the rest of the way.
Week 18’s finale against the Denver Broncos featured something new. Suamataia played left guard on the road, leaving Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck intrigued. That, as well as offseason acquisitions of Jaylon Moore and Josh Simmons, prompted this switch.
Reid thinks battling Jones, an All-Pro, in practice is beneficial.
âYeah, thatâs going to make you great, right?” Reid said. “So every day you can get better, and heâs doing that. Heâs battling. They talk, he and Chris. Chris has got a ton of respect for him. He knows how good he is, so they work it. And then they were going back and forth today. You know, he had some good ones. Chris had some good ones. Well, theyâre getting better. That makes each other better, competition.â
Left Side of Chiefs’ Offensive Line Is Critical in 2025
On paper, last year’s Chiefs offensive line looked quite solid. It’s hard to dislike a front that contained a high-upside rookie, an elite interior composed of Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith and a solid right tackle in Jawaan Taylor. That center, right guard and right tackle trio very well could be the Week 1 configuration again this year. Both left-side spots, however, figure to be different.
Suamataia still has the inside track for the starting job at left guard. Mike Caliendo is an experienced veteran, sure. But while Reid has pitched it as a bit of a competition in the past, the vision seems abundantly clear. At left tackle, there’s less speculation by the day. Barring a setback, Simmons appears primed for a first-string role right out of the gate.
If all breaks right, the Chiefs will have cost-controlled young options at two key offensive line positions. If one or both players can’t cut it, things become increasingly difficult. It would have a ripple effect on Mahomes, as well as running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. For Kansas City’s sake, this plan must go accordingly.
With preseason play on the horizon, Suamataia is doing his part.
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