If the Kansas City Chiefs hope to become the first NFL team to three-peat, they must protect the backside of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. If they can, it will be a rookie tackle leading the way.
When the Kansas City Chiefs drafted BYU Tackle Kingsley Suamataia in the second round of the NFL Draft, many pundits had him as a late first-round pick. With Xavier Worthy going in round one to the Chiefs, many felt they’d add a tackle next. However, they didn’t expect the BYU product to be available when the Chiefs were on the clock in the second round.
To their surprise, he was, and now he’s positioned to take the reins of the starting left tackle spot to open the 2024 season.
Last season, Donovan Smith and Wayna Morris went back and forth, attempting to solve the team’s left tackle problem. Though Smith was more effective, the Chiefs didn’t bring him back in the offseason. That meant Morris would get a shot, but the talk was always that this team was poised to draft a young tackle to compete with last year’s third-round pick.
Suamataia had an impressive career at BYU and is a big fan of Head Coach Andy Reid. Now, he faces his first training camp and is ready to embrace the opportunity at hand.
“It’s a nice environment out here but just – you know, we’re all just grinding together – all of us coaches, players, all in the dorm and just striving for that one goal at the end of this, so it’s going good,” he told reporters.
Though he had a stellar career at BYU, the speed of the game in the NFL is much different. Plus, the position requires that you play atop your game, considering you are protecting the best player in the NFL. Post-draft, he was adamant that Mahomes would not be touched on his watch. Still, saying and doing it are two different things.
Still, he knows he’s in a battle with Morris, who he considers a great teammate.
“I’ve known Wanya (Morris) as a player,” Suamataia said. “He’s a great guy. He’s friends with a lot of guys that I know. We’re boys on and off the field, just trying to gain that job. We’re both just working hard, the best that we can, and whoever comes out on the top – we’re still boys, but it’s business out here but nothing but love for Wanya.”
To play an effective left tackle you not only have to be talented, but you also need to understand the complexity of an Andy Reid playbook. Though he stated learning it has many components, he certainly doesn’t lack confidence or the passion to get the job done.
“I’m out here, I love the game, I love playing so, just with the boys. Like I said, I love being out here with all the guys, get to know everybody and just grow that bond with everybody because we’re all dying and it’s hot out here (laughter),” he stated.
“You know, we’re all grinding and again, for the goal at the end, for three times in a row so, I don’t really feel any pressure on it. (I’m) just playing the game that I love.”
Chiefs are hopeful that love for the game turns into a left tackle that can protect Mahomes for the conceivable future.
