KC Chiefs have very real competition at right tackle

When the K.C. Chiefs set out to rebuild the offensive line for the 2021 season, they ripped the entire unit down to the studs. As general manager Brett Veach slowly added pieces over the course of free agency and the draft (with a blockbuster trade thrown in for good measure), it became apparent that the left side of the line was going to receive the cornerstones.

As you move right across the Chiefs offensive front these days, you’ll find more and more questions. That’s not a slight on the level of talent at those particular spots. Rather, it’s just clear that no one is going to ask whether or not the team plans on utilizing Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle or Joe Thuney at left guard. Both players are cemented at those very spots and that is that, despite the fact that their versatility could come in handy if the need surfaced.

At center, it looks as if rookie Creed Humphrey has things under control, while right guard and right tackle feature some legitimate competition for those starting spots. Yet at right guard, Trey Smith has held down his role with the ones in practice so far in training camp despite the fact that veterans used to starting are also in house—namely, the return of Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Andrew Wylie.

In fact, the only real spot that looks to be truly up for grabs in camp so far can be found at right tackle where it looks like three men are receiving the bulk of reps in the preseason. Let’s take a look at how camp is unfolding at right tackle and what to expect going forward.