Expect Creed Humphrey to enter national spotlight in 2022

Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey should enter the national spotlight in his second season in the NFL.

There weren’t many boom or bust concerns surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs’ selection of Creed Humphrey with the 63rd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The general consensus on the former Oklahoma Sooner was that he would eventually be an average starter.

While it can be difficult at times to find much flashiness in regards to a center—other than a pancake here and there—using the word “average” to assess Creed at this point would be downright disrespectful.

Creed is extraordinarily good at his job. One could argue, in fact, that after concluding his rookie campaign as the second runner-up in the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year poll, Humphrey has entered consideration for being the best in the business. With all due respect to the other contenders—or staples, more like—for that title, it will be a great challenge to emerge as the best center in the NFL. Jason Kelce, of the Philadelphia Eagles, has been the 1st team All-Pro nominee in four of the past five seasons, while AFC West division rival, Corey Linsley, of the Los Angeles Chargers, filled the gap in 2020 and received 2nd team honors in 2021. Despite the consistency of excellence between those two—zero sacks credited among them in a combined 274 NFL starts—it is certainly possible for Creed to take things higher in 2022.

So much has already been said about the new skills within the Chiefs’ wide receiver room, the competition among the running backs, and what all of that means for Patrick Mahomes’ continued growth and success. An alternate angle—not as regularly considered—on each of those developments is what they offer to this offensive line and the attention it will receive in 2022.

After the blunder that was Super Bowl 55, and the following offseason’s success at rebuilding the offensive line, the group moved up from a middle-of-the-pack ranking to a top-five unit in the league. That said, the likes of Humphrey, Orlando Brown, Trey Smith and Joe Thuney are already viewed under a microscope. Moreover, if the receivers and running backs are able to elevate Mahomes’ game back to MVP consideration in ‘22, equal—or even greater—kudos will befell the offensive line. With Creed in the middle of it all, another consistent, healthy, and aggression-filled campaign in his sophomore season would absolutely bring him into consideration for representing the league as the 1st team All-Pro center.

There is a long and grueling schedule fueled by the beefed up AFC West pass rushes between Creed Humphrey and that feat, but it is a realistic expectation to be seeing him in the national spotlight when the dust of the regular season settles.