KC Chiefs: Offensive line overview for training camp
By Grant Tuttle
Training Camp is almost here! We continue our series over the familiar and new faces at Chiefs training camp in Saint Joseph. Today we discuss the o-line.
The Kansas City Chiefs revamped the entire offensive line last season. With another offseason of work together, the offensive line should be a more cohesive and talented group than a season ago. Kansas City has done a nice job adding depth pieces and developing young players on the offensive line.
Outside of the fluid situation between the Chiefs and Orlando Brown Jr., the offensive line’s starters are almost set. Who are they and who are the depth pieces that we will see throughout the preseason?
Here are your 2022-2023 Kansas City Chiefs offensive linemen.
#57 OT Orlando Brown Jr.
College: Oklahoma
Years Pro: 5 (26 years old)
Chance of Making the Roster: Near Lock
Oh, the drama. Orlando Brown Jr. had a nice season last year and the expectation was that he would be signing a long-term deal with Kansas City this offseason. After a series of twists and turns including signing an agent late in the game that had never negotiated an NFL contract, Brown ultimately turned down a lucrative offer from the Chiefs. Now, the Chiefs find themselves in a “will he or won’t he” situation in terms of training camp attendance. The expectation is that Brown will resume his role at left tackle and play the season on the franchise tag.
#67 OT Lucas Niang
College: TCU
Years Pro: 2 (23 years old)
Chance of Making the Roster: Near Lock
By all accounts, the right tackle job is up for grabs. The primary holder of this job should be Lucas Niang, but there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding his health. In week 17 of last season, Niang tore his patellar tendon against the Cincinnati Bengals. If he can live up to his potential, he would make a very good right tackle for the Chiefs. Keep a close eye on where he starts training camp. It seems likely that he will begin on the PUP list.
#62 G Joe Thuney
College: North Carolina State
Years Pro: 7 (29 years old)
Chance of Making the Roster: Lock
Joe Thuney is ready to start his second year with the Chiefs. With some uncertainty looming about Orlando Brown, Joe Thuney’s versatility has become even more crucial to Kansas City’s offensive success. Thuney could, in a pinch, play a tackle spot. With that in mind, he is truly one of the NFL’s best interior linemen. It would be a shame to see him fill in any other role other than his own. It will certainly be interesting to see if he takes any snaps in training camp at a bookend position.