KC Chiefs offensive line tops ESPN’s rankings for 2022

If you’re a longtime football fan, you have heard the sayings “it starts up front” or “it starts in the trenches.” Following a tough showing in Super Bowl 55 due to several injuries across the board on the offensive line, the Kansas City Chiefs spent the entire 2021 offseason reconstructing the offensive line.

The Chiefs are tabbed with the best offensive line in the league going into the 2022 season by ESPN’s Seth Walder. Walder projected the league’s best and worst offensive lines, ranking all 32 teams and listing their ranking as pass-blocking and run-blocking units.

Walder projected the Chiefs’ offensive line to rank first in pass-blocking and fifth in run-blocking. For projected starters, from left to right, Walder has Orlando Brown Jr., Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Andrew Wylie.

After going through several changes with the offensive line last offseason, ESPN ranks the Chiefs’ offensive line the best going into 2022.

Kansas City’s biggest strength on the offensive line is the interior group with Humphrey at center and Thuney and Smith at the guard spots. Walder notes in the article that Humphrey was the best center in terms of pass block win rate while Thuney and Smith were first and second respectively in the same category.

Veach scored big last offseason when he signed Thuney, formerly of the New England Patriots, drafted Humphrey in the second round, and came away with a huge steal with Smith in the sixth round.

Brown was another offensive lineman acquired last year in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens. Brown spent the majority of his time in Baltimore at right tackle but spent all of 2021 at left tackle for the Chiefs. Brown played 1,337 snaps in 2021, the most by any offensive tackle in 2021, according to Pro Football Focus.

Brown has the talent, but consistency is the key. Although he was seeking a new deal and reportedly wanted to be the highest-paid tackle, the Chiefs did not grant him that type of deal. Seeking to improve, Brown did get in better shape this offseason as he hopes it translates to better success in 2022 and beyond.

The biggest question up front is at right tackle, where Wylie is expected to be the Week 1 starter. Lucas Niang was the starting right tackle to open the season last year, but is currently on the PUP. Following Lucas’ injury, Wylie started 10 games, including the playoffs, at right tackle. The Chiefs also have Darian Kinnard, who the team drafted in the fifth round.

General manager Brett Veach knew the offensive line needed to be fixed after Super Bowl 55. Now he has a unit that is projected to be the best going into 2022. If Kansas City’s offensive line does its job, there is no doubt that it will help Patrick Mahomes do his thing as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now.