KC Chiefs should prioritize playing time for Lucas Niang

The Kansas City Chiefs would clarify things for themselves in the offseason if they would prioritize playing time for Lucas Niang in the present.

Right at the present time, it’s hard to say just how the Kansas City Chiefs might proceed when it comes to the tackle position going forward, at least on the offensive side. While questions are likely to persist at both bookends, the Chiefs could at least clarify what they have in-house by giving some starting reps down the stretch to Lucas Niang.

Heading into this season, the primary question when it came to left tackle was only supposed to be about how much to pay Orlando Brown Jr. General manager Brett Veach traded a first-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens to secure his services, and both sides pushed and pulled over a multi-year extension that never worked out, forcing Brown to play in ’22 on the franchise tag.\ What no one saw coming was a year marked by questionable play that created further questions about Brown’s long-term fit and ultimate worth.

There were, however, questions on the other side coming into the season where the Chiefs were hoping that Niang might ultimately provide a long-term answer when he was first drafted. Unfortunately, Niang also spent all offseason rehabbing a patellar injury that occurred late last year.

This is where the versatile Andrew Wylie has filled in admirably. While it’s easy to praise Wylie for what he brings to the table, the Chiefs are also paying him like a player with a lower ceiling. Wylie is not the kind of player you project for a starting role, especially as a contender, and his inexpensive one-year deal reflects that.

At this point, anything feels possible when it comes to the Chiefs’ potential moves at offensive tackle. Brown could be back next year on another franchise tag. It’s also possible a long-term deal is worked out for less than what both sides originally planned. Then again, it’s entirely possible the Chiefs end the experiment and look to completely reset things—akin to shaking an Etch-A-Sketch.

At right tackle, the same thing could happen. If Niang’s injury keeps him from returning to form, it looks like the Chiefs will need to make further investments. They have Wylie, Niang, and perhaps Darian Kinnard, who was a fifth-round pick this year, but the variables here include both the ceiling and the floor.

Here’s where the Chiefs need to give Niang some reps. The Chiefs welcomed back Niang to the active roster after bringing him off of injured reserve in November. Niang is now healthy and ready to play at least in terms of injury report designations, yet he remains on the bench for every game since his return.

While the Chiefs are playing some lower-tier teams in Weeks 14 and 15 (the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans), the Chiefs should see what Niang can bring to the table. When it comes to actual game reps, no one can know either his ceiling or his floor, which means the Chiefs need to still figure out how much Niang could help them—or hurt them. It’s nice to see some things in practice, but the Chiefs should see how he handles the fire of real competition.

It’s important for the future of the Chiefs to know if Niang is going to factor into an important role going forward. They have a golden opportunity to shake up the lineup in exchange for potential dividends in both the short-term and the long-term. Even if it’s not good news in the interim, they can use that information to clarify the offseason road ahead.