Should Chiefs leave room for Lucas Niang to compete?

If the Chiefs are leaving right tackle open at this stage, should they allow Lucas Niang to be the frontrunner there?

The first move by the Kansas City Chiefs coming into the start of a new league year was to commit serious money to a new offensive tackle. For the majority of fans, that was exactly the move they were hoping for, even if they didn’t know the specifics would involve Jawaan Taylor.

While Taylor is a most welcome addition to the Chiefs roster, one that was getting ready to watch both Andrew Wylie and Orlando Brown Jr. hit free agency, there are still questions around the offensive tackle positions at present. Taylor has only ever been a right tackle in college and the pros for any length of time, so will he really be able to take over on the left side? If not, who would man Patrick Mahomes’ blind side? If so, what will the team do on the right side?

Wylie has already signed a three-year deal with the Washington Commanders, so there’s no reunion possible at this stage. The Chiefs will have a new right tackle next season either way.

If we take analysts at their word that the Chiefs are really going to use Taylor as their left tackle, then that leaves things open on the right side for now. They could always sign a free agent or use a draft pick to fill the role with a likely starter. But what if the Chiefs already had some answers in house?

Remember that Lucas Niang is a former third-round draft pick who still has two full seasons left on his cost-controlled rookie deal. He was an instant starter on the right side—his rookie season after opting out of 2020—for the Chiefs to start the ’21 season before injury robbed him of his role with a hamstring issue. He came back but had rib concerns and then was also placed on the COVID list that same year.

In short, Niang started 9 games across 4 stints in 2021—each time reclaiming his role only to then succumb to another injury or illness—before finally suffering a season-ending patellar injury that robbed him of his sophomore season as well.

That level of injury can be difficult to come back from, but Niang is also young and has rehabbed for a long time now. By the time the 2023 regular season rolls around, Niang should be back to full health and ready to reclaim his role as the team’s right tackle—that is, if the Chiefs will leave a door open for him.

No one would argue that Niang should be handed anything, but it’s also possible the Chiefs could put too much in his way and ruin an asset they have. If the Chiefs spend big on another tackle and Niang is actually healthy and ready to go, then they go from needy to plenty, and those resources could have been used in a different way.

For those who want competition for Niang, don’t forget that Darian Kinnard is on the roster along with Prince Tega Wanogho and it’d be easy for the Chiefs to add another vet or draft pick to the mix to compete without going over the top with a big-ticket investment. Then again, maybe that is exactly what Brett Veach should do to eliminate any questions along the line before they can be asked.