The Kansas City Chiefs could have an offensive tackle problem again this season. During the Chiefs' tumultuous 2025 season, many fans wrote off their poor offensive tackle play as a result of some bad injury luck. When draft "experts" suggested they consider an offensive tackle in the first round, many fans laughed at such an absurd suggestion. After all, the Chiefs had already invested enough in the offensive line, and they would be just fine once Josh Simmons was healthy again and Jawaan Taylor was drawing flags for some other team.
Fast-forward to the week leading up to KC's final preseason game, and that confidence in the offensive tackle position is being put to a serious test. Josh Simmons, who had both of his last two seasons cut short by injuries, has now missed some time with a back injury that is unrelated to the injuries of the previous two seasons. Simmons has shown incredible upside as a player, but between injuries and time away from the team for personal reasons, he still has to prove he can be relied upon week in and week out.
The Chiefs' tackle plan has already begun to unravel
With the departure of Jawaan Taylor this offseason, the Chiefs were poised to have Jaylon Moore and Esa Pole compete for the starting right tackle spot. Neither Moore nor Pole was highly effective during his playing time last season, but the general belief was that one of them would step up enough to warrant the right tackle job. However, before camp even started, undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson basically stole Esa Pole's spot in that competition.
Kahlil Benson has been impressive for an undrafted rookie being thrust into the starting rotation of a team that claims it wants to get back to winning Super Bowls this year. Benson's fellow offensive linemen have been very complimentary of him from day one, and there is certainly reason for Chiefs fans to be hopeful that Benson can develop into a quality player. Having said that, he isn't a polished starter yet, and the fact that an unpolished, undrafted rookie has a real shot to start for KC probably says more about the state of KC's tackle room than it does about Benson.
Kahlil Benson brings promise and immediate risk
If you haven't watched former Chief Mitchell Schwartz's breakdown of Benson's play from preseason Week 2, it's definitely worth a watch. It's encouraging for KC fans because he points out Benson's strengths and explains how some of his worst reps are very fixable or due to bad timing or communication with the quarterback, Justin Fields. It left me feeling optimistic about Benson's long-term potential, but fixable issues are still issues. If Benson were getting a redshirt year to be coached up like most undrafted rookies would, maybe those issues would be fixed by the time he had to protect the best quarterback in football. Instead, he's starting KC's final preseason game at his third different position in three games.
So, there is a nonzero chance that if Josh Simmons' back injury keeps him out for Week 1, Patrick Mahomes' blindside could be protected by an undrafted rookie who played only right tackle in college. It doesn't matter how promising Benson is; that's a problem. It's also a problem that the player they paid $30 million to be their swing tackle last season, Jaylon Moore, can't beat out that undrafted rookie.
The Chiefs are running short on reliable alternatives
The Chiefs also made a trade this week for Joshua Ezeudu from the New York Giants. Ezeudu is widely considered a better NFL guard than tackle but was forced to play more at left tackle in New York because of injuries along the Giants' line. While Ezeudu would ideally replace Mike Caliendo as the first guard off the bench, he could get a look outside as well if KC's tackles continue to struggle.
The Chiefs don't need All-Pro-level tackles when the regular season starts, but they do need the offensive tackle position not to be a problem. Kansas City's all-world quarterback is coming off the most significant injury of his football career, and the last thing he needs is to have no faith in his outside protection. We saw what happened a couple of seasons ago when he lost faith in both Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris, whom the Chiefs tried at left tackle that year. Eventually, K.C. had to move career guard Joe Thuney outside just so Mahomes was comfortable enough to play in the pocket.
If Josh Simmons' back injury isn't a big deal, the Chiefs only have to shore up one tackle spot, but if Simmons misses any time, they could be looking at two unreliable starters on the outside. That simply isn't how you rebuild a struggling offense. No position is more important going into KC's final preseason game. The Chiefs desperately need Kahlil Benson and/or Jaylon Moore to at least show they can be mediocre starters. If they both look worse than mediocre against the defending Super Bowl champions this Friday, it could be a sign that the Chiefs' offensive line is going to be a major issue this season and that maybe KC should have invested more in the tackle position this offseason after all.
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