D.J. Humphries had an odd year in 2024.
After being drafted in the first round back in 2015 for the Arizona Cardinals, Humphries knew nothing but the very task he'd been drafted for over the next eight years. While the quarterbacks he'd protected had come and gone over the years in Arizona, Humphries had turned into a stalwart blindside protector for 98 games over those eight seasons—until an ACL tear forced the Cards to move on.
The 2024 season saw Humphries without a home for the first time in his NFL career. Rest and rehabilitation were the name of the game for the veteran tackle most of '24, but finally, near the end of the NFL's regular season, he was deemed healthy enough to return to the field. While multiple teams were interested, the Chiefs landed Humphries on a one-year deal worth up to $2 million.
What will 2025 hold for Humphries? Will there be any more continuity? Will he find his third NFL team? Free agency holds several possibilities for Humphries this spring.
Chiefs free agent profile: D.J. Humphries, OT
What did the Chiefs expect from D.J. Humphries?
After watching Kingsley Suamataia benched in Week 2 and Wanya Morris offer up serviceable play at the left tackle role in his stead, the Chiefs were looking for a potential upgrade heading into the postseason at left tackle. Humphries was a roll of the dice as an import coming off a major injury that also needed to learn the system. Still, the hope was that his body of experience would provide a higher floor at the position next to one of the league's best offensive interiors.
How did Humphries' season turn out?
Shortly after signing with the Chiefs, Humphries began to take on new health problems—most likely related to his attempt to come back mid-season as a street free agent. A hamstring issue hamstrung the team's plans to install him before season's end, and it was hard to watch Humphries leave his first start with another injury.
Going forward, Humphries would return to practice for the Chiefs in the postseason, but the Chiefs had already moved Joe Thuney from left guard to occupy the role, and he'd go on to hold it down through Super Bowl 59. While Thuney performed admirably as a fill-in, the shocking loss to the Eagles in the season's final game was a wake-up call for the team to focus on long-term answers at the position.
Predicting D.J. Humphries market in free agency
Humphries is an interesting candidate at this point because he's now more than one year removed from the torn ACL. With a full offseason to potentially sign with a team and work out with them leading up to training camp and a new year, Humphries might be ready to return to form and provide a steady veteran presence.
That said, Humphries has been saddled with significant injuries in the past. In 2018, a knee injury placed him on injured reserve with the Cardinals, and the same happened again with a back concern in 2022. The ACL injury isn't going to make anything easier, given that Humphries is now 31 years old.
But the free agent market is barren at tackle. There are "better" options here—including Ronnie Stanley and Cam Robinson—but the choices are limited and no one is risk-free. That means Humphries should have no problem finding some team willing to roll the dice. Of course, any franchise making such a move will need to counter it with other options, but at least the body of work suggests that a solid floor at the position is possible.
Given that Humphries has stated a desire to return to Kansas City and give it a real chance instead of a late-year audition, along with the team's obvious need and initial interest in Humphries in the first place. it makes sense to keep the veteran around for another campaign on a low-risk deal with incentives to provide some competition at offensive tackle.
Prediction: D.J. Humphries returns to the Chiefs on the same terms he signed late in the season: a one-year, $1.5M guaranteed contract worth up to $4M in incentives.
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