Donovan Smith or bust? Chiefs' blindside choices are difficult to predict

Since joining Arrowhead Addict, I've spent two of my three stories complaining about Super Bowl LV. If you have heard me on the radio before, you'll know that Mike Remmers is atop my list of "Never Play for the Chiefs Again" list. Andrew Wylie and Daniel Sorensen (post-2020) reside there as well.

A team is only as good as its offensive line. The group has the most men on the field at one time, weighing the most, to primarily protect just one other player. I am an offensive lineman. The present tense is necessary because one doesn't simply stop being an offensive lineman like one doesn't stop being left-handed.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is an offensive lineman—as if the jolly mustache and admiration of cheeseburgers weren’t enough proof. He and Chiefs general manager Brett Veach clearly understand the importance of a great offensive line, as exhibited by the signing of Joe Thuney and the drafting Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith after Super Bowl LV.

That Super Bowl sticks in my craw for more reasons than one, but the most obvious one was the discrepancy in the game's offensive line play. While running for his life and literally throwing the ball sideways, Patrick Mahomes could not overcome the season-ending injuries to Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On the other hand, Bucs quarterback Tom Brady wrote books and sipped tea in the pocket due in part to the presence of left tackle Donovan Smith.

Smith, a 2015 second-rounder out of Penn State, carved out a role as the Bucs' starter at left tackle well before the GOAT's arrival but became famous for protecting Tommy Boy. He is one of the few true big maulers left in the NFL. The listed frame of 6'6", 338 pounds may be generous to the offensive lineman.

So will the Chiefs move on Donovan Smith?

Donovan Smith is a free agent. He hasn't played football since he did so for the Chiefs in February in Las Vegas.

I am still a believer in Kingsley Suamataia. He was born the same year that LeBron was drafted. High school grades rarely translate to the pros, but the guy was a five-star prospect. Andy Reid seems to agree with me if his press conference is any indication of his feelings about his fellow Cougar. However, his play is nowhere near where it needs to be to protect the blind side of Mahomes en route to a three-peat.

This doesn't automatically make me a strong Wanya Morris believer. After his rookie season where he played in six games, Brett Veach still decided to use one of his first two picks in the 2024 draft to find a player to play the same position. Morris has been decent in 2024, but his right knee is haunting him. The bone bruise has been there since training camp and has yet to fully relent. Potentially, the injury is part of the problem, but even then, his play is not sufficient.

In the midst of Suamataia's struggles replacing the injured Morris, Smith replied with a GIF starring the comedian Roy Wood Jr. to former Chiefs lineman Jeff Allen's inquisition for his help. Smith seems like a player who is content with retirement unless another opportunity for a championship presents itself. The Chiefs barely have any money but it could be enough to get Smith off the couch and immediately improve the weakest part of this offense.

Brett Veach already made a couple of trades for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and pass rusher Joshua Uche this season. Typically, Veach's conservatism annoys yet protects Chiefs Kingdom. If he holds strong and trusts the old offensive lineman in Andy Reid (along with Andy Heck) to coach this group up, it would not be surprising.