When Kahlil Benson turned his full attention to the National Football League and closed the chapter on his playing days with the Indiana Hoosiers, the young offensive tackle had no way of knowing the ride would be such a roller coaster. But the latest plot twist is a tremendous achievement for a guy who sat and watched the entire 2026 draft play out without hearing his phone ring.
The NFL announced the winners for each conference's rookie of the month award, and Benson was honored in the AFC on offense along with Tennessee Titans linebacker Anthony Hill on defense. Benson's 7 pressures allowed on 108 pass-blocking snaps is the third-lowest total in the NFL through three games, per Next Gen Stats. According to Chiefs team reporter Matt McMullen, Benson is the first Chiefs rookie to earn the honor on the offensive side since running back Kareem Hunt back in 2017.
Kahlil Benson's unlikely path to the Chiefs keeps getting better
That Benson could earn such an award at all is a major surprise for a player who only joined the Chiefs after a tryout at rookie minicamp went better than expected. The Chiefs shifted the offseason roster around to make room for the tackle after coaches liked what they saw over a weekend. From there, Benson continued to turn heads during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, and the Chiefs traded away Wanya Morris because of the abundance at the position.
By the time Chiefs players were summoned to St. Joseph for training camp, Benson was looking like the favorite at right tackle, besting Jaylon Moore for the job that was assumedly his. Then Josh Simmons surfaced on the injury report with a back ailment and, just like that, the Chiefs slotted Benson in at left tackle in practices before Week 1. Despite having never started a game at left tackle in college, Benson was the team's starter for the first three games of the season.
Benson's performance hasn't been perfect—in fact, he's coming off his roughest outing in Week 3, where Miami Dolphins pass rushers got the best of him multiple times—but he's done a very admirable job while learning in real time. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense rank No. 2 in the NFL in total yardage, so Benson is doing something right, as Kenneth Walker also leads the league in rushing yards.
Benson's future could bring yet another change up front
While expected to hold down the left side for another week as Simmons continues to heal, it's possible that the Chiefs shift Benson to the right side after the bye. It's also possible he takes a step back to a swing tackle role if the Chiefs like Moore's performance at right tackle. Diego Pounds is new to the roster, a waiver claim from the Baltimore Ravens in late August, so it's hard to tell where he'll factor into the equation, too.
No one knows what the future holds for Benson and the makeup of K.C.'s offensive front. But Benson's been on a wild ride thus far, so taking things in stride has gotten him this far. That'll serve him well as he continues to go places no one would have pictured just a few months ago.
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