Kingsley Suamataia is the ideal example.
As the Kansas City Chiefs look ahead to their final two games in a meaningless season—a short week before facing the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day and then a season-ending showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18—the focus for everyone outside of Arrowhead Stadium is on 2026. This year is a lost cause, and fans are keen to look ahead to how a new season can bring new hope.
Part of maintaining a future focus in the present means wanting to see those players who could factor into the team's plans in 2026. Andy Reid, on the other hand, seems intent on finishing the season as strong as possible and honoring those players who've earned their spot on the depth chart instead of benching them for the sake of player development.
Every decision is many-layered, and anyone who wants to reduce these subjects to "right" or "wrong" is missing the point. Nuance is needed, of course, but it's frustrating that the Chiefs are shooting themselves so directly in the foot by not giving more snaps to some prospects who should be front-and-center already.
This is where Suamataia's example comes as a handy reminder. Just one year ago, the former second-round pick was given a second chance in his rookie season. After flaming out as the team's starting left tackle after just two weeks, Suamataia was benched for the rest of his rookie campaign—until, that is, it was time to play all the backups in an afterthought of a Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos.
Recent history shows how a meaningless game can shape the Chiefs' future roster, which makes their refusal to give young players real snaps in a lost season all the more baffling.
The Chiefs didn't care one iota about that game, choosing instead to rest their starters ahead of another postseason run. But one of the few takeaways from that final regular-season tilt was how good Suamataia looked when shifted inside to a new position at left guard.
Suamataia only played a single game at the position, but the Chiefs were betting on him from the jump of the offseason. Several weeks later, general manager Brett Veach had traded away an offensive pillar in Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears. By the time the regular season rolled around, the Chiefs hadn't made a single other move to provide competition. Other than the presence of Mike Caliendo, Suamataia had the job handed to him.
Chiefs coaches had the intuition that he could succeed inside, which is why Suamataia lined up there in Week 18. But that game was the necessary proof that he could look the part in live action. Despite the lopsided score of a 38-0 drubbing at the hands of the Broncos, the Chiefs walked away smiling when thinking about the future of their offensive interior.
All of this is important to remember because the Chiefs are in a prime position to evaluate the full roster through this lens with two games to go. They would have had three, but they inexplicably left a few prospects on the shelf against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. A backfield that's already served as an offensive anchor still trotted out Isiah Pacheco instead of Brashard Smith. Jalen Royals was never targeted, even with Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton in concussion protocol. Linebacker Jeffrey Bassa was still relegated to special teams duty alone.
Watching recently drafted prospects wither on the vine with only the future to play for is maddening. It's also limiting. Suamataia is thriving in a new role and is penciled in as a long-term starter between Josh Simmons and Creed Humphrey. That's, in part, due to his Week 18 opportunity to play real reps. The Chiefs should be clamoring to give the same to some young players who could play clear roles in 2026.