5 Kansas City Chiefs roster battles fans need to watch this summer
By Jacob Milham
Left tackle
Primary participants: Wanya Morris, Kingsley Suamataia
There is no more impactful roster battle this summer than the one protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes' blind side. The Chiefs have two options on the roster for their starting left tackle: rookie Kingsley Suamataia and sophomore Wanya Morris. In my opinion, Kansas City should consider Donovan Smith as an additional option later this summer. Despite that, both Morris and Suamataia show potential.
Let's look at the rookie first. Kansas City traded up one spot to draft Suamataia out of BYU. He allowed just two sacks across the last two collegiate seasons but was viewed largely as a draft-and-develop tackle, rather than a Week 1 starter. However, Suamataia demonstrates the right mindset for either role, showcasing determination and a strong work ethic.
“[I] just come in and work every day. I’ve got to put my best forward and outwork the guy in front of me,” Suamataia said. “I definitely love all the guys that are here, coming in as a rookie trying to gain all the knowledge I can so I can learn the playbook the best, so I can potentially be out there and play next to them. It’s definitely a great opportunity for me, I’m super excited. I’m happy, [Head] coach [Andy Reid] can put that on me that I can play, I’m ready.”
If I had to pick a starting left tackle right now, it would be Morris. He stepped in nicely as a rookie last year, starting in four of his 14 games. Following Smith's injuries, Morris took on a more significant role, displaying a mix of performances that varied in their outcomes. In some games, Morris would look like a viable starting left tackle; other times, he would look like an overwhelmed rookie. No matter what, Veach said he was pleased with the process.
“I think we were really happy with Wanya’s development last year,” Veach said. “I think he showed some signs early on [in] the OTAs that we were really excited about, continue that growth and maturation process during the training camp. Then, middle of the season there, he got an opportunity, some good, some bad."
Looking ahead, the competition appears to be wide open as we head into the summer months. A lot is riding on who the Chiefs pick, but either player can win this job with good summer showings.