Training camp commences before we know it. As a result, roster construction gains a greater focus. Following the draft and lingering signings, teams are beginning to stack up their most pressing position battles. For others, fringe roster players are hoping to make one last push to prove they should stick around.
There is one Kansas City Chiefs player that falls under that last point. Simply put, should offensive lineman Wanya Morris stick around for yet another season?
Morris has started 16 games in his three seasons. A bulk of those came in 2024 when Kansas City shuffled through multiple left tackles. But with no real growth as a depth player, does Morris enter training camp as an easy cut candidate? It appears so if you start building final roster projections.
Lack of growth has hurt a blocker with multiple weaknesses
Morris has been given a small sample size in the NFL. But when called upon, he struggled mightily with pass protection. So much so that when he filled in during the aforementioned 2024 campaign, Patrick Mahomes visibly screamed to the sideline, insinuating to get Morris off the field after he allowed another sack.
Run blocking has actually been fine for Morris in the league. It is not a dominant road grading that he puts on display. However, the blocker can lean on his wider frame to open up lanes. Mainly, Morris' issues stem back to struggles with balance from time to time, as well as wrongly placed hands on blocks. He lacks a sort of true athleticism that others on the Kansas City offensive line possess.
Morris sticking around with the Chiefs for the regular season comes as a surprise entering training camp. He is now on the final year of his rookie deal. The more training camp battles he endures, the higher the chances are that younger pieces will enter with a leg up on him.
Outside factors pushing Morris' chances to the brink
Even if you have to see more sustainable availability for Josh Simmons and Jaylon Moore, Esa Pole has become a nice find as a depth swing tackle option. Ethan Driskell is another intriguing name with a large frame that the Chiefs have protected and stashed away from other teams in the past.
Quite frankly, Morris' best moment with the Chiefs was not even at his regular position. A fluky, fun play is what the team can hang their hat on with his tenure. It was a highlight reel moment inside of a key victory. But ideally, that clip is obviously not going to be enough to help his chances entering training camp.
It is not going to drastically hurt Kansas City to move on and find more suitable offensive tackle depth entering camp or after final roster cuts.
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