There's a lot riding on things for the Kansas City Chiefs and Kingsley Suamataia in 2025.
The Chiefs have all but crowned Suamataia, their second-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, as the new starter at left guard. The move is an interesting one that gives Suamataia a blank slate of sorts and his best chance to make an impact. It's also a do-or-die sort of moment so quickly in the career of a player who was known as a project all along.
That means a lot is riding on how the Suamataia experiment turns out for all parties involved.
There's a lot riding on Suamataia's shift to left guard for all parties involved.
Brett Veach and the rest of the Chiefs' front office have earned loads of credibility for constructing a roster capable of winning consecutive championships. However, no team is perfect, and the inability of the team to solve their issues at left tackle have been an albatross hanging on the neck of the team's general manager. Jaylon Moore is the latest roll of the dice and Veach and company can only hope things finally work out.
But the Chiefs only pursued Moore in the first place because Suamataia didn't work out as expected at left tackle in his rookie season. And instead of giving him the chance to come into his second season as a competitor there, the team quickly pivoted to a move inside to guard and went with Moore.
Giving up on Suamataia outside speaks for itself, but if things can't work along the interior, then it will also reflect poorly on the team's subsequent moves. The Chiefs traded Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears for a 2026 fourth-round pick, which removed a perennial All-Pro from the mix. On a line that was already seeking tackle help, if the Chiefs created another hole at guard could turn disastrous.
If Suamataia doesn't work out, it also brings Andy Heck's coaching into question as well. Yes, the Chiefs boast Pro Bowl competitors like Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith inside, but those guys were always going to reach a nice ceiling at the pro level. Jawaan Taylor's ongoing issues and the inability to draft and develop another tackle (e.g. Lucas Niang, Wanya Morris, Darian Kinnard) has drawn the ire of some fans.
Mroe than anything, Suamataia himself is the one in the crosshairs with this attempt to slide into Thuney's old role. While it would reflect on the front office and the coaching staff, the truth is that no one has more to gain or lose than Suamataia. If the second-year lineman can find his footing even as an average starter at left guard, the team can breathe a sigh of relief knowing he can develop further as he gains experience.
However, if Suamataia can't get things worked out at guard, the Chiefs could be looking at another stretch with Mike Caliendo or Hunter Nourzad or someone similar. And at that point, things could look dire on the left side overall, depending on how Jaylon Moore works out. Given the loss of Thuney, the criticism could get overwhelming if Mahomes is running for his life in 2025.
Here's hoping Suamataia finds the change of scenery refreshing and that the Chiefs can rest easy knowing a new long-term soluton is in place at left guard.
