The Kansas City Chiefs shocked the NFL on Wednesday with the news that they would be trading away Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears—a shocking move that forces the Chiefs to get younger up front but it also creates further question marks on a line that already had serious concerns.
Now it appears the Chiefs are preparing to fill the void created by Thuney's departure with an internal option: second-year lineman Kingsley Suamataia. According to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs are leaning on Suamataia as a primary candidate to replace Thuney up front.
The Chiefs selected Suamataia last season as a potential high-ceiling left tackle prospect out of Brigham Young. He was praised for his athleticism and stature, and as a freshman, he even earned the chance to start during Week 1 for the Chiefs after taking all first-team reps in OTAs, training camp, and preseason games.
However, the starting stint at left tackle was short-lived for Suamataia after he received the hook during a struggle against the Cincinnati Bengals—thanks, Trey Hendrickson—in Week 2. That performance followed another poor opener in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, and just like that, Wanya Morris was inserted at the position.
It's interesting that Suamataia is being mentioned as a potential replacement for Thuney up front, because Thuney was the one who eventually replaced him (and others) at left tackle down the stretch in an admirable shift from left guard.
The Chiefs began to discuss Suamataia as a potential play along the offensive interior earlier this offseason, but at the time, it sounded like he could serve as Thuney's understudy to learn the position for a year or as Trey Smith's replacement on the right side. After the Chiefs tagged Smith, it felt like Suamataia would be given another "redshirt" season, so to speak, behind the starters up front with perhaps a chance to compete at left tackle in year two. Now that plan has been clarified.
