Kansas City Chiefs’ Left Tackle Problem Is Real — But D.J. Humphries Isn’t the Answer

 The Kansas City Chiefs suddenly have a very uncomfortable question to answer heading into Week 1:

Who is going to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side?

With Josh Simmons battling a back injury and missing Thursday’s practice, the Chiefs could find themselves turning to Kahlil Benson at left tackle when Kansas City opens the 2026 season against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.

That uncertainty makes almost any veteran offensive tackle who becomes available worth discussing.

And that brings us to a familiar name: D.J. Humphries.

Matt Conner of Arrowhead Addict recently raised the issue after the Washington Commanders released Humphries, arguing that while Kansas City clearly needs some insurance at tackle, going back to Humphries would be the wrong move.

I agree.

I Understand Why Chiefs Fans Would Consider Humphries

On the surface, it makes sense.

Humphries is a former first-round pick. He has nearly 100 NFL starts under his belt. He made a Pro Bowl. Most importantly, he already knows the Kansas City Chiefs organization.

When you're staring at the possibility of an inexperienced tackle protecting Mahomes in the first game of the season, signing an experienced veteran sounds comforting.

But sometimes familiarity gives us a false sense of security.

The Chiefs already tried this.

Kansas City brought Humphries in during the 2024 season when the team was desperately searching for stability at left tackle. Instead of becoming the solution, Humphries lasted one start before suffering a hamstring injury that sidelined him. Since then, his career hasn't exactly experienced a resurgence. He appeared in eight games for the Los Angeles Rams last season but started only one. Washington signed him in late August and released him just a couple of weeks later.

That doesn't scream "solution."

It screams another temporary patch.

At Some Point, You Have to Find Out What You Have

This is where I think the Chiefs may be making the right decision, even if it makes Chiefs Kingdom nervous.

Kansas City's current offensive line group includes Josh Simmons, Kahlil Benson, Jaylon Moore, Diego Pounds, Kingsley Suamataia and one of the best interior combinations in football with Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith.

If Simmons can't go Monday night, Benson may get an enormous opportunity.

Is that risky?

Absolutely.

An undrafted young tackle potentially making a Week 1 start while protecting Patrick Mahomes against a division opponent on Monday Night Football isn't exactly the scenario any Chiefs fan would draw up.

But there comes a point where Kansas City has to determine whether Benson can actually play.

Training camp practices and preseason games can only tell you so much.

Eventually, the lights come on.

The Bigger Concern Is Patrick Mahomes

This situation also feels different because of what's happening behind the offensive line.

Mahomes is returning after suffering torn knee ligaments last December. He's participating fully in practice and appears ready to go for Week 1, but protecting him should be priority No. 1, No. 2 and probably No. 3 for this franchise.

That's exactly why I don't believe the Chiefs should sign a tackle simply because fans recognize his name.

If Brett Veach is going to add someone, that player needs to represent a legitimate upgrade.

That's the standard.

The question shouldn't be:

"Is D.J. Humphries experienced?"

Of course he is.

The question should be:

"Is D.J. Humphries better right now than Kahlil Benson, Jaylon Moore or the other options already on Kansas City's roster?"

Based on what we've seen over the last couple of seasons, I'm not convinced the answer is yes.

Don't Confuse Experience With Improvement

This is something NFL teams face all the time.

A recognizable veteran becomes available and immediately fans start connecting dots.

We've seen him play before.

We know his name.

He's played in big games.

He has experience.

Therefore, he must make the roster better.

Except that isn't necessarily true.

Humphries' résumé is impressive when looking at his entire career. But Kansas City wouldn't be signing the 2021 Pro Bowl version of D.J. Humphries.

They'd be signing the 2026 version.

That's an important distinction.

The Chiefs need to evaluate the player Humphries is today—not the player he was several years ago.

My Take

I'm definitely concerned about left tackle.

How could you not be?

Patrick Mahomes is coming back from a major knee injury, Josh Simmons has a back problem, and the Chiefs may have to trust an inexperienced Kahlil Benson against Denver in Week 1.

That's far from ideal.

But I also don't believe making a move simply for the sake of making a move helps anything.

If Brett Veach finds a veteran tackle who clearly improves this offensive line, absolutely go get him.

If a trade opportunity develops for a legitimate starting-caliber tackle, explore it.

But bringing back D.J. Humphries because he's available and familiar with Kansas City feels more like reacting to the problem than actually solving it.

And there's another possibility Chiefs fans should consider.

Maybe the Chiefs know something about Kahlil Benson that we don't yet.

Kansas City kept Benson on the 53-man roster for a reason. The coaching staff has watched every practice, every rep and every meeting. If Andy Reid, Andy Heck and the Chiefs' offensive staff believe Benson deserves an opportunity, I'm willing to see what the kid can do.

That doesn't mean Kansas City should stop looking for offensive tackle help.

They absolutely shouldn't.

It means the Chiefs should look for the right tackle—not simply the most familiar one available.

D.J. Humphries had his opportunity in Kansas City.

Right now, I'd rather see the Chiefs find out whether one of their young tackles can become part of the future than go back to a veteran who already showed us why he probably isn't.

What do you think, Chiefs Kingdom? Would you bring D.J. Humphries back as insurance, or would you trust Kahlil Benson and the tackles already on the roster?

This post is commentary inspired by reporting from Matt Conner of Arrowhead Addict. Kansas City Chiefs – My Take is an independent fan blog and is not affiliated with the Kansas City Chiefs or the NFL.

Andy Reid’s Left Tackle Gamble Is a Huge Risk With Patrick Mahomes Returning

 The Kansas City Chiefs haven't even played their first game of the 2026 season yet, and we may already have our first decision for Chiefs Kingdom to argue about.

With starting left tackle Josh Simmons dealing with a back issue and looking increasingly unlikely to play Monday night against the Denver Broncos, Andy Reid appears prepared to hand the job of protecting Patrick Mahomes' blind side to undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson. Reid has said the Chiefs are comfortable with Benson on the left side and that Kansas City intends to put its "five best guys" on the field.

On the surface, that's a great story.

Benson went from a rookie-camp tryout to making the Chiefs' 53-man roster in a matter of months. He started at right tackle for national champion Indiana last season and impressed Kansas City enough during training camp that he was seriously competing for a starting job. The Chiefs officially signed him only after he earned a contract during their rookie minicamp in May.

But there's a pretty big difference between being a great story and being the guy responsible for protecting Patrick Mahomes against Denver's pass rush.

And that's where I have some concerns.

The Arrowhead Addict article that sparked this discussion makes a compelling argument that Reid should reconsider the plan and move veteran Jaylon Moore to left tackle instead. Moore isn't an All-Pro, but he has something Benson doesn't have: actual NFL experience protecting the blind side.

More importantly, we've already seen him do it for Kansas City.

When Josh Simmons missed time last season, Moore made four starts at left tackle. The Chiefs went 3-1 in those games and averaged 27.5 points. Before arriving in Kansas City, Moore also started games at left tackle for San Francisco while filling in for Trent Williams.

Does that mean Moore is suddenly one of the NFL's premier tackles? Of course not.

But there is a massive difference between "not elite" and "never done this before."

Benson spent his college career primarily on the right side and inside. The Chiefs have been working him at left tackle since Simmons' injury, but putting him there for an NFL regular-season opener—against Denver, no less—is an entirely different test.

Normally, maybe I'd be more willing to roll the dice.

This isn't a normal situation.

Patrick Mahomes is coming back from ACL and LCL injuries.

Reid says Mahomes is likely to start Monday night after a remarkable nine-month recovery, meaning the Chiefs are putting their franchise quarterback back on the field for the first time since the knee injury that ended his 2025 season.

That alone should change the calculation.

I don't want Mahomes spending his first game back wondering whether pressure is coming from his blind side. I don't want him unnecessarily scrambling because a young tackle misses an assignment. And I definitely don't want to see Kansas City put its most important player in additional danger simply because the coaching staff wants to see whether an undrafted rookie can handle the assignment.

There is a time for development.

Week 1 against Denver with Mahomes returning from major knee surgery isn't when I'd choose to experiment.

Now, there is another side to this.

Andy Reid, offensive line coach Andy Heck and the rest of Kansas City's staff have watched Benson every day. We've seen only a small fraction of his snaps. They've seen hundreds.

Reid's confidence isn't based on a highlight clip or a preseason scouting report. If he's willing to put Benson at left tackle, there's obviously something the coaching staff believes he can handle.

There's also something to be said for continuity. Rather than moving Moore from the right side and rearranging the offensive line again, Kansas City has spent time preparing Benson specifically to fill Simmons' spot. Reid clearly believes Benson belongs among the Chiefs' best five linemen right now.

And Reid has earned a little benefit of the doubt over the years.

Okay—a lot.

But even Hall of Fame coaches can make decisions worth questioning.

For me, this comes down to risk versus reward.

What's the upside of starting Benson at left tackle?

If he performs well, Kansas City may have discovered another long-term offensive-line piece. That's fantastic.

But what's the downside?

An inexperienced rookie could struggle against a dangerous Denver front while protecting a quarterback playing his first meaningful football since suffering a major knee injury.

Those two outcomes don't carry equal weight.

I'd rather be conservative.

Put Jaylon Moore at left tackle. Put Benson on the right side, where he has considerably more experience. Give Mahomes the veteran protecting his blind side. Help the tackles with Noah Gray or Travis Kelce when necessary. Use the running backs to chip edge rushers. Get the ball out quickly early in the game.

Do whatever it takes to let Mahomes settle back into football without spending Monday night running for his life.

Maybe Benson goes out there and makes all of us questioning the move look ridiculous.

I would be perfectly happy with that.

In fact, I hope that's exactly what happens.

But considering what happened to Mahomes last season—and considering how important this season is for a Chiefs team trying to get back to the postseason—I don't think this is the moment to prove how much faith you have in an undrafted rookie.

Sometimes the boring decision is the right decision.

And in Week 1, protecting Patrick Mahomes should matter a whole lot more than making a great underdog story even better.

What do you think, Chiefs Kingdom? Would you trust Kahlil Benson at left tackle against Denver, or move Jaylon Moore back to the blind side?

Sources: The original discussion comes from Owen Smith's Sept. 10 Arrowhead Addict article arguing that Kansas City should reconsider its left-tackle plan. Reid's comments about Benson, Simmons and the "five best guys" have also been reported by NBC Sports and other Chiefs reporters.

The Chiefs’ Biggest Week 1 Question Isn’t Mahomes—it’s Who Protects Him

 Patrick Mahomes’ return will dominate the headlines before the Kansas City Chiefs open the season against Denver. The more important football question may be happening a few feet in front of him.

Who will protect him—and how quickly can that group become dependable?

Kansas City’s late-preseason activity made it clear that general manager Brett Veach was not satisfied with simply hoping the offensive line would sort itself out. The Chiefs traded a 2028 sixth-round pick to Baltimore for rookie tackle Diego Pounds. They also acquired offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu from the New York Giants for a seventh-round selection, according to the Associated Press.

Those are not blockbuster moves. They are practical ones, and they reveal something important: the Chiefs understand that depth at tackle is not a luxury when their franchise quarterback is returning from major knee surgery.

The situation became more urgent as left tackle Josh Simmons dealt with a lingering back injury. Guard Trey Smith has also been managing a hip issue. Injuries are part of every NFL season, but the timing matters here. A healthy and settled line would already face pressure protecting Mahomes in his first game back. An unsettled group has to solve communication, chemistry and personnel questions at the same time.

Pounds is the most intriguing addition. At 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, he brings the frame teams want at offensive tackle. He started 24 games during two seasons at Ole Miss and surrendered only two sacks over that span, according to the Chiefs’ official report on the trade. After going undrafted, he signed with Baltimore and did not allow a pressure across 26 preseason pass-blocking snaps at left tackle.

That is a small NFL sample, so expectations should remain realistic. Still, Pounds gives Kansas City something valuable: a developmental tackle who has recent experience protecting the blind side and who performed well enough in August to justify spending future draft capital.

His challenge is time. Offensive-line play depends on five players processing the same picture together. A talented tackle can still create problems if he misidentifies a pressure, uses the wrong protection call or expects help that never comes. Andy Reid acknowledged that the newcomers must adjust to everything from snap counts and play calls to the Chiefs’ pass-protection system.

That learning curve may shape Kansas City’s early offensive strategy. If Simmons cannot start—or is not ready for a full workload—the Chiefs can protect the tackle position in several ways. Reid can use tight ends to chip edge rushers, move the pocket, call quick-game concepts and lean on the running game. He can also use formations that make the defense declare its intentions before the snap.

But every extra blocker comes with a cost. Keeping a tight end or running back in protection means one fewer eligible receiver attacking the secondary. Sliding protection toward one edge can expose another matchup. Quick throws can reduce hits, but defenses will sit on short routes if the Chiefs never threaten them vertically.

That is why the answer cannot be a permanent shelter built around Mahomes. At some point, the offensive line must win enough one-on-one blocks to let Kansas City use its entire playbook.

The interior of the line still offers a strong foundation. Creed Humphrey remains the organizer in the middle, and Trey Smith is one of the offense’s tone-setters when healthy. Their experience should help stabilize whichever combination the Chiefs choose at tackle. Kingsley Suamataia, Jaylon Moore, Kahlil Benson, Ezeudu and Pounds give the coaching staff options, but Week 1 will reveal which options Reid truly trusts.

There is another reason to watch this group closely: Kansas City’s offense cannot afford to live in third-and-long. Denver will want to make Mahomes hold the ball and test whether he is comfortable moving inside a crowded pocket. Negative runs, penalties and missed assignments would allow the Broncos to attack rather than react.

The Chiefs can counter by making the line’s job predictable. Productive early-down runs create play-action opportunities. Screens can punish aggressive rushers. Motion can reveal coverage and help Mahomes get the ball out faster. None of those tools eliminates the need to block, but they can prevent the defense from dictating every snap.

Fans will naturally watch Mahomes’ knee every time he scrambles. The better indicator of Kansas City’s readiness may be whether he needs to scramble at all.

If the offensive line gives him clean throwing lanes and keeps the pocket from collapsing immediately, the Chiefs can let their quarterback ease back into live action. If protection breaks down repeatedly, the entire comeback becomes more complicated.

Veach’s late trades were a recognition of that reality. Diego Pounds does not need to become an instant star, and Joshua Ezeudu does not need to solve every position. They need to give Reid credible choices while the line gets healthy and settles into place.

Mahomes may be the story of Week 1. The men protecting him could decide how that story ends.

Sources: Chiefs.com: Kansas City acquires Diego Pounds; Associated Press: Mahomes and Kansas City’s offensive-line questions; Chiefs.com: Initial 53-man roster

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