The Chiefs have spent the first half of the season getting more than they bargained for at left tackle, and that’s a good thing.
With Kansas City sitting at 6-2, Kahlil Benson has become one of the quieter success stories on the roster. The undrafted rookie free agent out of Indiana was thrust into the left tackle spot, and instead of looking overwhelmed, he has steadily pushed himself into the conversation as the team’s left tackle of the future.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN noticed, too. He named Benson his offensive rookie of the year for the first half of the season, a nod to how well the rookie has handled one of the league’s toughest jobs.
The Chiefs had other options. Barnwell pointed out that Kansas City could have shifted Jaylon Moore to the left side, but instead chose to let the 24-year-old handle the blind side for Patrick Mahomes.
That was a deliberate call, especially after the Chiefs tried something similar with Kingsley Suamataia two years ago and, in Barnwell’s view, paid for it with their season. Suamataia is still in the mix, though Barnwell noted he is still “working out some things” with Andy Reid.
Benson, by contrast, has looked “as if he belongs.” Through eight games at left tackle, Barnwell said he has allowed only two sacks and five quick pressures. For a team that throws as often as Kansas City does, Barnwell called those above-average numbers.
The rookie has also held up in a way that lets the offense breathe. Barnwell noted that Benson has been one-on-one on nearly 84 percent of his dropbacks, a lower rate than his predecessor Josh Simmons, who was at 87 percent.
That has been enough for the Chiefs to keep their offense rolling without having to mask the left tackle spot. On the ground, Kansas City has averaged 6.3 yards per carry on runs to the outside on the left side, which Barnwell said is the second-best mark in the league.
Still, this isn’t a finished product. Barnwell said Benson was better over his first four games than in the four that followed, and the Seattle Seahawks pass rush gave him particular trouble in Kansas City’s 20-3 loss.
That’s the learning curve with a rookie, and the schedule is easing up for now, starting with Sunday’s road game against the Atlanta Falcons. Barnwell still expects Simmons to be the starter if he returns at some point this season, but that comes with obvious concerns because of his injuries and appropriate conduct at meetings.
For now, the Chiefs will take the win they’ve found at a premium position. And at this point, it wouldn’t be a shock if Benson keeps the job for good.
In Other News...
Chiefs Enter Falcons Game With Expectations Suddenly Worth Watching
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Kansas City also heads into the game with a notable absence of its own, as running back Kenneth Walker was ruled out before kickoff. Even with that wrinkle, the larger conversation around this one still points toward the Chiefs, who have a chance to turn a routine early-season meeting into another statement win if they handle the details the way most observers expect. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Jones Just Changed What The Chiefs Pass Rush Can Be
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Jones and defensive line coach Joe Cullen talked through the impact plays on the teams postgame video show, a reminder that this wasnt just a one-off burst from a star player. For a Chiefs pass rush that has been searching for a more consistent edge, the bigger question now is whether this version of Jones can help set a new baseline rather than just a single-game spike. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Suddenly Face A Defensive Line Test Before Falcons Game
The Chiefs are shuffling the defensive front again ahead of their matchup with the Falcons, moving Marcus Harris from the practice squad to the active roster as they try to cover for injuries to Peter Woods and Omarr Norman-Lott. It is the kind of midweek adjustment that can quietly shape a game plan, especially when a team is already leaning on depth to keep its rotation intact.
Kansas City also brought back defensive end Jack Pyburn on the practice squad after waiving him, keeping him in the mix as another option if the pass rush needs reinforcement. The moves do not solve the larger injury picture, but they do give the Chiefs a little more flexibility as they head into a week where the defensive line is suddenly under a closer spotlight. [Read more 🡒]