Kahlil Benson’s path to this point has been anything but ordinary, and the latest turn only adds to the surprise. After going through the entire 2026 draft without hearing his name called, the former Indiana Hoosiers offensive tackle is now an AFC rookie of the month.
The NFL announced its monthly rookie honors, and Benson won the AFC offensive award. Tennessee Titans linebacker Anthony Hill took the defensive honor. Through three games, Benson has allowed seven pressures on 108 pass-blocking snaps, which Next Gen Stats says is the third-lowest total in the NFL.
That kind of recognition looked unlikely when Benson first landed with Kansas City. He didn’t arrive as a sure thing.
He came in for a tryout at rookie minicamp, impressed enough to stick, and the Chiefs made room for him on the roster after a weekend that changed the conversation around him. He kept building from there during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, and the team eventually traded Wanya Morris because of the depth it had at tackle.
By the time training camp opened in St. Joseph, Benson had pushed himself into the lead at right tackle, ahead of Jaylon Moore.
Then Josh Simmons showed up on the injury report with a back issue, and the Chiefs moved Benson over to left tackle in practice before Week 1. He had never started at left tackle in college, but he’s been the starter there for Kansas City’s first three games.
It hasn’t been flawless. Week 3 was his toughest stretch, with Miami Dolphins pass rushers beating him several times.
Even so, he’s handled the job well enough while learning on the fly. The Chiefs’ offense, led by Patrick Mahomes, ranks No. 2 in the NFL in total yardage, and Benson has played a real part in that production.
His role still isn’t settled. Simmons is expected to remain out there for at least another week, but after the bye, the Chiefs could move Benson back to the right side.
They could also send him into a swing tackle role if they prefer what they see from Moore at right tackle. Diego Pounds, a late-August waiver claim from the Baltimore Ravens, is also in the mix, which leaves Kansas City’s offensive line picture open-ended.
For Benson, though, the big takeaway is simple: the ride keeps getting better. From tryout player to award winner, he’s already gone far beyond what anyone likely saw coming a few months ago.
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Tom Bradys Latest Rankings Set Up A Chiefs Debate
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He also slotted the Raiders into the top five because of their unbeaten start, a placement that will naturally draw reactions in Kansas City and beyond. For a Chiefs team used to being part of every national conversation, rankings like these are less about validation than they are about comparison, and Bradys latest list leaves plenty of room for debate about where the real contenders belong. [Read more 🡒]