Laddie Morse
There may or may not be Kansas City Chiefs players who are trying to reach the level of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce who are considered the best of the best (see my recent piece called, “Chiefs: Counting the “Bests”” for more on this. However, we can be certain that there are many Chiefs players attempting to have a breakout year and that’s what this piece is all about.
.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah
FAU is a DE who hails from Kansas State and Lee’s Summit before that. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12 in 2022 and was taken by the Chiefs with the 31st pick in the 2023 NFL Draft held right here in Kansas City. Here’s FAU in the most recent Super Bowl:
.
.
FAU has been getting similar treatment from ex-Chiefs Tamba Hali. Here’s Tamba talking about coaching up the DE position and George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah (1:46):
.
.
With Charles Omenihu due back in the lineup near to mid-season, FAU can expect many more snaps than he got last year when he was averaging close to 13 snaps per game. That came out to 20% of the defensive snaps. FAU should get closer to 50 or 60% of the snaps in 2024. Hoefully that means he will be a breakout star for K.C..
.
Kingsley Suamataia
This may be more wishful thinking on my part than anything else but I believe our newest Left Tackle has more of his relative’s blood in him than may in the NFL would care to admit. I’m speaking of hte two time pro bowler, Penei Sewell of course. While Penei Sewell was taken 7th overall in the 2021 NFL draft our Kingsley Suamataia was taken with the Chiefs second round pick at #63 overall. Here’s some tape of Suamataia in protection for Brigham Young University last season offered by KCSN:
.
.
Suamataia’s main competition this offseason is Wanya Morris who had some time workign at the position last season when Donovan Smith had to sit. This short reel is offered by Daniel Harms:
.
.
Wanya Morris has also gotten time this offseason as a replacement for Joe Thuney at RG. If Suamataia does win the LT position outright, Morris could end up at the permanent replacement for Mr. Thuney when his contract ends with the Chiefs after the 2025 season.
In an article for ArrowheadPride written in May about Suamataia called, “Kingsley Suamataia on playing under Andy Reid: ‘It feels like family’” Ron Kopp quotes him as saying,
.
“That’s a BYU legend right there [referring to Andy Reid].
I called him Uncle when I first came here on my 30 visit…
It hits home for me… I chop it up with him whenever I can.
It feels like family just being there; it makes it better and
more comfortable.”
.
It sounds like Andy Reid would be most comfortable with Kingsley Suamataia as his Left Tackle protecting Patrick Mahomes.
.
What do you think? Do you have any other Chiefs players that you expect to break out in 2024?
.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
.