CHIEFS CHOICES: The Offensive Line

Laddie Morse

The five players in front of Patrick Mahomes II have undergone the biggest change of any position group. Of those five players only three remain and that’s a 40% changeover in players. With LT Orlando Brown Jr. going to the Bengals and RT Andrew Wylie following Eric Bieniemy to the Washington Commanders you might think the Chiefs OL will be weaker, but they may end up stronger than they’ve been since 2003 when both Willie Roaf and Will Shields were in uniform. Why? Because GM Brett Veach tracked down signed Free Agents RT Jawaan Taylor, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Donovan Smith, formerly of the Bucs.

With the Chiefs owning one of the best – if not the best – interior offensive line trios in the NFL in: RG Joe Thuney, OC Creed Humphrey and LG Trey Smith, they’re are set for quite some time. However, if the Chiefs decide to make changes at the Tackle positions, they will have choices.

Could the Chiefs end up starting five players who aren’t D. Smith, J Thuney, C. Humphrey, T. Smith and J. Taylor? Sure, but these five will reportedly get the first crack at their respective positions. I Donovan Smith fails to make the grade, my bet is on Jawaan Taylor moving over for the remainder of the season and either Lucas Niang or Wanya Morris moving up to fill in the empty place on the right side.  

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Prince Tega Wanogho

Tega Wanogho was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 6^th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was described by a college team mate as, “The most athletic Tackle he’s ever seen,” and that player, a Linebacker, had played in the NFL. I heard him say that on a not so popular podcast, but he said it, nevertheless. Teg Wanogho is a prideful person, in a good way, and here he is after the Chiefs most recent Super Bowl victory.

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If Tega Wanogho ever gets his opportunity to start, I think he’d be a good one.

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LT Donovan Smith

With Donovan Smith in the house, he’s a proven commodity and has started in 124 NFL games at Left Tackle. Those who said that they thought he’d be good at Right Tackle may be right, but 100% of his NFL experience — so far — has been on the Left side of the OL. I’d be very surprised if Donovan Smith isn’t the Chiefs starting LT in September.

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IOL, Nick Allegretti

Nick Allegretti makes the Chiefs offensive line much much stronger. If he was on another team, he’d likely be a starter. He was a 7th round pick in 2019 (216) and stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 315 lbs.. In 2021, Thuney had to slide over tho the Left Tackle position and Nick Allegretti stepped into Thuney’s role as the Left Guard and he played well. From Jordan Foote at SI.com comes this about that game:

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“Despite all that, the line performed admirably. The makeshift front five did a quality job giving quarterback Patrick Mahomes ample time to throw. It also generated plenty of push for running backs Darrel Williams and Derrick Gore.”

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In the 2022 season, the interior of the Chiefs offensive line didn’t need any respite so it’s doubtful Allegretti will be needed this coming season, unless Thuney is called upon once again to fill in for a game at Left Tackle.

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OC, Austin Reiter

If there’s an offensive lineman for the Chiefs that I’m not fond of it’s Austin Reiter. Reiter was the starting OC in the February 2021 Super Bowl which the Chiefs lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so maybe that’s the reason why. Daniel Kilgore was the backup OC that day so it’s easy to understand why Reiter got the call, but that line totally broke down and while the Bucs only had three (3) sacks they also allowed ten (10) QB hits and nine (9) passes defensed. So, it’s easy to understand why the Chiefs have made all the changes they made in the following offseason and well as the changes they’ve made since then. I’m Chiefs need to invest in a much better backup Center plus I’m a bit surprised that every single starting lineman from that game is not off the roster.

Let’s hope and pray that Reiter never needs to fill in for Creed Humphrey. Going from Reiter to Humphrey has been like night and day. I’d be far more comfortable with Nick Allegretti filing in for Creed if need be.

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RT, Lucas Niang

I have been a huge Lucas Niang supporter and yet, he keeps finding ways to stay off the field. In his rookie year, he claimed an exemption for the Covid-19 and opted out. One aspect of that which I didn’t like, was that he waited until training camp had started to say he was opting out. Which he did, but not until August of that year.

When he did come back in 2021 he started 7 of his first 9 games and only missed time due to a shoulder injury… but when he moved over to start a game in Week 17 at Left Tackle, a game that Orlando Brown Jr. couldn’t play in, he suffered a torn patellar tendon and was out for the year.

Late in the 2022 season he was activated from the PUP list and filled in on the OL for one play in Super Bowl LVII.

I’d be comfortable with Niang starting at Right Tackle but would wonder how long he’d be able to stay on the field. Outside of his injury history, he’s a terrific player.

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OL, Darian Kinnard

Kinnard (6-foot-5, 345 lbs.) played his college ball at Kentucky and was a 5th round pick — #145 — for the Chiefs in the 2022 NFL draft. While he has been projected to Tackle, he has also been talked about as a possible Interior lineman for the Chiefs. Although he played his sophomore year at Kentucky as a Right Tackle, he played his last two years their on the Left Side. With Joe Thuney’s deal come due in a couple of years, some have speculated that he might take over for him at Right Guard… eventually. His flexibility is a plus and something OL coach Andy Heck can utilize in the future. Kinnard provides excellent competition for any of the Guard and Tackle positions this year in Training camp.

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OG, Mike Caliendo

Mike Caliendo stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 301 lbs., played his college ball at Western Michigan and was a UDFA for the Chiefs last season. Caliendo was waived in August of last year and signed to the Chiefs practice squad the next day. In February of this year, he signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chiefs. He sounds like he’s destined to make the Practice Squad again this year.

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OG, Jerome Carvin

Carvin is a UDFA who singed with the Chiefs this year and stands 6-foot-5 and goes, 321 lbs.. Carvin is famous for head-butting a team mate wile wearing a helmet when his team mate wasn’t. Wow, what a thing to famous for:

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Carvin is thought to be a possibility when the final cut downs are made.

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Some guys are surprisingly not drafted and Carvin is one of those players. He showed well at the Senior Bowl practices and here he is playing the center position (he’s in a black jersey here):

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What do you think? Will the Chiefs be able to use the offensive linemen they currently have to give Patrick Mahomes the protection he needs?

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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