The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off back-to-back Super Bowl wins and are very obviously going for the three-peat, which would be the first-ever. However, that doesn't take away from the fact that this roster still has a number of holes that need to be filled before training camp. The only other place you can do it now is the 2024 NFL Draft, as it seems the Chiefs are nearly done with free agency.
The Chiefs' holes are all fixable through the draft. They need an offensive tackle, guard and possibly center depth, linebacker depth, tight end depth, a wide receiver, and an edge rusher. Even with some of their draft picks coming later in the round, they can still get some really good players.
So, as the draft gets closer, you will start to see the Chiefs and every other team have top-30 visits with guys they like. These visits will be for positions they may be looking at and things of that nature. They have already done quite a few, including ones with Boston College OL Christian Mahogany and University of Northern Iowa DT Khristian Boyd. And, you can now add another one to that list.
According to Tony Pauline of Sports Keeda, the Chiefs will have a top-30 visit with BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia, which is one of the Chiefs' bigger needs. But, what exactly is a top-30 visit?
What is a top-30 visit?
The NFL allows 30 pre-draft visits with upcoming NFL draft prospects, and these are referred to as top 30 visits. Teams use them to gather more information about a specific draft prospect. If a player has a medical history, teams typically will bring those players in to do further background research. The same thing goes for off-field issues or character concerns. Sometimes, teams simply want to get a better idea of how a prospect would fit with the team culture.
The Chiefs tend to be varied in their usage of top-30 visits. It doesn't always indicate the player is even on the team's draft board. Often they'll bring in players expected to be priority free agents, to impress upon them that this team is the right fit in undrafted free agency. At the same time, just last season they hosted a pair of their draft picks (Rashee Rice & BJ Thompson) on top-30 visits, and they've had plenty of others in the past.
How does BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia fit with the Chiefs?
The Chiefs have just Wanya Morris, Jawaan Taylor, Chukwuebuka Godrick, and Lucas Niang as their tackles. They desperately need to add another one, and one that can either start right away or a guy who can be a swing tackle and have a significant role.
Last season, the Chiefs had to play then-rookie Wanya Morris at left tackle when Donovan Smith went out. He played okay; he wasn't bad, but he wasn't really good. They need another tackle, and they need one soon. The Chiefs could get Suamataia, who is projected to be a third-round pick in A to Z Sports' Big Board, and he would be a tremendous asset to the roster. Here are some of his strengths and weaknesses:
STRENGTHS
- Good straight-line athleticism at his size
- Has a full season of starting experience at both tackle spots
- Rarely gives ground to a bull-rush
- Quick hands & firm grip strength to snatch long-arms
- Adequate pocket range & balanced kick slide
- Plays with patient independent hands. Comfortable punching & replacing
- Finishes blocks on stationary LBs/DBs when he secures contact
- Adjusts blocking angles to wash out slants & clear a path for the RB
- Drives his legs & displaces 3-techs on down blocks/double teams
WEAKNESSES
- Relies on natural play strength to resist power. Never really has to "drop his anchor"
- Struggles to recover vs. late edge speed if he undersets
- Hand usage is still unrefined. Initial punch is often tentative & wide
- Very soft inside hand & delayed recovery. B-gap is easily pried open
- Gets lost picking up stunts/blitzing DBs
- Lacks zone blocking range & body control. Reach blocks are a struggle
- Poor target location at the 2nd level. For every pancake there's a whiff in open space
- Frequently misses run blocking assignments
- Leans & over-extends into down blocks
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