Chiefs’ biggest bombshell surprise from 2026 NFL training camp

Coming off a rare 6-11 campaign, the front office knew that aggressive, calculated changes were non-negotiable. Kansas City made massive waves by landing former Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III. They also re-signed cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and welcomed back offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Walker signed a three-year deal after rushing for 1,027 yards in 2025 and winning Super Bowl LX MVP. Sneed returned after two seasons away from Kansas City.

Mahomes also spent the offseason working his way back from a knee injury. By training camp, the quarterback was progressing toward his return to full football activity.

Yet the offensive line remained one of the most important areas to watch. Kansas City entered camp with Josh Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith established as four starters. That left right tackle as the major unresolved position. Before camp, Jaylon Moore and Esa Pole were viewed as the leading candidates, with Chu Godrick and Benson also in the mix.

Explosive rise

Benson is the single biggest bombshell surprise of Kansas City’s entire summer showcase. The 6-foot-6, 319-pound offensive tackle earned his opportunity in Kansas City after standing out at the team’s rookie minicamp tryout in May. The Chiefs signed him shortly afterward. At that point, Benson was hardly viewed as the obvious answer to Kansas City’s right tackle problem. The Chiefs’ own pre-camp evaluation identified Moore, Pole and Godrick as the more established candidates. They also noted that Benson had impressed during the offseason program.

Then the pads came on. Suddenly, Benson was taking first-team repetitions. On the opening day of full-team camp, Moore initially handled the starting right tackle assignment. Benson, though, quickly entered the rotation. Over the next several practices, he received increasingly significant first-team opportunities. Benson eventually took the majority of those reps at the position. By the seventh full-squad practice, he had taken all the first-team right tackle snaps for a second consecutive day.

More than a camp curiosity

The most compelling part of Benson’s emergence is that Kansas City has continued giving him meaningful opportunities even after the initial surprise wore off. Head coach Andy Reid has been careful not to declare a winner. However, the distribution of reps has provided a more revealing signal than any coach’s public comments. Benson has repeatedly been trusted with the first unit, while Moore and Pole have worked through different combinations.

The Chiefs have also been evaluating how Benson handles the physical demands of NFL pass protection and run blocking. As things stand, Benson has already shown enough during padded work to keep himself in the conversation.

Kansas City needs exactly that kind of development. The Chiefs struggled to maintain offensive-line continuity during their disappointing 2025 campaign. The team has rebuilt the unit around a group that has the potential to be considerably stronger. That said, the right tackle spot remains the final piece of the puzzle. If Benson can solve it, the implications are enormous.

Potentially transformative

All the Chiefs need from Benson is to become dependable. A reliable right tackle allows Kansas City to call its full offensive menu without constantly worrying about pressure arriving from the edge. That becomes even more significant with Bieniemy back calling the offense.

During his previous stint at Kansas City, Bieniemy oversaw one of the league’s most productive offenses. Kansas City is trying to re-establish an offensive identity built around Mahomes while creating a stronger foundation in the running game. Walker’s arrival should help that effort. However, the running game can only reach its potential if the offensive line consistently creates movement.

A developing tackle who can hold his own in both phases would give Reid and Bieniemy significantly more freedom. It could also allow Kansas City to keep Moore as valuable swing-tackle depth rather than forcing him into the starting lineup regardless of matchup.

Crucial preseason

There is still plenty of football to be played before Kansas City can officially hand Benson the job. Reid has repeatedly stressed the importance of allowing the right tackle competition to develop. Again, the Chiefs have several legitimate candidates.

Benson, though, has already accomplished something that few expected when camp opened. He has forced his way into the starting conversation. The preseason will expose whether Benson’s strong padded practices translate against opponents outside the building. His pass sets, communication, hand placement and ability to handle different defensive looks will be scrutinized closely.

If he holds up, Kansas City may have found its right tackle solution in the most unexpected place imaginable.