Chiefs need Kingsley Suamataia to prove the Joe Thuney trade made sense

The Kansas City Chiefs have finally reported to training camp. Fans have been waiting for months to start getting actual reports from camp on how their favorite team is coming together. As the Chiefs take the practice fields in St. Joseph, Missouri, one of the biggest stories to watch is how things are going with the offensive line. More specifically, one of the key questions is whether Kingsley Suamataia can lock up the starting left guard job quickly.

The Chiefs made headlines this offseason when they traded away their All-Pro left guard, Joe Thuney, so they could franchise tag right guard Trey Smith and eventually sign him to a record-breaking new contract.

With Thuney turning 33 during the upcoming season and Smith having just turned 26 and entering the prime of his career, this was a good long-term move by Chiefs general manager Brett Veach. However, it doesn't change the fact that the Chiefs now need to make sure they have a solid new starter at left guard to help keep the Andy Reid/Patrick Mahomes offense running smoothly.

The Chiefs used a second-round pick on Kingsley Suamataia last year, and although he struggled while starting at left tackle as a rookie, he has the physical tools to be a quality NFL starting lineman. That is why he is the natural first choice by both the coaches and fans to fill the now-vacant starting left guard spot. Now the Chiefs and their fans just have to hope that Suamataia quickly shows he is worthy of that job.

The Chiefs are counting on Kingsley Suamataia to seize the left guard job and avoid a major drop-off up front.

Suamataia's main competition for the starting left guard spot is veteran Mike Caliendo, who joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2022. It was Caliendo who started at left guard during the Chiefs' playoff run last season when they kicked Joe Thuney outside to left tackle. While Caliendo wasn't completely awful, he wasn't very good either.

The other options at left guard include Hunter Nourzad, a 2024 fifth-round pick with very little experience; Wanya Morris, who—like Suamataia—has previously played tackle; and, as a last resort, Jaylon Moore, who was signed to play tackle but could possibly kick inside if both Josh Simmons and Jawaan Taylor are healthy enough to start Day One and none of the other options at guard are looking up to the task.

This is why K.C. fans need to be hoping that Kingsley Suamataia does well enough to lock down the starting job right away. We know that Caliendo is a backup-level NFL player, and if Kingsley can't clearly beat him out and they continue splitting reps throughout camp and into the preseason—or if they have to move one of their other tackles to guard—that is a sign the Chiefs are likely going to experience a massive drop-off in play at left guard this season.

We already know there is going to be some drop-off because Thuney was just that reliable, but at least Kingsley has a physical upside that even Thuney didn’t have. He just has to show that he has the technique and recognition skills to put those tools to use. The worst possible outcome for the Chiefs over the coming weeks is a revolving door at left guard with the first team throughout training camp.

So as camp gets underway, keep an eye on the practice reports to see whether the Chiefs are trying anyone and everyone at left guard or if it seems like Suamataia is the clear top guy. We know from what happened with him at left tackle last season that just winning the starting job in camp doesn't guarantee great results—but it's still a much better alternative than not being able to clearly beat out guys we already know aren't starting-caliber options.