Chiefs Rumors: Kingsley Suamataia, Wanya Morris to Compete for Starting LT Role

The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly set to hold a competition in training camp and the preseason to determine the starter at one of the most important offensive positions.

According to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler on SportsCenter, it is expected that Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris will battle it out for the right to be quarterback Patrick Mahomes' blindside protector at left tackle:

"Well, they're going to experiment with the young guys, give them a chance. Kingsley Suamataia, say it with me now, second-round pick, major talent. They like what he did in the spring, but that was mostly just passing concepts in shorts. ... Now, they're going to put on the pads, they want to see what he can do.

"Wanya Morris, former third-round pick, second-year guy, is going to get a chance as well. They're probably not going to go the free agency route right now, I don't think, right now, that's my sense. Donovan Smith started last year, longtime veteran, they could always give him a call or David Bakhtiari, but they're going to see what those two young guys can do. Really any other position on the offense is set, except this left tackle. Hugely important for Patrick Mahomes."

Regardless of who wins the competition, the Chiefs are set to have their third different starting left tackle in the past three seasons, as Orlando Brown Jr. occupied the spot in 2022 before giving way to Donovan Smith last season.

Despite the changes at left tackle, the Chiefs have won back-to-back Super Bowls, and it is clear head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach feel they can do it again with yet another new left tackle.

The 23-year-old Morris may have a slight leg up in the competition since he already has one year in the system after the Chiefs selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft out of Oklahoma.

Morris was active for 14 regular-season games in 2023, and he started four games at left tackle while Smith was out due to injury. He also played in two playoff games en route to the Chiefs' Super Bowl title, although he didn't have any postseason starts.

Suamataia, 21, spent one collegiate season at Oregon before transferring to BYU and starting in both 2022 and 2023.

The 6'5", 326-pound tackle from Orem, Utah, was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection last season, and garnered plenty of draft interest, ultimately landing in Kansas City as the No. 63 overall pick in the second round.

Aside from left tackle, the Chiefs are returning the exact same starting offensive line as last season. Jawaan Taylor will hold it down at right tackle, while arguably the best interior OL in the NFL is comprised of Creed Humphrey, Joe Thuney and Trey Smith.

That level of continuity should make it much easier for either Morris or Suamataia to transition into a starting role.

It also doesn't hurt that they will be blocking for one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Mahomes, whose ability to freelance and make something out of nothing has often made his offensive linemen look good over the years.

For most teams, uncertainty at left tackle entering the season would be a concern, but the Chiefs are so experienced and battle tested that they should be able to overcome it.