The battle for the Kansas City Chiefs' starting left tackle job might be more of an open competition than originally thought.
Heading into Organized Team Activities (OTAs), it has been presumed that former third-round draft pick Wanya Morris would compete for the starting job with second-round draft pick Kingsley Suamataia. Speaking to reporters after practice on Thursday, Chiefs offensive line coach Andy Heck insisted that while those two might have a leg up on the competition, the left tackle job remains wide-open for any of several players to seize.
"Well certainly (Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia) should come to mind as probably having a leg up in that competition," Heck declared. "But I'd say, it's wide-open. I mean, we're going to look and work hard to put our best five on the field. Whoever can get that job done and show they can do it, day in and day out, through a 20-game season, that's going to be important."
Who else is receiving consideration for the Chiefs' left tackle job?
The best players always emerge from good competition. Right now there seem to be five players competing and getting legitimate looks at the left tackle position.
“I feel very good about the talent we have here on this team on the roster now to create some good competition there," Heck explained. "You have guys who have played in games like Wanya (Morris) and Lucas Niang. Chu (Chukwuebuka Godrick) is an exciting developmental guy, and he’s been doing very well this spring, so we wanted to give him a look out there. That’ll be a work in progress, we’re going to give a lot of guys some looks there, Kingsley (Suamataia) certainly, Ethan Driskell one of our young guys. I feel good about the tackle depth that we have here to create some good competition.”
The three players who are getting a shot besides Morris and Suamataia include former third-round draft pick Lucas Niang, second-year international player Jason "Chu" Godrick, and undrafted free agent Ethan Driskell. Fans are plenty familiar with Niang, but Driskell and Godrick getting some chances should create intrigue.
Godrick reportedly received some first-team repetitions at left tackle on Thursday, while Wanya Morris kicked inside to play left guard with Joe Thuney still sidelined by injury. If he emerges as a legitimate option as a blindside protector for Patrick Mahomes, it'd be a massive development for Kansas City.
The Nigerian offensive tackle put together a promising rookie campaign, showing out during the preseason after never having played a down of football. Godrick strictly played right tackle during the 2023 preseason as a rookie, but didn't allow a single pressure in 26 pass-blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus.
