The Kansas City Chiefs might still be chasing their third Super Bowl victory were it not for their offensive line. The NFL’s seventh-best pass-blocking offensive line and 16th-best run-blocking group in 2023, per Pro Football Focus, the strength of the group is undoubtedly on its interior where veteran left guard Joe Thuney is joined by Creed Humphrey at center and Trey Smith at right guard.
Humphrey, the No. 63 overall pick, and Smith, No. 266, were both members of the Chiefs’ 2021 NFL Draft class. Now, they help anchor the “best interior” offensive line, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Chiefs Dominate Top-10 IOL Survey
Joe Thuney ‘Incredibly Fundamental’ Along Chiefs’ Offensive Line
In a survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts, the Chiefs’ three interior offensive linemen comprised three of the top 10 spots, with Smith’s ninth-place ranking the lowest of the bunch.
Thuney checked in at No. 4 while Humphrey was No. 7 overall and the highest-ranked center on the board.
“Thuney is something of a pass-blocking wizard. He lost four out of 431 pass-block attempts for a 99.1% win rate with one sack attributed. That clip easily led the NFL,” Fowler wrote on July 13. “The Chiefs have gotten a great investment out of Thuney’s five-year, $80 million deal in free agency signed three years ago.”
Fowler notes Thuney’s drop from No. 2 on the list in 2023 to No. 4 ahead of the 2024 campaign. However, an anonymous NFC executive points to a “younger, more explosive players” who could rank higher.
Thuney, 31, finished behind two players younger than him – Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons, who is 27 years old, and 28-year-old Indianapolis Colts guard Quentin Nelson. The No. 1 spot went to an older player; Zack Martin, 33, of the Dallas Cowboys.
Thuney, a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, is the only non-first-round pick of that group.
He arrived in Kansas City with two Super Bowl rings from his time with the New England Patriots and has helped the Chiefs secure two titles since.
An anonymous AFC executive cited Thuney’s “grip strength” in pass protection to Fowler. The AFC exec noted that Thuney does not let go once he has his hands on a defender, calling the veteran offensive lineman, “incredibly fundamental.”
Creed Humphrey & Trey Smith are Chiefs’ Success Stories
Humphrey, 25, has yet to miss a game in three years with the Chiefs. He did not miss a game in three years with the Oklahoma Sooners, either, proving his durability is hardly a fluke.
“Humphrey has made a compelling case for the game’s best overall center now that Jason Kelce is retired,” Fowler wrote. “Humphrey and teammate Trey Smith are both considered elite and gems from the 2021 draft class. But Humphrey tends to get the slight nod over Smith, who’s considered better in the run game.
“Smith sometimes gets overshadowed by Humphrey and Thuney, but he adds a unique dimension to the Chiefs offense.”
Fowler does note Humphrey’s woes with snapping from late in the 2023 season.
While one anonymous NFL personnel director showered Humphrey with superlatives from “extremely consistent” to “a great communicator and field general,” an anonymous defensive coach noted the snapping issue may have been a bigger problem than the Chiefs indicated.
There were nods to Smith’s power in the run game from some of the personnel surveyed. An anonymous NFC executive told Fowler the Chiefs young guard could top the list one day.
It certainly helps to have the game’s top quarterback making the right decisions.
However, the Chiefs’ offensive line’s part in allowing the six-time Pro Bowler and three-time champion to operate as he does. That is especially true with the negative attention their tackles received throughout the 2023 season.
