The Kansas City Chiefs are set to kick off training camp in just a few weeks, and with the annual trek to St. Joseph nearly here, we're examining every position group on the roster heading into camp.
We'll continue with the offensive line, where the Chiefs currently employ 15 players. Let's take a look at each, separated by offensive tackles and interior linemen. Many of these players possess the versatility to handle either role, but for the sake of this breakdown, each player will be sorted into where they've been primarily grouped so far this summer.
Offensive Tackles
Let's start with the Chiefs' starting right tackle last season, Jawaan Taylor, followed by the two players who are primarily competing for the role of starting left tackle in 2025: Jaylon Moore and Josh Simmons. The rest of the Chiefs' offensive tackles are then listed alphabetically.
Jawaan Taylor
Now entering his third season in Kansas City, Taylor started 19 games (including the playoffs) last year, lining up at right tackle for each of them. His 697 pass-blocking snaps ranked fourth among all tackles last year.
Taylor dealt with his share of adversity at times during the season, but it's worth mentioning that he yielded two or fewer pressures in 10 of his 19 games.
Jaylon Moore
One of the Chiefs' major offseason free agent signings, Moore appeared in 55 games (with 12 starts) for the San Francisco 49ers over the last four years. He was starting left tackle Trent Williams' primary backup during his career in San Francisco, and while that meant limited opportunities, he certainly made the most of his chances when provided the opportunity to play.
Looking at last year specifically, Moore took over for Williams (who was injured) midway through Week 11 and proceeded to make five starts at the position, yielding just nine pressures (and one sack) across 144 pass-blocking snaps. He recorded those numbers despite facing some of the league's better pass-rushers in the Packers' Rashan Gary, the Bills' Greg Rousseau and the Rams' Jared Verse.
That strong showing was a continuation of what Moore had done throughout his career in San Francisco. For example, in his two starts in 2023, Moore yielded just three total pressures (and zero sacks) across 74 pass-blocking snaps.
Now in Kansas City, Moore will have a shot to earn the Chiefs' starting left tackle role in 2025.
Josh Simmons
Simmons, the Chiefs' first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft at No. 31 overall, was in contention to be the first offensive tackle selected before suffering a season-ending knee injury six games into the 2024 season for Ohio State. Prior to the injury, Simmons had allowed just one quarterback hurry – with zero hits or sacks allowed – on 158 pass-blocking snaps.
It was a stellar start for Simmons, who yielded just 10 hurries, four hits and one sack on 443 pass-blocking snaps the season prior. The injury ended what had the makings of an even better year in 2024, but just nine months later, Simmons was participating in team drills during the Chiefs' offseason training program.
"He's doing a nice job. We weren't sure quite how much we were going to be able to get out of him, but he looks strong," said Head Coach Andy Reid during Mandatory Minicamp. "He's been jumping in and taking the team reps now – which he was just doing the individual stuff before – and you can definitely see the talent. He's got to keep learning and learn the stuff that [Offensive Line Coach] Andy [Heck] is teaching him fundamentally and technique-wise, but he sure has a good attitude about it."
Simmons' progress in his return to the field is exciting, and if he's able to participate fully in St. Joseph – which all indications are that he will – his competition with Moore for the Chiefs' starting left tackle role will be one of the primary storylines of training camp.
Ethan Driskell
An undrafted free agent signee in 2024, Driskell made the Chiefs' roster out of training camp and proceeded to appear in two games during the season (logging eight snaps).
A big man at 6-foot-9 and 329 pounds with 35-inch arms, Driskell is a developmental prospect who appeared in 48 games (with 26 starts at left tackle) at Marshall during his four years there.
The No. 18 overall offensive tackle in The Athletic's draft guide in 2024, prospect guru Dane Brugler projected Driskell to be a fifth or sixth-round selection. Here's more from Brugler:
"Overall, Driskell has towering size, and leverage will always be an area of emphasis for him, but he displays the functional movement skills and encouraging power to earn meaningful snaps in the NFL…He has a realistic chance to grow into a swing tackle."
Chukwuebuka Godrick
Godrick is back with the Chiefs after spending each of the last two seasons on Kansas City's practice squad. A native of Nigeria, Godrick joined the Chiefs in 2023 through the NFL International Player Pathway Program. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound lineman is a former basketball player who impressed at the inaugural NFL Africa camp in Ghana before earning an invitation to the International Combine in London that year.
Since 2017, the NFL IPP has sought to provide elite athletes from around the world with an opportunity to earn a spot on an NFL roster and increase the number of international players in the league.
Wanya Morris
A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Morris has appeared in 31 games (with 15 starts) for the Chiefs over the last two seasons. He took over as the Chiefs' starting left tackle for 10 games between Week 3 and Week 13 last year, yielding five sacks in that time.
Morris also recorded a handful of snaps at right tackle late in the year and played well there, surrendering just two pressures on 35 pass-blocking snaps. He enters training camp with an opportunity to build on that performance, which demonstrated his versatility.
Esa Pole
An undrafted free agent signee, Pole – who didn't start playing organized football until 2021 – was Washington State's left tackle in each of the last two seasons. He allowed just nine total pressures (and zero sacks) on 498 pass-blocking snaps last year, earning the eighth-best "pass-blocking grade" among all tackles in the 2025 class according to Pro Football Focus.
He checks in at 6-foot-5 and 323 pounds.
Interior Offensive Linemen
Next, this breakdown of the Chiefs' interior offensive linemen begins with last year's starters in right guard Trey Smith and center Creed Humphrey, plus the two players competing for the startling left guard role in Mike Caliendo and Kingsley Suamataia. The rest of the Chiefs' interior offensive linemen are then listed alphabetically.
Trey Smith
One of the steals of the 2021 NFL Draft, Smith has grown from humble beginnings as a sixth-round pick into one of the league's top offensive guards. The 26-year-old Smith has started 67 games over the last four seasons, logging more than 1,000 regular-season snaps in each.
Smith was PFF's No. 8 overall guard last season among players to tally 1,000+ snaps.
Creed Humphrey
Humphrey enters his fourth season as a professional with the distinction of being Pro Football Focus’ top-ranked center in the NFL for the third-straight season. Here's what they wrote about the Chiefs' Pro Bowl center:
"Since stepping foot on an NFL field in 2021, Humphrey has not only been the most productive center but also the most productive offensive lineman in the NFL, period. His 2.05 PFF WAR over the past four seasons is the highest figure among all offensive linemen, and his 94.9 cumulative PFF overall grade ranks second, behind only Trent Williams."
The 26-year-old Humphrey also landed at No. 93 overall in the NFL Top 100 rankings last week.
Mike Caliendo
Originally an undrafted free agent signee out of Western Michigan in 2022, Caliendo paid his dues on the Chiefs' practice squad for a year before earning a spot on the 53-man roster ahead of the 2023 campaign. He has appeared in 17 games in the two seasons since, logging three starts at left guard last year.
Caliendo, who has shown the ability to play either guard spot in addition to center, is a great example of a rookie free agent who has grown into a contributor over time. With former starling left guard Joe Thuney no longer in town, Caliendo will have a chance to compete with Kingsley Suamataia for that job in 2025.
Kingsley Suamataia
The No. 63 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Suamataia – who began last season as the Chiefs' starting left tackle – will have an opportunity at left guard in 2025 after a strong showing at that position in Week 18 of last year.
"I [felt that] I did well [in Week 18]," Suamataia said. "I went up against one of the best defensive tackles [in the league], and I got some good words from him after the game."
Suamataia was referring to Zach Allen, who finished fifth in the NFL with 75 pressures last season. He recorded just two in Week 18, and by all accounts, Suamataia carried the momentum from that experience into offseason practices.
"He has experience, and then he looks more comfortable there," said Head Coach Andy Reid. "He seems to be picking it up well. Not that we're going full-speed contact, but he has an opportunity to go against [defensive tackle] Chris [Jones], and that'll surely help him for the season."
Dalton Cooper
An undrafted free agent signee, the 6-foot-5, 326-pound Cooper started 36 games at left tackle for Texas State from 2020 through 2022 before transferring to Oklahoma State ahead of the 2023 campaign. He went on to record 19 starts at left tackle for the Cowboys over the next two seasons, and looking at last year specifically, Cooper didn't yield a single sack on 285 pass-blocking snaps.
Here's a bit more from Dane Brugler's draft guide:
"Overall, Cooper is a cerebral, coordinated blocker, with the spatial awareness and play strength to get the job done. NFL scouts believe he can play tackle or guard."
C.J. Hanson
A seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Hanson made the Chiefs' roster out of training camp last year and proceeded to appear in one game (Week 18).
Prior to being drafted, Hanson played in 43 games at Holy Cross, which included 38 consecutive starts at right guard. He earned all-conference honors in both 2021 and 2022 before garnering FCS All-American recognition in 2023.
Joey Lombard
One of the newest members of the team, Lombard earned a contract following a successful tryout at Mandatory Minicamp.
Lombard, a rookie from the University of South Dakota, started 48 games – primarily at center – during his time with the Coyotes. He earned All-America honors for his efforts in 2024. A tryout participant in Kansas City's rookie minicamp earlier this offseason as well, he'll now have an opportunity to show what he can do during training camp.
Hunter Nourzad
The No. 159 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Nourzad – who stands at 6-foot-3 and 317 pounds – appeared in all 17 games for Kansas City last season. He was primarily a special teamer as a rookie, matching the team-lead for special teams' snaps by an offensive lineman, but he also had a chance to log 31 snaps at center in Week 18. He looked good, too, and didn't allow a single pressure on 24 pass-blocking snaps.
Prior to joining the Chiefs, Nourzad recorded starts at right tackle (20 games), center (13 games), left guard (7 games) and right guard (1 game) during his collegiate career, including 13 starts at center in 2023.
That positional versatility is invaluable, and heading into 2025, Nourzad will have a chance to earn a Swiss Army Knife sort of role that others, notably Nick Allegretti, have manned in recent years.
The Bottom Line
The Chiefs have kept 10 offensive linemen for Week 1 in each of the last two seasons, and at least over the last six years, Kansas City has retained at least nine offensive linemen prior to every season. With that in mind, history tells us that Kansas City will keep at least nine of the 15 offensive linemen currently on the roster.
That group will surely include the three returning starters in Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey and Jawaan Taylor, plus the primary contenders for the left tackle spot (Jaylon Moore and Josh Simmons) and left guard position (Mike Caliendo and Kingsley Suamataia).
Wanya Morris is a good bet to make the team due to his youth and experience, and Hunter Nourzad – who impressed in Week 18 last year – figures to be a versatile player along the interior who also contributes heavily on special teams.
The inclusion of those nine players then leaves potentially one spot remaining for the other six offensive linemen on the roster. Ethan Driskell (at tackle) and C.J. Hanson (an interior lineman) both made the team last year as rookies, and each will have an opportunity to build on that progress heading into 2025. Additionally, Chu Godrick is a veteran of the Chiefs' system at this point and will have every chance to earn a swing tackle role in training camp.
The Chiefs' trio of undrafted rookie free agent signees will be worth watching, too, between Esa Pole (a tackle) and interior linemen Dalton Cooper and Joey Lombard. Even if they don't make the team initially, a spot on the practice squad – as players such as Caliendo have demonstrated – could prove valuable in the long run.
It's all to say that Kansas City's offensive line is one of the more interesting storylines to follow throughout camp, and considering that the true evaluation of this group can't really begin until padded practices commence in St. Joseph, those first few weeks will be fun to watch.
