For years, blindside protection has been a recurring issue for the Kansas City Chiefs. More often than not, Patrick Mahomes has had to channel his inner Houdini to work his magic and avoid taking big hits.
The Chiefs hoped that would finally end with Josh Simmons' arrival, and the rookie first-round pick showed some flashes of strong play in 2025. However, he missed extensive time with an off-the-field issue and a season-ending injury.
Now, he's reportedly dealing with a back injury and might need some time to get back to full strength. With the season opener right around the corner, the Chiefs' signing Taylor Decker is more than obvious.
The Chiefs cannot afford to take it slow with Josh Simmons' injury
Decker is a former Pro Bowler, and his camp may have miscalculated his actual market value. He asked for his release after reaching a contract impasse with the Detroit Lions, and he has remained unsigned since.
That said, he's by far the best and most established option still up for grabs in free agency, and he might be better than anything the Chiefs can aspire to find after rosters are trimmed to 53 players. Even if he's a bit pricier, they need him.
Decker isn't a superstar by any means, but he's reliable and battle-tested. More importantly, he's someone who's often available. Even when Simmons returns, they can move him to right tackle or figure things out on the fly.
The Chiefs already had some concerns in the trenches, especially in the bruising AFC West. Cutting Jawaan Taylor loose was a no-brainer move, given the financial implications and his never-ending struggles with penalties, but they didn't do much to replace him.
As things stand now, the Chiefs are set to roll into Week 1 with Jaylon Moore at left tackle and Khalil Benson on the right side if Simmons can't play. That spells trouble against the Denver Broncos' elite defensive front.
The trade for Baltimore Ravens UDFA tackle Diego Pounds was a nice depth addition by Brett Veach at virtually no cost, but that's all it is. A depth piece, not a starting-caliber player, just two weeks until kickoff.
Mahomes is coming off the first major injury of his career. Some players need a full season to regain their mobility and explosiveness, and even though Mahomes has gone the extra mile to prove otherwise, he's not an alien; he's a human being like the rest of us.
The Chiefs are playing a dangerous game by not addressing this concern. If they're unsure about Simmons' availability for the season opener or believe this could be a lingering issue throughout the season, they need to do something, and Decker is by far the best option they can get right now.
Add us as a preferred source on Google