After the 2024 season, it appeared that the Kansas City Chiefs had wasted a draft pick on tackle Kingsley Suamataia. The second-round selection looked to be incapable of playing tackle, whiffing and putting Patrick Mahomes in harm's way with alarming regularity in his rookie year. However, very quietly, the tides began to turn in year two after the Chiefs moved the second-year lineman to the inside. Suamataia switched to guard and gave up only three sacks in what was a clear year of progress.
While this doesn't mean that it was a clean season or that there aren't improvements to be made, Suamataia went from a clear bust to a viable starter. This was evidenced by a 65.1 Pro Football Focus grade that showcased his physicality and willingness to mix it up on the inside. It seems that taking Suamataia off an island at tackle has changed his level of aggression, allowing the young lineman to take a breath and put his career back on track.
For all the understandable hate that was thrown the lineman's way an offseason ago, it is now time to hand the guard his flowers. There is a clear progression, leaving room to wonder just how high the guard's ceiling might be. While the Chiefs still need to make changes on the outside, the reliability of Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith will help stabilize the unit as the starting trio between the tackles.
Chiefs Must Give Suamataia More Credit After Impressive 2025 Step Forward
It is fair to point out that if Suamataia hadn't shown such drastic improvement and held onto his starting job, an offseason roster cut would've been very likely. After flaming out at tackle, leaving fans beyond frustrated with the performance, such a move would have been warranted. While this was understandable, the job Suamataia did in the 2025 season and the obvious improvements are going underrated.
This isn't to argue that there isn't progress to be made, but pointing out that a player who appeared to be on the outs is now a clear starter for a prestigious franchise. It is an accomplishment that deserves respect and should garner a bit more love from a KC fan base that was understandably skeptical and frustrated with the lineman a season ago.
For Suamataia, the guard must continue to improve on the inside and show he can keep growing as a starter. As great a season as it was for Suamataia, the Chiefs fell flat and are understandably far more focused on what went wrong than on underrated contributors. Leaving Suamataia, not getting his due credit for what was a huge step in the right direction.