After years of somewhat mediocre blindside protection, the Kansas City Chiefs hoped that Josh Simmons would finally put an end to their woes. For a brief time, that seemed to be the case, but it didn't last long.
Simmons has missed extensive time in his year-plus in the league, including the first two weeks of the 2026 NFL season. As such, the Chiefs had no choice but to turn to undrafted rookie free agent Kahlil Benson, a former right tackle, to take his spot.
That's why, with him still not practicing at full capacity and the team taking things slowly, given his injured back, there shouldn't be any guarantees. Simmons might be a former first-round pick and all, but the former Ohio State Buckeye has to earn his stripes again.
The Chiefs can't just give Josh Simmons the starting LT spot
Benson has been one of the biggest storylines in Kansas City this season. He went from being an overlooked national champion right tackle to moving to the left side of the line on short notice to protect Patrick Mahomes' blindside.
After two weeks, and despite dealing with tough matchups against Nik Bonitto and Laiatu Latu, Benson has yet to give up a single sack. He's allowed six total pressures in 86 pass-blocking snaps, and while he's been called for two penalties, he has only given up two quarterback hits.
Benson has also been proficient in the running game. Pro Football Focus gave him a 74.7 run-blocking grade, ranking 15th among 66 eligible players. With Kenneth Walker III wreaking havoc out of the backfield, that's no minor thing.
Then, on the other side of the line, Jaylon Moore has done a surprisingly solid job at right tackle. Like his rookie teammate, Moore has outperformed expectations as well. He's given up just four pressures, though he did allow a sack and a couple of quarterback hits.
Moore's track record as a career backup suggests that he won't be this good for much longer, but even if that's the case, Andy Reid can't just give Simmons the key to ignition again. He must know that availability matters, and he'll have to push to get his job back, be it at left or right tackle.
At the end of the day, moving Benson back to his natural spot and having Simmons take over at left tackle would be the best scenario. That said, even when healthy, Simmons was still a work in progress as a blindside protector. But all the tools are there for All-Pro potential
This isn't just about Benson playing his heart out and making general managers look foolish for passing on him; it's about sending the right message. Everyone has to perform and deliver. Otherwise, they'll be riding the pine.
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