The second Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid announced that rookie UDFA Kahlil Benson would get the start in Week 1 at left tackle; he was lambasted by the majority of Chiefs fans (myself included). What the heck is he doing plugging in a rookie who never played on the left side in college or high school? Especially when they signed Jaylon Moore last offseason to presumably start on the left side before nabbing Josh Simmons with the 32nd overall pick.
Well, over two games, the Hall of Fame football coach in Reid was proven to be right in his assessment of Benson's ability. The former Indiana Hoosier performed about as well as one could, given the circumstances, allowing just a handful of pressures on Patrick Mahomes over 60-plus pass-blocking snaps.
His quick ascension had many wondering if they even needed Josh Simmons at all, as he remains out due to a lingering back injury that will likely have him sidelined through the Chiefs' Week 5 Bye. However, yesterday's game versus a poor Miami pass rush may have exposed some weaknesses in Benson's game that teams could continue to exploit as he puts more and more on tape.
Patrick Mahomes blindside protection job is still Josh Simmons' to lose after Kahlil Benson's rough Week 3 outing versus the Dolphins
Take the game-sealing Travis Kelce touchdown play as an example. While Mahomes, being who he is, stood tall in the pocket and delivered a dime to his favorite target, the Chiefs signal-caller took a shot that sent him flying to the ground, courtesy of Benson getting beat quickly inside.
It’s unfair but Look at Benson man, and what I had to read about Simmons for the last few weeks https://t.co/UUnVaKsAL8
— Flo-_- (@Flo_chiefs) September 27, 2026
Benson is a big guy at 6'6", 320 lbs, which gives him advantages in the running game and when going downhill. He can be a mauler at times, and certainly has played a part in Kenneth Walker III's efficient start to the season on the ground. But his size also comes with its pitfalls.
His feet are not at all quick enough for the better edge-rushers in the league, not by a long shot. And technique-wise, Benson simply isn't there in relation to a guy like Simmons- who was a multi-year starter at an elite college program, has experience in the Chiefs system, and was a first-round pick, based largely on his pure athletic traits and technical prowess.
It's one example of a play in a game where Benson certainly had better snaps, but there are also more instances in the game versus Miami of him getting beat more often and with an ease he'd not yet allowed. Two things can be true at once, and this is one of those scenarios.
Kansas City was absolutely right to put Benson at left tackle for the first three games of the season. He has performed well enough to give the Chiefs a chance from that position. It's also true that Simmons, if and when he returns healthy, is world's ahead of Benson from a snap-by-snap perspective and should be given the starting job right away.
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