6 Chiefs Playing for Their Jobs in Training Camp

6. Lucas Niang, OT

It's been four years since he was drafted 96th overall and Chiefs fans are still wondering if Lucas Niang possesses anything better than he's shown.

Niang, 25, has taken the Kansas City fanbase on a rollercoaster ride. After sitting out of the entire 2020 season due to COVID-19, former TCU blocker took on a significant role in the following year as he started in nine of his 12 appearances. He handled his assignments well, playing to 70.0 run block and 59.1 pass block grades, per Pro Football Focus.

But much to his dismay, Niang's play has declined since his first season. He's played just 37 passing downs across the last two seasons compared to 360 in 2021 allowing five pressures. Even if that's a small sample size, allowing a pressure every seven or so snaps is never a positive thing.

Niang's uphill claim only became steeper with the Chiefs adding promising rookie offensive linemen Kingsley Suamataia, Hunter Nourzad, and C.J. Hanson through the 2024 NFL Draft. That's without mentioning how the 6-foot-8, 313-pound Ethan Driskell and international project Chukwuebuka Godrick also won't make the ex-Horned Frog's life any easier.

Niang showed potential early in his career, but any signs of promise have been buried by underwhelming performances. Time will tell if he has what it takes to reverse that perception, but I won't hold my breath.

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