Heading into the 2026 training camp in late July, the Kansas City Chiefs have very few big-time position battles going on throughout a roster that has been somewhat overturned on both sides of the ball, either in terms of coaching or players. However, the offensive line unit remains intact, and expectations have never been higher, as more playing reps and time playing alongside one another only build chemistry and make sure that Patrick Mahomes stays clean in the pocket.
One area of the o-line that has rarely been talked about is the left guard position, manned by Kingsley Suamataia. What was Joe Thuney's job for four years in KC, in which he performed at a constant All-Pro level, is now Suamataia's. The 23-year-old out of BYU and of both Samoan and Hawaiian descent enters his third full season with the Chiefs, and his second on the inside of the line at LG.
He was the Chiefs second round pick in 2024 and was originally thought to be the future at the left tackle position, as that was all he played in college. However, after limited reps, it was clear Suamataia needed time to develop into something a little different. And what he was able to show in his second season only amplifies hopes that he can become a star in the making.
Kingsley Suamataia enters the 2026 season with a clearer outlook for his career
After starting the first two weeks at left tackle his rookie season, Suamataia was relegated to the bench for the rest of the year due to how poorly he had played. So it's easy to imagine that anxiety was high among Chiefs fans when, months later, general manager Brett Veach traded away one of the best guards of all time, Joe Thuney, to the Chicago Bears and said as much that Suamataia will fill that role, no questions asked. The Chiefs clearly had a plan for Suamataia, but it was one that may have been seen as a little arrogant.
However, after a full first season playing at left guard in his second pro campaign, it's clear the Chiefs' vision came to fruition because Suamataia was, in a word, excellent for all 17 games. While the young fella certainly has room to grow, being that it's a brand new position for him, playing left guard certainly suits him better, rather than having to be a quick-footed tackle who is constantly being left on an island.
His measurables also make Suamataia an above-average athlete at guard as well, at 6'4" and roughly 330 lbs with 34-plus-inch arms and nearly 11-inch hands. He allowed just three sacks last year and accounted for six penalties. While a tad high, you'd expect a guy as talented as Suamataia to improve in his second year at guard and cut down on those numbers.
His improvement alongside Josh Simmons at left tackle, becoming a potential Pro-Bowler, gives Kansas City and Mahomes hope that the left side of the o-line is locked up for years to come. Pair that with the center-guard duo of Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith, who have been top-tier protectors since they stepped into the league, and the Chiefs have one of the best young offensive lines in the entire NFL. And one that is only going to get better, fueled by a year-three jump from Kingsley Suamataia.
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