The Chiefs are coming off a down year where they failed to make the postseason all-together after making the Super Bowl in five of the previous six seasons which included winning it three times. The offense sputtered during the 2026 season, and it will need to pick up the slack heading into next year if they plan on contending to win it all again. Mahomes seemed to not be as good without offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy and the team’s running back unit was amongst the worst in the NFL in 2025. Bienemy now returns to Kansas City, the team now projects to have an elite running back room heading into next year, and the offense may be in line to return to elite form. Here I will do a preview of the team’s offensive line heading into next season.
Set to start at left tackle is 2025 1st rounder Josh Simmons who is coming off a solid rookie season that he will now be in line to build off of going forward. Simmons during the 2025 campaign ranked (62/95) in terms of an overall offense grade among players at his position which is solid for a rookie. Simmons showed proficiency in terms of pass protection in year 1 ranking among the better tackles in the sport in that department despite being a rookie. Simmons however struggled in terms of run blocking grading among the worst tackles in the NFL as a rookie in that department. Given his very high draft selection and strong rookie play, he is in line to become a very good if not a great starting left tackle going forward for the Chiefs.
Slated to start at left guard is 2024 2nd rounder Kingsley Suamataia who has looked good thus far in the NFL and is still improving. Suamataia barely played as a rookie and looked poor in those very limited snaps he took. 2025 was Suamataia’s essential rookie season and he played very well ranking (37/87) in terms of an overall offense grade among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. Just like Simmons, Suamataia is going into his second season as a starter as such a high draft pick and will be in line to become a very good if not a great player going forward for the Chiefs.
Set to start at center for the Chiefs is future hall of famer Creed Humphrey who is arguably the top center in the NFL today. Humphrey has already made two first team All-Pro’s thus far in the NFL despite only playing five seasons thus far. Humphrey has graded as the best overall center in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus in three of his five seasons, while ranking second another time, and seventh the remaining time. One would be hard pressed to say he is not the top overall center in the NFL today.
Currently listed as the starter at right guard heading into 2026 is Trey Smith who is amongst the better guards in the NFL as a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl Champion. Smith in all five seasons he has played thus far in the NFL has graded in the well above average to borderline elite range among qualified players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. Smith is not quite elite as a starter at right guard but is likely the next closest thing.
Former 49ers’ standout backup tackle Jaylon Moore is set to start at right tackle for the Chiefs. Moore in his time with the 49ers has always been one of the premier backup offensive lineman in the NFL behind future hall of famer Trent Williams at left tackle. Moore consistently playing well in limited action as a reserve then moved to the Chiefs before this past season. Moore struggled with his health in 2025, playing at a subpar rate even when on the field. Moore will now head into his first season as an NFL starter after having been one of the premier reserve offensive lineman for years in the league. It remains to be seen how effective he will be, but now that he has gotten a chance to get acclimated to the Chiefs, I think he will prove to be solid if not more than that as a starter.
From a depth standpoint on the offensive front the Chiefs lack depth as of now and will likely need to stay healthier on the offensive line during the 2026 season. Interior offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad has looked solid in very limited NFL action but outside of him the Chiefs do not have a single player that strikes me as a high-end caliber backup in the NFL. The Chiefs I think have a very good offensive line that could end up being a great one if the young/unproven/inconsistent players develop/improve and if they can stay healthier on the offensive front and/or see some young unproven depth players emerge. A breakdown of the Chiefs’ offensive line heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
Projected 2026 Chiefs’ Starting Offensive Line
LT – Josh Simmons – C+ as rookie, 2025 1st rounder
LG – Kingsley Suamataia – 2024 2nd rounder, B so far, still improving
C – Creed Humphrey – A+, likely best center in NFL
RG – Trey Smith – B+
RT – Jaylon Moore – C+ to B- as backup, heading into first season as starter
Notable 2026 Chiefs’ Reserve Offensive Lineman
C/G – Hunter Nourzad – C+ to B- in very limited NFL snaps
