Starting in Week 8’s game against the Denver Broncos, however, there was a noticeable dip in his play. His run blocking wasn’t great, but the Chiefs were getting a solid return on their investment. While he had his issues with penalties, he held up surprisingly well in pass protection - even better than Brown in 2022.

He wouldn't need to be a star - but if he could be at least an average player on the left, having Taylor as a pillar on the right would be enough for the offensive line to remain one of the league’s best.Īnd through the season’s first seven games, I would argue that Smith played as well as anyone could have hoped. Kansas City hoped Smith’s performance would be closer to his well-above-average seasons prior to 2022. Some of this could have been explained by the hyperextended elbow he fought through all season - but it did allow the Chiefs to sign him at a reduced cost. He had allowed six sacks and 35 pressures - and committing 13 penalties. He received a modest one-year contract worth up to $9 million - but that carried a 2023 cap hit of just $2.8 million. So Kansas City got some insurance, signing an eight-year NFL veteran who had once protected Tom Brady: former Tampa Bay Buccaneers left tackle Donovan Smith. While I had a fourth-round grade on Morris, I did like his profile - and I was on board with the pick.īut it would have been asking a lot for him to switch sides and start as a rookie. In college, he was known for his powerful run blocking and elite length.

So the Chiefs got creative, trading up in the third round and using the 92nd pick to get Oklahoma right tackle Wanya Morris, who had transferred to the Sooners after starting his career at Tennessee. There weren’t any flawless options in free agency - and in the draft, it wasn’t likely the team could acquire someone who could start immediately. and after paying Taylor, their options to replace him were limited. The team also decided to part ways with left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. In 2023, Kansas City decided to move on from tight tackle Andrew Wylie, replacing him with former Jacksonville Jaguars right tackle Jawaan Taylor - and giving Taylor a four-year, $80 million contract. Should the Chiefs fully commit to Wanya Morris? This week, we’re talking about the rookie offensive tackle Wanya Morris. A week ago, we discussed the team’s selection of Felix Anudike-Uzomah and his struggles to get on the field. In this weekly series for Arrowhead Pride, I’ll ask one big question about the Kansas City Chiefs’ season.

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