One NFL analyst doesn’t think Patrick Mahomes should be happy about the Kansas City Chiefs’ free agency thus far.
After facing offensive line questions throughout the 2024 season, the Chiefs traded All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears. They used the franchise tag on right guard Trey Smith and hoped to land a new starting left tackle when signing Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal.
However, NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha isn’t convinced Moore represents a suitable solution for the reigning AFC champions. The columnist expressed concern about the left side of Kansas City’s offensive line when identifying Mahomes as one of his free-agent “losers.”
“Moore has been a backup behind Trent Williams for the last four years in San Francisco, which means there’s no guarantee he can be an effective option,” Chadiha wrote. “Thuney was the insurance policy the Chiefs turned to late last season, when he assumed left tackle duties with four games left in the regular season, but he’s gone. There’s also likely to be a competition at left guard, where failed tackle Kingsley Suamataia most recently toiled.”
After the Chiefs traded Thuney, The Athletic’s Nate Taylor reported that they planned to target Ronnie Stanley. However, the Pro Bowl left tackle re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
“There’s still plenty of time to figure all this out, but Mahomes might not have any clarity on this until preseason action starts,” Chadiha wrote of Kansas City’s o-line.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during warmups prior to Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Kansas City will instead trust Moore to protect its superstar quarterback in his first full-time starting opportunity. Some metrics inspire more optimism than Chadiha.
According to Pro Football Focus, Moore allowed five sacks in 826 career snaps for San Francisco. He hasn’t committed a penalty in the last two seasons, and he graded 25th among 141 tackles (74.9) in 2024.
Chadiha also identified Jerry Jones as free agency’s biggest loser, noting that Myles Garrett’s market-setting extension will make it “a whole lot harder” for the Dallas Cowboys to lock down Micah Parsons. He also labeled the Cincinnati Bengals a loser after star defender Trey Hendrickson requested a trade.
Meanwhile, quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Jayden Daniels are among Chadiha’s biggest offseason winners.
