After the 2023 season — when the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs signed free-agent offensive Donovan Smith to be their left sort out however began third-round rookie Wanya Morris for 4 video games when Smith was injured late within the season — we didn’t actually understand how the workforce had evaluated the efficiency of both participant.
We nonetheless don’t know a lot concerning the workforce’s confidence in Smith, who hasn’t but been re-signed for 2024. However it’s necessary to do not forget that Kansas Metropolis didn’t signal him till Could 3 — after the NFL Draft. This implied that the workforce might need been angling to take an offensive sort out within the draft’s first spherical however couldn’t make it work. So Smith appeared to have been the backup plan — and will nonetheless find yourself in the identical position in 2024.
However on Monday, head coach Andy Reid made it fairly clear that Morris remains to be within the working to be the workforce’s beginning left sort out this season.
“He was in a position to get in that blend and work with these guys,” Reid advised reporters. “So it seems like he’s in fairly fine condition proper now. And I believe he understands what it takes to be an every-down man at that spot.”
However Reid additionally emphasised that it’s not but a executed deal for Morris.
“There’ll be competitors,” added Reid. “He’s obtained to guarantee that he takes care of enterprise right here.”
On Friday, common supervisor Brett Veach supplied further readability about Morris’ state of affairs.
“We had been actually pleased with Wanya’s improvement final 12 months,” mentioned the GM. “I believe he confirmed some indicators early on within the OTAs that we had been actually enthusiastic about; [he] continued that progress and maturation course of throughout the coaching camp. After which [in the] center of the season there, he obtained a chance — [with] some good [and] some dangerous. And I believe Wanya would let you know this.
“In case you take a look at his physique of labor final 12 months, I believe on one finish, you’re comfortable that he was in a position to are available on the professional stage and be aggressive. It wasn’t excellent. However it additionally was strong play that I believe [was] basis to construct and develop on.”
Then Veach echoed Reid’s ideas from Monday.
“He has to come back in right here with the mindset that we’re gonna look to usher in competitors; he’s obtained to come back in right here and win that place,” continued Veach. “I believe it’s our job to go on the market and discover competitors for that left sort out spot. So I believe that there’s plenty of promise in there — and there’s plenty of skill. However definitely, it’s our job to usher in some competitors there and make him earn that.”
However will that competitors come from Smith, a sort out chosen within the draft or yet one more veteran sort out? We must always know the reply to that query someday throughout the subsequent two weeks.
