Why BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia may very well be Chiefs’ long-term left sort out

With the 63rd choose of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs chosen left sort out Kingsley Suamataia from BYU. The Chiefs moved up one spot with the San Francisco 49ers, buying and selling a fifth-round choose (173) whereas additionally getting again a sixth-round choose (211). In response to the Wealthy Hill commerce chart, that is equal to the Chiefs giving up a mid-sixth to maneuver up one spot.

With Suamataia, the Chiefs lastly clear up their long-term left sort out subject they haven’t solved since Eric Fisher tore his Achilles within the Tremendous Bowl. It’s been a protracted highway, with the Chiefs buying and selling for Orlando Brown Jr., not extending him, after which revolving between Donovan Smith and Wanya Morris final season. It was a precedence for the group to resolve the place long-term this offseason. With Suamataia, they’ve the prospect with each trait to be that left sort out for the longer term.

Right here’s what you have to learn about Suamataia;

Background

Popping out of Utah, Suamataia was one of many highest recruits within the nation. Suamataia was a five-star recruit who was top-35 total and the sixth offensive sort out in his class, which included J.C. Latham and Amarius Mims. Suamataia had provides from huge colleges throughout the nation, Suamataia selected to comply with within the footsteps of his cousin, All-Professional proper sort out Penai Sewell, and decide to Oregon.

Suamataia solely performed for one yr in Oregon, showing in a single sport and redshirting earlier than getting into the switch portal in 2022. Suamataia determined to return nearer to dwelling and enroll at BYU. Suamataia’s highschool teammate, Rams star vast receiver Puka Nacua, was an enormous a part of the recruiting course of. Suamataia had two profitable seasons as a beginning sort out at BYU — one yr on the correct, adopted by one other on the left — and made the All-Massive 12 second-team in 2023.

Suamataia confirmed out on the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Mix. On the mix, Suamataia is shorter than most tackles at 6’4 5/8 (fifteenth percentile) however at a formidable 326 lbs. (eightieth percentile) with 34 1/4” arms (58th) and 82 1/8” wingspan (54th). Suamataia solely carried out within the jumps, placing up a 28” vertical bounce (forty sixth) and 110” broad (82nd). Suamataia did run the 40-yard sprint at his Professional Day, placing up a formidable 5.04 40-yard sprint with a 1.74 10-yard break up.

Movie evaluation

Suamataia is a bundle of each trait that Andy Reid likes in a left sort out. First, his dimension stands out. Suamataia’s size and width are the idea of his sport. His width makes it laborious to get round, slicing off quick angles across the nook. Suamataia additionally makes use of his size nicely, protecting guys out of his chest who attempt to assault him with energy. Suamataia is well-built at 326 lbs. and has an elite anchor. Suamataia likes to indicate his chest and take up energy. Since he’s larger than most defensive ends he faces, he is aware of they haven’t any likelihood of shifting him again into the pocket.

Suamataia’s grip power can be spectacular, having palms of metal that latch onto defenders. As soon as he will get into your body, good luck getting him off. He makes use of a “snatch/entice” transfer nicely, getting his arms on prime of defensive ends and throwing them to the bottom. He has the hand power to knock gamers fully off steadiness with this transfer.

In house, Suamataia seems like a participant that’s 226 lbs. His velocity and vary at that dimension are actually particular. Suamataia can latch onto blocks 15-20 yards downfield and is a large weapon within the display sport. He’s seeking to knock opponents off their ft when he reaches full velocity, however he’s fluid sufficient to change his angles and make his presence felt.

Suamataia was primarily a zone blocker at BYU and an excellent one at that. He’s robust sufficient to widen a frontside defensive finish attempting to set an edge and even exhibits good recognition to slingshot defensive ends upfield who attempt to win with penetration. He’s additionally quick sufficient to succeed in linebackers on the bottom of zone performs or cave a bottom defensive sort out, clearing large cutback lanes for a working again.

Suamataia isn’t only a zone blocker, nonetheless. He’s good at pulling and might be utilized in hole runs, and his energy and power enable him to have a facet of a line of scrimmage, clearing a path for pullers to return round.

Whereas I’m extremely excessive on Suamataia as a prospect, I’m unsure he’s prepared to begin 12 months 1. Whereas he exhibits each trait you’d ever need from a left sort out, he’s extremely uncooked. Suamataia’s hand placement and cross units want a variety of work. He’ll flash moments the place you see these abilities, however they’re inconsistent. He often oversets, shedding on the within shoulder. He usually offers up a brief nook by not getting sufficient depth and opening his hips sufficient. Suamataia generally is a bit lazy together with his palms, simply utilizing his chest and letting a defensive finish dictate the trail he goes. His palms get vast and outdoors the body, which can trigger NFL defensive ends to attract a variety of holdings within the NFL.

Nonetheless, there have been flashes. I assumed he confirmed extra development in these areas all through the season. He began incorporating extra impartial palms and vertical units, demonstrating the flexibility to pressure and get better inside and minimize off a nook together with his palms. Suamataia would open his hips extra in his cross set, slicing off the nook and utilizing his body to tackle energy. He’s a younger participant with out a ton of expertise, however I assumed he acquired higher because the season progressed in these areas.

The underside line

Now, the query with Suamataia is whether or not he can begin instantly. Candidly, my reply was no after I watched him predraft.

I believe a variety of work must be executed together with his sport, and for a rookie transitioning to the NFL, it will likely be a variety of work getting him up to the mark. He’s now not going through 240-pound edge rushers like within the Massive 12. In opposition to elite edge rushers within the NFL, a few of his unhealthy habits are going to matter extra.

And but, I couldn’t care much less. No matter whether or not it’s him stunning and successful the job, Wanya Morris beginning at left sort out, or one other veteran being introduced in, it is a future play. Suamataia, with an excellent offensive line coach like Andy Heck, makes me extremely optimistic about his future. Heck will clear up many of the mess in his sport, and together with his supreme mix of dimension and athleticism, there’s nothing he can’t obtain on a soccer area.

I needed Suamataia at No. 32. The actual fact the Chiefs acquired him at 63 is ridiculous. I believe Suamataia has a real Professional Bowl upside. He’s solely 21 and figures to be the long-term left sort out for Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have spent years attempting to resolve that post-Eric Fisher, and with Suamataia, I really feel assured in saying they lastly discovered that man.

Grade: A+