The Kansas City Chiefs made a bold move in the 2024 NFL draft, trading up to secure former BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 326 pounds, Suamataia aims to address a significant gap in the Chiefs’ lineup as the new starting left tackle alongside Jawann Taylor. His primary responsibility will be to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blindside.
Expressing his excitement to reporters after being selected on April 26, Suamataia couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about the opportunity to block for Mahomes. He directly assured the three-time Super Bowl MVP, “I’ve got you. Nobody’s going to touch you.” Suamataia, 21, also felt an instant connection with head coach Andy Reid, who shares his alma mater of BYU. Describing the interaction with Reid as feeling like “home,” Suamataia likened it to spending time with a close family member.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(745x143:747x145)/patrick-and-brittany-mahomes-3-102323-53e349ecc93c4785ab9fab3dc48ff65e.jpg)
Aware of the Chiefs’ keen interest in him, Suamataia shared that Reid had expressed a desire to bring him on board. Now, having secured his place on the team, Suamataia is eager to prove himself and compete for his spot. Despite acknowledging the need to learn the playbook, he declared himself ready for the challenge.
Mahomes, in response to the Chiefs’ proactive approach in drafting Suamataia, expressed his appreciation for general manager Brett Veach’s efforts with a social media post exclaiming, “I love Veach man! 😎.”
