The Kansas City Chiefs are staring down Week 1 against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, and who’s protecting Patrick Mahomes’ right edge on the offensive line is a massive question mark after their latest preseason game. All summer, the team invested heavily in Kahlil Benson, an undrafted rookie from Indiana, to be the guy at right tackle. But after his performance this past Saturday, it looks like that plan might be completely off the rails.
Benson’s Struggles Force a Major Rethink for the Chiefs
Benson’s preseason Week 2 performance was, well, disappointing. He just couldn’t hold up in pass protection, getting beaten quickly for pressure by rookie Rueben Bain Jr. and then surrendering a brutal strip-sack to outside linebacker Anthony Nelson. This is not what you want to see from the guy you’re counting on to keep Mahomes upright! Because of these struggles, it’s now likely the Chiefs will move Benson to guard. Interestingly, he played much better at guard last week against the Los Angeles Rams. But if he’s moving inside, that still leaves a gaping hole at right tackle with Week 1 barreling down. The Chiefs’ most ideal option right now appears to be Jaylon Moore, a five-year veteran who hasn’t exactly been tearing it up either. The only other real possibility is Esa Pole, a second-year player who took snaps at left tackle with the second-team offense in Saturday’s game. This whole situation is a massive headache for the Chiefs’ coaching staff.
Delane Shines While Wiley Stumbles
While the right tackle spot is a mess, there were other takeaways from the Chiefs’ second preseason outing. Mansoor Delane, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, made his debut at outside cornerback and looked absolutely legit. He played 11 snaps in the first quarter, across three drives, and Baker Mayfield and Jake Browning didn’t even *think* about throwing his way. Seasoned quarterbacks usually try to test rookie corners, but Delane shut them down completely. He even had a beautiful downhill trigger on a screen pass that disrupted the play for a loss. It looks like he’s totally capable of playing opposite Nohl Williams early on. On the other side of the ball, tight end Jared Wiley had a tough game. He managed two catches for 15 yards, which technically made him third on the team in receiving yards, but he was targeted four times and had a drop. Travis Kelce and Noah Gray are already great at catching passes in open space. What the Chiefs really need from a third tight end is someone willing to do the “dirty work,” and Wiley just hasn’t shown that yet.
The Chiefs have got some serious decisions to make before they kick off the regular season against the Broncos on Monday Night Football. Securing Patrick Mahomes’ blind side is non-negotiable, and right now, they don’t have a clear answer. They need to find a solution fast, or Week 1 could get real ugly.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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