The Chiefs are 4-0, sitting pretty at the top of the AFC and leading the AFC West after a tight win in Las Vegas on Sunday. While plenty of players have been grinding to get us here, it is rookie offensive lineman Kahlil Benson who has stepped up in one of the most important roles on the entire team, and frankly, it is wild to see.
Rookie Trust: Blind-Side Protection For Mahomes
Let’s be real, Benson was a training camp standout, and we all thought he was gunning for that starting right tackle spot. But then Josh Simmons was out, and boom, Benson is starting every single game at left tackle to kick off the 2026 season. Think about that for a second: the Chiefs’ brain trust felt confident enough to line up a rookie as Patrick Mahomes’ blind-side protector, especially after Mahomes just came off a serious knee injury. That’s a level of trust you just do not see often with a first-year player, but Benson has absolutely repaid that faith. We have one of the NFL’s most potent offenses this season, and while the team has played to Benson’s strengths, he has delivered with some seriously solid tape.
The Grades Are In, And Benson Is Balling Out
When we dig into Benson’s performance, the numbers tell a clear story. For game grades, I broke things down into run blocking, true pass protection, and assisted pass protection. True pass protection is your classic drop-back passes, where Benson is in a traditional pass-blocking set, facing down the nastiest edge rushers. Assisted pass protection covers plays like RPOs, screens, and play-action looks, which can give linemen a slightly easier time. Here is the kicker: through four weeks, against some legitimately formidable pass rushers, Benson has graded a 74% for true pass protection. His assisted pass protection grade is an even more impressive 85%. And do not sleep on his run game, where he is pulling in a 74% grade as a run blocker. Overall, his season grade sits at a very strong 77%. The team has definitely emphasized quicker passing patterns and more running the football, playing to his strengths, but Benson has answered every single call. He has been solid in pass protection and has yet to allow a sack. A big reason for this is the Chiefs pushing to get the ball out of Mahomes’ hands quicker. Remember 2023, when Mahomes averaged 2.5 seconds of pocket time per throw, seventh-longest in the NFL? Now, three seasons later, he is down to 2.2 seconds, below the league average. This shift helps players like Benson, who thrive on physicality and want to win snaps quickly. We saw it in his first game against Nik Bonitto, one of the NFL’s best edge rushers. Bonitto relies on speed and bend, rushing wide, but Benson was patient out of his stance, giving Mahomes the time he needed.
After a perfect 4-0 start and with the bye week now here, the team is locked in and Benson is a huge part of that success. With these grades and the trust he has earned, you have to wonder what is next for this offensive line and the league’s most potent offense when they hit the field again.
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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