The Kansas City Chiefs are bolstering Patrick Mahomes’ protection, snagging guard Joshua Ezeudu from the New York Giants in exchange for a 2028 seventh-round pick. This isn’t a blockbuster move that will make headlines for days, but for a team that’s seen Mahomes under plenty of pressure in recent seasons, any addition to the offensive line is worth a look.
Who Is Joshua Ezeudu, Anyway?
Ezeudu, originally a third-round pick by the Giants in 2022, has mostly played a spot-start role in New York. He logged a total of 738 snaps across 33 games, making 10 starts over his four seasons there. He primarily worked on the left side of the line, which gives the Chiefs some immediate positional flexibility. The big question mark hangs over his availability, though. He last saw regular-season action way back in 2024. A calf injury during the 2025 preseason sidelined him for the entire regular season that year, ending it before it even started. So, he’s basically been off the field for a full year of Sunday football. Despite that, the Giants re-signed him to a one-year deal in March, which you’d think might solidify his role, but clearly, things changed fast.
Why the Chiefs Pulled the Trigger on This Low-Cost Move
Let’s be real: a 2028 seventh-round pick is practically an acknowledgment that Ezeudu was likely on the chopping block anyway. This move screams “depth option,” and honestly, that’s exactly what Kansas City needs. Mahomes has been scrambling a lot, and the Chiefs’ offensive line has seen a lot of turnover, including a first-round pick on Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ezeudu’s recent preseason numbers are intriguing, even if you have to take preseason with a grain of salt. He hasn’t allowed a single pressure across 45 pass-block snaps in the 2026 preseason for the Giants, according to Pro Football Focus. In his 2025 preseason stint, before the injury, he allowed just one pressure over 60 pass-blocking snaps while playing both left tackle and left guard. Those numbers are solid for a backup, even if his general blocking troubles in regular-season play are a known factor.
This trade is pure insurance, a low-cost gamble for a team always looking to keep their superstar quarterback upright. Ezeudu’s job now is to prove he can translate those preseason flashes into reliable regular-season depth, especially after missing so much time. With the season already underway, every single snap counts, and the Chiefs need every piece of protection they can get.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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