On Saturday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler continued his annual survey series with the interior offensive line position. To come up with the rankings, Fowler polls the NFL’s top executives, coaches and scouts to create positional rankings.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isaiah Pacheco was named an honorable mention in the initial column released Monday, and Chris Jones earned the top spot for defensive tackles on Tuesday. After missing out on a representative for defensive ends on Wednesday, the Chiefs scored another honorable mention with safety Justin Reid on Thursday. And finally, on Friday, tight end Travis Kelce, like Jones, was named the top at his position.
As it played out, voting showed that the Chiefs have the best interior offensive line in the league, with all three of their starters — left guard Joe Thuney, center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith — in the top 10. First, Thuney:
4. Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 31 | Last year’s ranking: 2
Thuney is something of a pass-blocking wizard. He lost four out of 431 pass-block attempts for a 99.1% win rate with one sack attributed. That clip easily led the NFL.
The Chiefs have gotten a great investment out of Thuney’s five-year, $80 million deal in free agency signed three years ago.
“Grip strength — once he’s attached, he stays attached,” said an AFC executive about Thuney’s pass protection. “Incredibly fundamental.”
His drop from No. 2 to No. 4 year-over doesn’t signal declining play. The entire top five was closely ranked.
“I know he’s good, but there are a lot of younger, more explosive players that you could do more with in an offense,” an NFC executive said.
At No. 7, Humphrey:
7. Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 8
Age: 25 | Last year’s ranking: 8
Humphrey has made a compelling case for the game’s best overall center now that Jason Kelce is retired.
Humphrey and teammate Trey Smith are both considered elite and gems from the 2021 draft class. But Humphrey tends to get the slight nod over Smith, who’s considered better in the run game.
“Extremely consistent, especially in pass pro, good athlete, very smart and tough and very, very steady,” said an NFL personnel director of Humphrey. “A great communicator and field general. Became better than I gave him credit for coming out.”
Humphrey had one core issue last year.
“He had a snapping issue late last year that was probably a bigger issue than [the team] let on,” a veteran NFL defensive coach said. “Mahomes didn’t know what to expect back there for a while. That’s something he’ll have to get fixed.”
At No. 9, Smith:
9. Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year’s ranking: Honorable mention
Smith sometimes gets overshadowed by Humphrey and Thuney, but he adds a unique dimension to the Chiefs offense.
“Powerful and violent at the point of attack,” one exec said. “Can really dominate in the run game. More of a gap-scheme specialist so it’s pick your flavor with him. But I could see why people who are high on him are really high.”
Added an NFC executive: “He might be No. 1 for me eventually.”
Smith’s 96.6% pass block win rate ranked third among guards under consideration.
A great draft success story, Smith fell to the seventh round in 2021 due to a heart condition detected while at Tennessee. He’s overcome that to become a major contributor.
The Chiefs have long wanted to retain both Humphrey and Smith, who are both entering the final year of their rookie contracts in 2024. It is entirely possible that happens before Kansas City plays its first game in September. Thuney’s contract runs through 2025.
So, not only do the Chiefs have the game’s best interior, but they also stand to keep it intact for at least the next two seasons. Thuney has already shown he’s willing to work with Kansas City’s personnel staff to stay in a Chiefs uniform.
Kansas City is fortunate the interior is so good, given Jawaan Taylor’s early-season struggles in 2023 and their current vacant left tackle position. The trio listed will play a significant role in 2024, making sure two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes has enough time as the team intends to get back to throwing downfield.
