Thuney had probably the best game a LT has had for this team in a few years.

Yep.

I said before the game that this was his gold jacket moment.

I was right. He was excellent.

He did. Literally played like a pro bowl LT last night

I really think Thuney earned his gold jacket last night. That’s gonna pump his resume so damn much

FTFY

The Chiefs were driving again on the last drive and easily could have put up another TD for all of the margin of victory people. With a little luck on some of those fumbles, this game easily could have been a 21 point route. Allen is the luckiest player I have ever seen, he should be a turnover machine with how he plays.

Hold the L Caliendo haters.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GiUfe6bX...pg&name=medium

Run plays away from him. Have short bail outs.

Humphries is not playing.

It is Thuney ride or die.

Get used to it.

Thuney just gets better and better at this every week LMAO

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joe Thuney, a left guard new to playing left tackle, had a PFF pass-blocking grade of 89.3 vs. the Bills. Highest grade of ANY offensive linemen from Conference Championship weekend. First-ballot Hall of Famer.</p>&mdash; Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) <a href="https://twitter.com/Arrowhead_Adam/status/1883963632171798956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I suppose it's possible that he was great over the course of the game but...man...the one where he got picked up and driven into Mahomes's lap couldn't have happened at a worse time.

This thread is gonna be so full of receipts ROFL

No one has shit on Thuney, it’s about getting the best 5 people on the line. It’s not an unreasonable question to wonder if that includes Calliendo (the Daniel Sorensen of the OL).

He’s been ****ing awesome.

Our line was a dumpster fire that first game vs the Bills

Little nervous about Caliendo vs Carter ngl

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ed Oliver almost killed Mahomes on this rep. Watch him shed this block and explode past. Sheesh. <a href="https://t.co/hPdzPrbx5v">pic.twitter.com/hPdzPrbx5v</a></p>&mdash; Adam (@adampensel) <a href="https://twitter.com/adampensel/status/1884753297157837283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jesus Christ he almost got Leonard Marshall'd.

Let's frame this in a way that should make everyone happy.

This should be the last time for a good long while that Caliendo has to start at LG for the Chiefs.

One more game.

Just a little? I can assure you Pat's not only gonna have a lot of pressure in general to deal with but now that our interior line has a weak link. JC is gonna blow that up IMO. Don't think it will be full Tampa Bay like, but it could resemble it to some degree. Just saying.

He was great except for the play where Phillips lift him up like Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing.

ROFLROFLROFLROFL

You doomers gotta STOP.

Chiefs will double Carter and call it a day.

CREED gonna own that puss.

I'm not being a doomer here but you should really tone it down.

The SAME argument you guys used for Thuney (OMG DJ might get Mahomes killed!) is actually applicable to Caliemdo in the clip Run just posted. We are damn lucky Mahomes wasnt hurt.

Put down the stone, your glass house will be fine.

Half of the battle is who MAHOMES FEELS comfortable with. That sure as shit wasn't Kingsley or Morris. Always had happy feet even if he did have good protection. Mahomes simply is more confident with Thuney. Its about trust. I don't care if it is placebo at this point. It works.

Don't necessarily disagree. I just hope Caliendo is up for the challenge. Carter is a beast.

There's no way on earth this coaching staff is going to leave Caliendo one-on-one vs Carter.

You don't win 3 (soon to be 4) SBs making decisions like that.

I've never seen an offensive lineman actually get lifted off his feet before until Calliendo. He's a huge weak link, that thankfully so far they have been able to game plan around.

This Philly DL is well balanced and they have a young Chris Jones in the middle with speed on the edge and they play well together.

Ed Oliver is good, but Carter is on another level.

Just like leaving a 2nd round rookie on an island with ZERO help?

It was the first two games of the season. If you didn't notice, the regular season is essentially an 18 week pre-season to figure out what works and what doesn't. They just wanted to throw him into the fire and see exactly where he was would be my guess.

They figured out pretty quickly he was not a finished product. I honestly don't really have a problem with that approach.

I know exactly what your saying BUT they didn't just throw him out into teh fire and see what happens....They walked him up a volcano and while he was leaning over looking in, pushed him in the back into the Lava!

Very true, I almost wonder if they actually knew he was nowhere close to ready, and just wanted to get some film out there to see what he needed to work on. I know that sounds crazy to most, but the way this team operates is just very different.

It's also very possible that he just looked that good in practice that they felt comfortable just throwing him out there, and they found out pretty quickly live game action wasn't quite the same for him. Who knows, but whatever the plan was, I hope they have figured out a new one. :)

I don't think we had anyone in camp with enough bend/speed to exploit his biggest weakness.

Absolutely played a part of the results we got I'm sure.

You’ve already got people saying Simmons was the best tackle. Rosenhaus is his agent and said he’d be ready to go by training camp.

He’s not falling to us guys.

SSSSSSHHHHH yes he will!

What are the odds of Thuney staying at LT and drafting a stud guard? Might also allow us to keep Smith money wise.

Could also look at Ronnie Stanley or Alaric Jackson?

Either of these guys would be incredible, but I can't see either team letting them go. Jackson is still only 26, I don't see how the Rams would let him slip away.

Stanley is 30, but still one of the best and seems to be over his injury issues. If either of these guys somehow makes it to free agency, I have to believe Veach will be in on them. They have to be tired of this musical chairs nonsense.

Thuney isn't play LT for an entire season.

Just to nip any potential debate in the bud, we're sticking with what has (mostly) worked.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Andy Reid says that he plans to stick with Joe Thuney at left tackle into the Super Bowl. Mike Caliendo will be the starter at left guard.</p>&mdash; Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgsween/status/1885024634329825527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Higher than most people think.


I do think they will draft another tackle in the 2nd or 3rd to compete with Kingsley but if none are ready, guess who is back at LT?

Its not Thuney that concerns me. Its the thought that Caliendo could get destroyed playing LG against the Eagles.

We know. This subject has been exhaustedly debated

I think they'll look into Stanley and Jackson, but if the price gets out of hand (and it will) then I think you'll see them resign Humphries and let him and Kingsley battle it out. My money would be on that scenario. I really don't see the point in taking another tackle in the high rounds who's most likely just going to ride the bench all season. We have too many pending free agents to go that route, we're going to need our picks to play next year.

Man, the more I think about it, I hope they just go balls deep for Jackson if the Rams let him get to free agency. The dude is only 26 and is exactly what this team would look for in a left tackle. After how hard they went after Trent Williams, I really think if they have a shot at an elite option again, they just might go for it.

Interesting read about Jackson. He was spectacular in 2024, but the Rams apparently will let him test the market. Dude has only given up 4 sacks in over 2,000 snaps the past two years, and that's with Stafford back there. He'd look even better here.

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/1...isions-jackson

If Jackson hits the market, we should be on that like white on rice.

I don't think he will.

I don't think he'll break the bank (probably in the order of 4/$60 million) and at those figures, why would you let him walk if you're the Rams?

They have $40 million in available cap space even if they DON'T extend Kupp (and I'm betting they will to drop that cap number from his present $29 million).

Noteboom is also hitting FA and at 30 years old, he has less long-term value for them. He's the guy they'd be more likely to let walk but they won't lose BOTH those guys.

If anything I could see them looking to move on from Havenstein to free up a little space to bring Noteboom back at one OT spot with Jackson signing long-term for the other.

They just don't have many expensive players, very little in the way of dead money and no real pressing re-sign candidates given that they re-set a lot of their defensive talent this last off-season.

They'll bring Jackson back.

I wonder about Dan Moore out of Pittsburgh.

He's developed on a pretty steady arc out there. He's...fine. He's a LT who's just entering his prime coming off a rookie deal. Probably not likely to get a massive deal and isn't someone I'd expect Pittsburgh to franchise.

I wonder if he couldn't end up getting in that same $14-16 million/yr range. He wasn't great, but he was adequate, especially in pass pro. Seems to perhaps be a slightly cheaper, slightly longer term alternative to Robinson.

I mean agents aren't stupid and if they get wind that multiple teams are interested and willing to pay why would he sign until after he meets with other teams? If you think 4/$60M will get him why wouldn't Jackson and his agent test the waters OR make the Rams tag him at about $25M? If the Rams are only paying 4/$60M no way they tag him at $25M. Then at that point how could you not want to be a Chief and protecting Mahomes?

0% chance

There are some solid veteran options at LT that could be 'front of the line' OTs.

And every year there's some guy who ends up lost in the game of musical chairs and falls through the cracks.

I don't think it will be Jackson...but it could be. If Tyron Smith, Dan Moore, Cam Robinson, Noteboom, Morgan Moses - hell, maybe Becton - all go out there and sign deals quickly in FA, maybe the music stops and nobody's eager to throw $15 million/yr at Jackson.

It's not likely, but it's a possibility.

I also think there's more tampering than we realize. If Jackson is going to get $18 million on the open market, I suspect the Rams know that. And they'll go ahead and give it him themselves.

There's a reason most of these younger guys don't change teams. Teams seem to have a REALLY good feel for what the market will support. The Christian Kirk scenario is pretty rare.

Ugh.

Can we maybe just still be a little patient with Morris or Kingsley?

Seriously, I just look at Moore and think "Naw, man -- that's nothing special at all. That's just a guy the Steelers kept sending out there until he stopped sucking..."

There's ZERO reason at all that Morris couldn't be at least as good as Moore was last season. Or that Kingsley couldn't become Alaric Jackson.

It sucks that we have to go through the teething process with some of these young guys especially at a position so vital, but MOST of these guys we're looking at as options now, including Robinson or Noteboom, are guys who just weren't very good at all early in their careers and they took time to develop.

Humphries/Morris/Kinglsey is GOING to yield a viable LT. I really do believe that.

Don't most young OL take time?

Like I get it, we're in the middle of a dynasty. We want every rookie to be a contributor. Just seems like some of us are being unrealistic. We're not gonna bat 1000, not every draft pick is gonna be a home run.

Amen.

Charles Leno.

We'd have given a right arm for the guy that Charles Leno was over about a 3-4 year stretch during his peak this season.

And I've never EVER seen anyone get shredded as badly as he did that night for the Bears. It was Kingsley bad. And the Bears just stuck with him and he's had a hell of an NFL career.

The guys we want are guys we CAN have. We're just gonna have to grow with them a bit. And it's been so long since we've really broken in a new OT (Eric Fisher) that we maybe forgot? Someone like Branden Albert was more the exception than the rule. And it's moreso now than ever with college tackles being less and less prepared for the pro game. They're coming out sooner. They're getting less practice time.

It's just gonna take some bumps in the road.

This and all of this!

I have felt all along that our LTOTF is already on the roster. Wanya or Kingsley will be that guy eventually.

I was seriously hoping we would go into the playoffs and early next year with DJ holding the position down until one of them is ready.

Maybe expecting him for the playoffs was to much but an offseason and training camp could make all the difference? If they bring him back.

If not, one of our boys will be expected to take the position and we will have to deal with the growing pains.

We have spent a 3rd round as well as traded up in the 2nd round for two OTs and I dont see the Chiefs spending their 1st on another one. Unless something crazy happens, like Simmons falling. (unlikely)

I see our young Tackles being bookends at some point in the future.

Can someone please explain to me why you all are so fixated on DJ Humphries? Did you get so lost in the sauce arguing about why he should play LT over Thuney that you've mentally built him up into something he's not? Because current day Humphries is a brokedick that from what I saw isn't performing much above JAG level with severe inconsistency to boot.

You want to bridge to Suamataia, fine. He should've been redshirted this year anyway, but for the love of God find someone to bridge the gap that's actually somewhat reliable.

Morris ****ing sucks and is going to be playing out his contract and ****ing off.

Yes they did.

You nailed it. But then they hid behind "Thuney upgrades guard" when in fact Joe broke foot off in ass against the Bills at LEFT TACKLE.

It's just bizarre. Why would you want to run back the same OT situation in 2025 that ultimately ended up in Thuney starting at LT throughout the playoffs in 2024.

For the same reasons Veach signed him in the first place.

When healthy he's been good. Not great, just good.

And a year further removed from a major surgery, with an entire camp and offseason program, it's reasonable to assume he might still be good.

Look where I started in this very thread - I'm not married to DJ Humphries and don't figure he's some elite option at LT. But the odds of him merely being good next season are no better or worse than any of the other short term, affordable options available like Tyron Smith.

It's not THAT complicated.

Veach was interested in him and gave him the rest of our available cap space for a reason.

I agree NEXT SEASON.

But if you take some time to go back and look at old film of him, and I did, he looks like a COMPLETELY different dude. Before the ACL he was REALLY athletic, fast, powerful, great punch, got into his set super fast.

Doesn't look ANYTHING like that at all.

Just google it and look how different he looks in his pro bowl year to now. He's def not 100%.

I don't care if he's great or good. The availability is the problem and it always has been with him, and there's a very good chance the constant injuries have compounded into him not even being good.

Veach gave him our remaining cap space because he was a desperation signing since both Suamataia and Morris were struggling horrendously.

Who's arguing THIS season at this point? I'm certainly not.

At this point I think the best option would be trying out Jawaan Taylor over there in the offseason and if it works being ****ing done with it all.

Oh I just mean this 3000+ comment thread where guys wanted him starting THIS YEAR when it's clear he's not ready.

Naw Taylor really solidifies the RT, and this is the second year he's been nails in the post season.

I really think we have to trade for a tackle.

27 years old. Knows the system. Two years straight where he's played his best ball in the post season and apparently learns how to not draw ****ing penalties.

I believe Thuney very loudly put an end to that conversation against Buffalo.

Now the only real question is Caliendo vs Williams. It remains to be seen how that will go, but it's what we've got. Thuney earned the start.

RT is much easier to plug and play out of college. Small sample size, but Morris looks significantly better when he's playing there.

He draws fewer penalties in the postseason because flags go down in the post-season so most of the ticky tack bullshit he gets nailed with in the regular season stops.

He'd be fine on flags in the regular season to but/for bullshit.

I'd be fine trying him at LT and maybe fixing that position for a half-decade to come. But you're gonna get all pissy at the idea of Morris at RT and a rookie RT is going to be every bit as raw as one at LT.

Okay so Humphries, Suamataia, and Taylor competing for LT?

I'm pretty cool with that plan, the math says at least one of them will be able to earn it

I wouldn't even bother with a competition. If Taylor can provide even adequate play give him the ****ing job and be done with it. He's already proven to be stable in performance and able to stay healthy. Don't want to **** around yet again with a vet that already has an injury history longer than a CVS receipt that will almost inevitably miss time.

answers are on the roster. morris has looked the part of a competent RT in spot duty and will be a UFA around the time taylor needs a re-up. if he keeps looking the part when called upon i don't see why you don't take a gamble.

at LT you sign a veteran like humphries and let suamataia earn the spot. probably draft another body as a safety net. worst comes to worst - none of the guys pan out in two years and you got to spend big money but youd be spending that on taylor anyways.

Well, the experiment worked for a while.

There was no better option!

Well never know now.

Which goes to show why Brett Veach is clearly an inferior GM to Howie Roseman and quite frankly probably a few other GMs. The next good OT he drafts will be the first.

Give it a try with Humphries at LT and move Thuney back inside. Because this clearly isn't working.

Need to just put him in, couldn’t possibly be worse. Don’t even let Caliendo out of the locker room, send him home on a Greyhound bus.

It was always going to be this way, even HOF guards can't moonlight as left tackles for very long... if Will Shields couldn't do it, neither can Thuney

Put him in put Thuney back at guard. Got to do something to give Pat some time

What exactly did you want him to do? Enlighten us all and if your answer is “Just trade up!” then explain to the class why the players we wouldn’t be taking are expendable to what we’ve accomplished in these 3 years

I’ll take our guy. Stop this shit.

5 Super Bowl berths and we’re brutalizing his legacy over one bad LT decision. He made a mistake. He is still the best gm in the league and it’s not particularly close

At least we’re putting the thuney to lt narrative to bed

You ever wonder why we always supposedly hav a talent deficit in these games? Philly is always picking late in the draft too and they’ve built a superior roster