Niang has simply never approached the game like a job. He's routinely been out of shape, he hasn't been able to develop and despite little more than a speed bump in Wylie in front of him, he's never been able to earn the trust of the coaching staff.

Yes, this says more about Niang (it says very little for Morris, who was a 3rd round pick many projected in the 4th and shouldn't have reasonably been expected to step in on Day 1) than it does about Taylor or even Smith.

And if Smith starts - fine. Frankly, he probably should. Again, he has a long history of simply being a quality NFL OT, especially as a pass blocker. Why wouldn't we want to see him revert to form and take a starting spot? Why would that say anything bad about Morris or even Taylor?

This feels like your standard knee jerk response to "$9 million" that is then being doubled down on. And again, it completely ignores the new normal w/r/t NFL math. $9 million for a starting LT is asswipe money if he's even average. And yes, for the vast majority of his career he's been average to above average at LT.

That's exactly why bringing in Smith was a good move. It's low risk, high reward. It appears to be a incentive laden one year deal.

That's the case with the overwhelming majority of 3rd/4th round Tackles. Those guys don't just step into the starting lineup with any regularity.

And even if he could, if Taylor struggles to make the transition to LT or if Morris gets hurt, then what? Even in the present state, Taylor could struggle, Smith could be terrible again and Morris could still end up starting.

Y'all are getting WAY ahead of yourselves.

If they go with "best 5" it should work itself out, but there's a pathway to where we burned alot of capital and draft picks and the T spots just aren't much improved.

A one year contract to a veteran is exactly the type of contract you give to a guy you hope will lose his job. Think Austin Blythe. We will keep giving these 1 year type deals until we find our own guy in house. And like karlaftis with Dunlap, we’re not gonna just feed him to the sharks until he’s ready.

That's kind of handwaving the Niang situation. He was the starter, blew out his patella and didn't get the job back. Knowing how Andy treats the OL, he wasn't ever going to take over the RT spot this year unless Wylie just imploded or got injured.

The moves they've made this year seems to speak that they don't trust Niang, true.

Feels like one thing we're learning is that finding a franchise Left Tackle when you have a Superbowl contending team is almost as tough as finding a franchise QB.

Most of the plug and play LT's are either highly paid FA's or go super early in the draft.

I am kinda hoping they intend Morris to play LT and sit him a year behind Smith. Having 3 years of a 3rd rounder at LT would be cheap and very beneficial.

Reid's philosophy has always been to get the best 5 guys on the field, so in that scenario it's quite simple; Smith is your LT and Taylor is your RT. I really don't see how this is going to play out any other way.

It's pretty clear that the Chiefs insisting Taylor was going to be their LT was nothing more than a smoke screen, just like all the WR videos coming out of top flight guys (except for Rice) practicing with Mahomes.

Quite frankly, it would have been downright irresponsible for the Chiefs to depend on Taylor learning a new position at LT and expecting Niang, Prince and Morris to hopefully figure things out on the right side. We are protecting the best QB ever to play the game here, and I'm personally tired of seeing him hop around on one leg, and I'm sure they are too. They need to have their asses covered. If it turns out Taylor at LT and Niang at RT looks like the best combo, then great, but you sure as hell couldn't go into the year counting on that. This way your floor is relatively high, while keeping the ceiling high as well.

Yup. And I know folks were all against this but the question begs..are we sure the Chiefs weren’t calling the Cowboys to move up for Anton Harrison? Bc boy that sure makes a ton of sense at this point.

In regards to Niang, I liked his talent but he has really straddled along the Breeland Speaks path. He took Covid year off (fine), but he came back looking out of shape. He seemed lazy. Then he gets hurt with these major injuries over and over again. I just think Veach gave up faith in him. I think he views Niang as nothing more than a swing tackle option at this point. The fact that the Chiefs signed Taylor to big money, traded up in rd 3 to draft a tackle and now bringing one in? To me that says he’s lost faith in the kid.

I’m fine with a Smith/Taylor duo. You’re pretty much paying 1/3 the price if not less for Orlando Brown Jr production (at worst) while significantly upgrading RT from a guy who gave up 2.5% pressure last year compared to Wylie’s 6.5%+.

And I really do think Morris was our best value pick. 5 star recruit with lots of experience and an ideal frame (6’5”, 307, 10+ hands, 35 arms) with excellent movement skills that were among the best at the combine, especially the 10 yard split which means a great deal for pulling.

I’m very confident that Andy Heck can work his technique out in time. He got Wylie, a traditional G with solid size and excellent athleticism, to be a functional RT. I’m inclined to think that if he can do that for Wylie, he can for Morris.

I think that Morris is gonna pay dividends at some point. Probably at RT. But I think we hit on him.

You are acting just as much a fool. You don't know that Smith will be the starter this year. We will see.

If I had to guess I would bet that Smith will be the starting LT this year with Taylor playing starting RT. And then next year when they let Smith walk, they switch Taylor to LT and play the rook at RT.

So many posters. Quality posters. You know...they were simply the best. They said...UChieffyBugger...you're one of the best posters on this board. I just smiled and nodded. I really am. I really should post more. About RBs. About LTs.

And then everyone clapped and they gave me an award.

At the end of the day it's good to have options- that's what this signing is all about. Having options on the offensive line if things don't fall exactly into place.

I know when I'm out shopping in FA for the LT to protect my half a billion dollar QB....I sign him to a one year deal UP TO $9 million.

Lol I know my latest victory must bring back memories of me destroying you infront of the whole forum when you tried to challenge me over Fountain buddy!!..I get it :evil:

Yeah that approach was terrible for Mahomes who we traded up to get and spent 2 first rounders on also. Pff. I mean, the worst hes ever finished in his career is an overtime afccg loss. Learn a year. Pfffff. What a load of hooey.

Right so putting some rookie out there that doesn't know his asshole from his elbow, and charge him with the task of protecting Patrick Mahomes from some of the most dangerous defensive ends in the league in our division is the direction you want to take.

Interesting.

As an aside, how many windows on average per day would you estimate that you lick in their entirety? Just curious.

How strange that the coaching staff is unwilling to put Patrick Mahomes at risk as you seem to be chomping at the bit to do.

It's not like he's been the most important figure in the franchise's rise to dominance.

Anyone out there charged with protecting Patrick Mahomes had better not only know his job, but all the other guys jobs as well.

This isn't Madden where you can pit players at any position you want to, or just turn off injuries and your season isn't destroyed due to injury because somebody ****ed up an assignment.

You have guys on cheap 4 year contracts, I'm not a fan of burning one of those on "learning to play the position" years on the bench. You learn by doing.

Nope.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/kansas-c...s-niang-47691/

Niang's cap hit of $1.2 million is only $800,000 more than dead cap of $420,000.

Wylie kept the job at RT by playing well.

Wylie went from $920k in 2021 to $2.5 million in 2022 to $8 million AAV on his 3-year deal with Washington.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/washingt...cash-earnings/

It is interesting some pivot from "Taylor is our LT" to "Well it would've been a big gamble to rely on Taylor to switch across". I think i agree with take 2. If Smith starts and plays like a league average LT even we're probably overall improving the OL for what amounts to chump change. If he's a back up to Taylor then it's just going to be hard to say what the value of the move was, kind of the point of insurance I guess. The only real question is what else could be had for the money? If Smith is on something like $1-2m who cares. If the guarantees are more and prevent another DT, I guess maybe that's a bummer. But that's a lot of ifs, buts and maybes. Might as well wait to see the real cost and the full 53

The only way I'd dislike this is if the ACTUAL money is a good chunk of the "up to" amount, and that impacts Taylor's opportunity. Which I highly doubt, so cool.

Above all else, I really believe Taylor has the athletic tools to be not just a serviceable LT but a great one. Hopefully he shows that to Reid and co early in camp, and whether Smith moves to RT and wins that job or just provides great depth, I'm fine either way.

If I had to bet on it, week 1 depth chart looks as follows. If and when Niang gets hurt, then I have no idea. Who knows if Morris will be ready.

LT - Taylor, Smith
RT - Niang, Morris
OG depth - Kinnard

Depth and competition are bad. I learn this at chiefsplanet ROFL morons

I reckon if Niang gets injured Taylor slides across fairly seamlessly, and we hope to hell Smith is back to some form at LT.

Donovan Smith on a prove it deal...nope

Lucas Niang who's done dick and never stay on the field....moooooar!

Assuming that this front office has stated multiple times that they believe that Taylor can play LT. Ask yourself these questions.

If Taylor proves that he can in fact play LT at a high level. Who is going to play LT if something happens to him? Niang? Morris? Prince?

If Niang is being counted on to play RT and gets hurt...who is going to play RT at a competent level? Prince? Morris?

Taylor will probably show up at OTAs as the LT and if he falters, Veach has built in an insurance policy. Veach has had offensive line PTSD ever since the Bucs SB loss. He started getting flashbacks last season and he's made sure that shit shouldn't happen again moving forward.

I love this move for a bandaid tackle. It’s more than fair to say our draft decisions at OT and WR leave a lot to be desired. LT is tougher but we should have had at least an RT with all the draft capital we’ve used. We’ve swung and missed on offense probably more than we’d like to admit. I really hope wanya hits. If he does, as with trey smith and creed, Andy won’t hesitate to put him on the field even if we’re giving Donovan decent coin.

LOL he went to sleep, woke up and is still in a DAZE wondering what happened to his bs "Taylor is our LT and you need to accept it" campaign!!...someone get him a doctor please cause that boy needs help getting back to reality smh ROFL

I'm good with this and certainly won't pretend like I know what they are going to do.

But I gotta' think that some form of Taylor+Smith+whoever > Brown+Wylie+whoever.

Sign an OT before the draft, draft an OT and then sign an OT in stage two of free agency after the draft is the way to attack fixing the position. Seems pretty Veachy to me.

He attacked CB, S, WR, DE, and OT over the last 2 years.

Dude...anytime we bring in an OT, you've been screaming about how "Taylor at LT" isn't a thing. If anyone is in a daze...it's your reeruned ass.

Morris started more games at LT!
Donovan Smith guyz!

That first snap at camp where Taylor is at LT is going to be ****ing glorious. Just wait.

:deevee: :jester:

We're keeping 10 OL, I'm assuming.

LT - Taylor, Smith
LG - Thuney, Allegretti
C - Humphrey
RG - Smith, Kinnard
RT - Niang, Morris, Prince

One of Niang or Prince aren't making this team.

It's a 1 year deal with a possible payout of $9M. So let's just say for the sake of argument that Smith balls out this year and earns that $9M and Taylor is stuck on the right side all season. What will Smith cost you NEXT year? Most likely a hell of a lot more than what he's making (guaranteed) this year. Not one of our OTs has had a rep at either T spot THIS year, so let's not read all sorts of conspiracy theories into this signing. Veach is no fool.

What will Smith cost us next year? Nothing because I highly doubt we'd be bringing him back.

Here's the thing:

I still believe Taylor is the LT. That's never changed.

As opposed to:

"We're drafting a starting LT in the first round"
"We're drafting Anton Harrison"
"We tried to trade up to get Harrison but nobody would trade with us"
"We signed Donovan Smith to a 1-year prove it deal, he has to be the starter"

ROFL

You're getting absolutely schooled over and over and over again and you don't even realize it.

Says the guy taking a victory lap based solely on emotion. In May.

Good grief, for somebody who "doesn't care", you sure care an awful lot.

ROFL

You must be a Raiders fan because victory laps are their thing.

No problem at all with a 22 year old RT picked at the end of the 3rd rd getting a redshirt year if need be.

That’s what the 3rd rd and beyond is for. The kid has every physical and size standpoint you could want but needs some coaching.

You get him for 3 years cheap and can extend him. No problem as long as it is a “hit”

I just envision Veach after the draft presser where he mentioned Taylor and LT in the same sentence. He's sweating and nervous because he's moving a RT over to LT and then a light bulb appears over his head.

"Shit! That's right! Donovan Smith is a FA!"

****ing idiots.

Didn't Niang play a little in the SB and did a pretty good job? I vaguely remember this. I am hoping he is ready to take over.

The days of signing or drafting one player at a position and thinking it's fixed is long gone long.

We're keeping 9, IMO.

And either Niang or Prince aren't making the team. We're not carrying 5 OTs.

No matter who starts at LT, Taylor or Smith, it sure as hell is significantly better than bending the knee to pay Orlando ****ing Brown Jr a shit ton of money with his problems.

I don’t care which one plays LT. Veach won me over when he told Orlando to **** off

That's what I said. LMAO

I just listed out the three players battling for that RT spot. I mistakenly put 10 instead of 9.

Looks like he had 1 snap on offense. We need to get that video and analyze it to death ASAP.

Kinnard and Smith are more likely candidates.

If Smith does not earn a spot, Chiefs would have more cap space to do a trade deadline deal.

Kinnard was mentioned as moving to guard. I think he makes it as depth there. Niang, Prince and Morris aren't moving to guard and they aren't going to just have Allegretti there.

:hmmm:

lol ask and you shall receive

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I did not realize that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> OT Lucas Niang was in the game at RT for Andrew Wylie in the Super Bowl on Skyy Moore&#39;s TD reception. Got help from Kelce on the blitz. Still, pretty big moment to rely on their backup, who is now potentially set to earn a bigger role in 2023. <a href="https://t.co/LoF6MxZyFR">pic.twitter.com/LoF6MxZyFR</a></p>&mdash; Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/goldmctNFL/status/1635441651056513026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oh look!!.. here is the president of the jerk off crew who has finally come out of HIDING after I called him and his boyfriends out last night :D . The same prick who STARTED A THREAD lambasting me saying "Taylor is the LT", and it looks like he's also in complete shock and denial about what happened too. He invested so much time convincing himself that he knows ball and how the front office works, only to look like a complete IDIOT and a FRAUD after the Smith signing!!.. ROFL

Now him and the other phonies have pivoted to "I still believe Taylor has a chance to be the LT and Smith is the backup"?? ER Tom Pelasero, Nate Taylor, Matt Verderam ETC HAVE ALL CONFIRMED that Smith is A STARTER at LT. But keep crying and hoping it ain't true fellas..it's hilarious o:-)

Seems like Smith is more of an insurance option in case Taylor struggles moving to LT, but I still think the Chiefs give Taylor the opportunity to compete for the starting LT job.

They didn’t sign him to that lucrative contract to play RT.

So this week Veach locks in veteran insurance options at RB (McKinnon) and LT with Smith.

One more position on offense could use a veteran insurance option… WR.

Corey Davis, c'mon dooooooown!

Who doesn't make it then?

MVS
Toney
Moore
Rice
Davis
James

That your 6?

Pivot?

Taylor is going to start at LT. I said it before and I'm still saying it now.

AS for Tom, Nate, and the rest, have you actually READ what they wrote, in context? Obviously not.

Because ALL they have said is that it gives the Chiefs the OPTION to leave Taylor at LT. NONE of them have said otherwise. Once again you lie because you have no facts to support your opinion.

All those guys have done is try and connect dots based on snaps in previous seasons. Funny how there were tweets after we signed Taylor where he was talked about being our LT. He'll ignore those ones though.

Mike Bergonzi

Now a seasoned LT who has won A SUPERBOWL has entered the building :LOL:

You can't even get his ****ing name right, idiot.

He said there would be competition at tackle. That's it. He also has ZERO say in setting the starting lineups. That's Andy and Andy. And they've said that Taylor can play LT.

ROFL

A seasoned LT that was injured, is older, and signed a 1-year prove it deal.

I hope you have a bidet because the clinging here is pretty bad.

Yessir.

Yeah, I'm going to continue to be non-convinced that Taylor is for sure going to LT.

Mitchell Schwartz was one of the highest-paid RTs in the NFL before he was cut. I think Reid has a long track record of trying to be as good at RT as possible.

If it shakes out that Smith looks as good at LT as Taylor does at LT, I think the Chiefs would see logic in playing Smith on the left side and letting Taylor stay at the position where's proven to be a really good player.

Which is better?

One of the best RT in the league + a slightly above-average RT

A slightly-above average LT + average RT

I'm good with it. Especially if they can get him here on a Juju type deal. Let him build up his value this season and then hit FA to get a comp pick.

Because he was one of the top available T's in FA. If KC doesn't pay him, some other team does and KC goes into the draft needing both T positions with teams knowing that. Sign Taylor and say he will be the LT if KC can't get one of the top prospects or someone in FA. If they do, he shifts to the right side. If they don't they play him at LT. He was insurance and expensive insurance, but better than no insurance.

Nothing is set in stone, of course not.

As for the "logic" of playing Smith on the left side, presumptively as the day 1 starter kind of flies in the face of him signing a 1-year deal with a ton of incentives.

I mean, by all means, keep your hope alive. Just don't be crushed when Smith is a backup.

Bwahahaha ladies and gentlemen..this is the dumb logic of the jerkoff squad. The team are gonna force Taylor to learn a totally new scheme, at a totally new position, and leave a proven vet who is only 29 and has played said position is whole life, on the bench??? ROFL

IT'S OVER!!..PLEASE STOP EMBARRASSING YOURSELF EVEN FURTHER!! :)

A 1 year prove it deal guarantees dick

If he starts LT that's a really good sign that last year was a fluke and he's bouncing back

This is exactly how I see it. Smith isn't starting at LT unless Taylor just doesn't transition at all in camp. Its just an insurance policy.

I suppose there is an outside chance Smith just blows everyone out of the water in camp but I dont see it.

Lol keep crying chump..you and your boyfriends are FINISHED ROFL

ROFL

Completely oblivious to the clown shoes you're wearing.

If you weren't such an asshole, people might actually feel sorry for you, having to go through life so challenged mentally and emotionally.

Sure, Taylor could play RT.

As I said during the draft discussion, the RT for us needs to have LT skills because we play with our TE off the line as often as we do. That's always been the biggest difference between LT and RT - it's not the 'blind side' stuff - it's that you don't have a TE to help you out at LT.

Well our RT doesn't usually have a TE anyway. So yeah - we could play Taylor there and he'd be an asset for us.

LOL WYLIE WAS ON A CHEAP ONE YEAR DEAL AND STARTED ALL SEASON LAST YEAR DUMMY!!..THE CONTRACT MEANS NOTHING LMAO

I think you’re gonna be disappointed. I don’t think they sign Smith to be a backup.

I legitimately think they saw Niang and Wanogho and didn’t feel comfortable with either starting at RT.

This move screams to me that they are done with Niang. At this point I’m not sure he’s even guaranteed a roster spot.

They brought in 2 starting tackles and moved up for a good tackle prospect in rd 3 that fits the offense.

3 tackle investments in 2.5 months. Yeah…if they were confident in Niang I don’t think they’d do that.

ROFL

Is this UFC or something? I must have missed your "kill shot" because it doesn't appear anybody is "finished".

The sad thing is that it's you that's finished, you were never even in this argument in the first place but you're too dumb and/or stubborn to recognize how badly you got burned in this.

It's a good thing you don't care how people feel (as evidenced by the repeated ad hominem attacks and all caps posting) because everybody is laughing at you.

Exactly, this is obviously a move for depth but they wanted him to have the ability to earn some actual money if he ends up needing to play.

Posters reached out to him and thanked him for his service. He was awarded the Blue Waffle award for exceptional posting.

IT'S OVER!! :LOL:

I don't know that having Taylor go thru camp however long at LT then moving him back to RT is a good idea?

This ain't like riding a bike fellas.

Only one embarrassing themselves is you. Taylor isn't learning a new scheme. The scheme in Jacksonville is very similar.

Smith would be learning a new scheme and terminology and is coming off two injuries.

If smith balls out in training camp and takes the LT spot it is a bonus for the team but it is not the expectation.

Well the longer he goes through camp at LT, the less likely it is that they move him back to RT.

It's not that complicated.

Lol I have people praising me on this very thread and in my messages because you and your fellow jerkoff members tried conduct a bully campaign against yours truly for simply saying Taylor playing LT WAS NOT certain. And here we are today with a veteran LT signed and all people who are familiar with the Chiefs saying "Smith is our new starting LT", and STILL you clowns are in denial because you can't handle the fact that YOU LOST!!.

Our best five OL currently our Taylor, Smith, Creed, Joe and Smith. Niang and Morris are not better than a seasoned vet who has won a superbowl so with that in mind what do you think is gonna happen you dunce?? You think they're gonna play Taylor at LT and Smith at RT?? Smh get real ROFL

If so many people are praising you, why aren't they telling me I'm wrong? I've got hundreds of upvotes in the last few days, along with a couple dozen down votes. ALL of them are from you.

You're lying again.