Nate Taylor: Chiefs targeting OT Ronnie Stanley in free agency

[wazu]

New story. Joe Thuney did everything the Chiefs asked of him — & more.

What’s next for the Chiefs?

They plan to sign Trey Smith to an extension & acquire a new left tackle, targeting Ronnie Stanley.https://t.co/1cKzfqMDbu

— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) March 5, 2025

When free agency begins, the Chiefs will target Ronnie Stanley, the nine-year veteran who is the best left tackle available on the market, according to sources. Stanley, who will turn 31 this month, started all 17 season games last season for the Baltimore Ravens. He earned a 70.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and allowed just three sacks.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Kingsley wasn't even a top 50 player. Conerly isn't making it out of the top 40. Just because both guys need development doesn't mean that Conerly isn't objectively the better prospect.

Well that may be true if you're comparing entering the draft process.

But that's a vacuum that's not current reality.

Does Conerly make KC better in 2025 than Kingsley after a year in the offense?

I don't know that is true.

Maybe Conerly IS a better prospect, but maybe he's top 40 due to lesser comparative talent in THIS draft. That's the conventional wisdom, anyway.

All reports I see would indicate that he's more polished, but less physically able than Kingsley was.

But the key word is 'was'.

[staylor26]

It's almost as if Kelce, our 2nd best player best weapon and Pat's most reliable target, has declined drastically over the last few years on top of the OL and WR issues.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by staylor26

It's almost as if Kelce, our 2nd best player best weapon and Pat's most reliable target, has declined drastically over the last few years on top of the OL and WR issues.

Man, I think 97 catches is no slouch for any TE.

I don't think you can look at any of these things separately. It's everything.

Kelce's days of operating as a high end #1 WR may be over, but he's still a top 3 or so TE in football. He just can't do it alone anymore. And lucky us! Rice and Worthy appear to be two big hits in the draft.

Just fix the LT situation and get a RB upgrade in this draft and the offense will be fine.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Man, I think 97 catches is no slouch for any TE.

I don't think you can look at any of these things separately. It's everything.

Kelce's days of operating as a high end #1 WR may be over, but he's still a top 3 or so TE in football. He just can't do it alone anymore. And lucky us! Rice and Worthy appear to be two big hits in the draft.

Just fix the LT situation and get a RB upgrade in this draft and the offense will be fine.

I'm just speaking to the Nagy nonsense. They're more than fine going forward as long as they figure out LT.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Man, I think 97 catches is no slouch for any TE.

I don't think you can look at any of these things separately. It's everything.

Kelce's days of operating as a high end #1 WR may be over, but he's still a top 3 or so TE in football. He just can't do it alone anymore. And lucky us! Rice and Worthy appear to be two big hits in the draft.

Just fix the LT situation and get a RB upgrade in this draft and the offense will be fine.

No choice but to hope this is correct at this point. (And that we can actually do those two things.)

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Kingsley wasn't even a top 50 player. Conerly isn't making it out of the top 40. Kingsley didn't have great tape against some of the drafts best pass rushers like Conerly does. Just because both guys need some level of development doesn't mean that Conerly isn't objectively the better prospect.

There’s a reason Veach is going after Ronnie Stanley. I don’t think they like this tackle class very much, which based on their history makes sense.

If Luther Burden is there at 31 like all of the analysts are projecting, and we pass on him to take another project tackle with issues?

If that happens I just might send a letter to Veach at 1 Arrowhead Dr asking him to kindly commit Seppuku

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by RunKC

There’s a reason Veach is going after Ronnie Stanley. I don’t think they like this tackle class very much, which based on their history makes sense.

If Luther Burden is there at 31 like all of the analysts are projecting, and we pass on him to take another project tackle with issues?

If that happens I just might send a letter to Veach at 1 Arrowhead Dr asking him to kindly commit Seppuku

The Chiefs are reportedly in on Stanley, but we have no clue how realistic/true that is. I'd imagine Veach prefers Stanley or Robinson, but options get thin quick. If they don't sign one of those 2, which is very possible, we're going to draft a guy.

[philfree]

Sign Stanley and draft Conerly and plug him in at LG.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by philfree

Sign Stanley and draft Conerly and plug him in at LG.

I am definitely on board with bringing in a free agent (Stanley or Robinson) and still drafting Conerly or somebody similar if possible. This is Jawaan's last year as a Chief, we will have plenty of work to go around.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Well that may be true if you're comparing entering the draft process.

But that's a vacuum that's not current reality.

Does Conerly make KC better in 2025 than Kingsley after a year in the offense?

I don't know that is true.

Maybe Conerly IS a better prospect, but maybe he's top 40 due to lesser comparative talent in THIS draft. That's the conventional wisdom, anyway.

All reports I see would indicate that he's more polished, but less physically able than Kingsley was.

But the key word is 'was'.

I just don't think the Chiefs are going to be in a position to punt on the tackle position even if they sign a free agent in the offseason. And with how the draft board appears to be falling, its not the worst thing in the world grab a tackle int he 1st round.

No matter what happens, Taylor is in his lat year at RT. Morris is a bigger question mark than Kingley IMO because the Chiefs didn't even make him active during the playoffs. Yikes.

Even if you sign a guy like Stanley or Robinson, both have injury issues, and while they are going to cost a lot of money, the Chiefs are still going to be having on eye out for a future LT.

If we are going to keep Karlaftis and McDuffy then we are not going to be able to devote huge portions of the cap to every position on the line. Veach is setting this up to pay 2-3 guys on the line big money, they rest will have to be balanced with young players on rookie contracts.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by philfree

Sign Stanley and draft Conerly and plug him in at LG.

That is a terrible idea.

[O.city]

Keep taking guys in the mid rounds that could develop into starters at T.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by O.city

Keep taking guys in the mid rounds that could develop into starters at T.

If you could get one at pick 95 it would be ideal

[Mecca]

You guys do realize that the hit rate on OT's from basically pick 25 to about pick 250 is roughly the same right...

Throwing all these picks at mid round OT's has roughly a 10% hit rate.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by staylor26

The Chiefs are reportedly in on Stanley, but we have no clue how realistic/true that is. I'd imagine Veach prefers Stanley or Robinson, but options get thin quick. If they don't sign one of those 2, which is very possible, we're going to draft a guy.

You know, I don’t think people have talked about this much, but this draft is very sneaky in one area the Chiefs are sniffing around.

There might be a 2026 RT candidate in the 3rd or 4th rd for them. Logan Brown, Cameron Williams, Anthony Belton, Carson Vinson.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they they are not just looking for a LT with one of those guys and want to prepare them to replace Jawaan. Worst case scenario Wanya wins the job and they are the swing tackle.