Kansas City, Mo. • In late January, just days before the Kansas City Chiefs became the NFL’s first repeat champion in two decades, assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi spent a few days at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. That’s where he was able to scout and meet Kingsley Suamataia for the first time.
Borgonzi left the event intrigued by Suamataia, the talented left tackle from BYU. Last fall, two of the Chiefs’ top regional scouts, Greg Castillo and Jonathan Howard, were eager to share their intel on Suamataia with Borgonzi, general manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid.
A month later, at the combine, the Chiefs held a formal interview with Suamataia, who met Reid for the first time. Reid’s first impression of Suamataia was displayed on his face, the coach smiling while the men discussed their college experiences at BYU.
“Being able to talk with Coach Reid, it just felt like home already, like sitting at home and chilling with one of my uncles,” a smiling Suamataia said of his pre-draft visit. “It was so chill and so fun. He said, ‘I’m trying to get you here.’ From there, I already felt it around the whole facility, meeting all the coaches. It felt like home.”
Borgonzi said: “Kingsley was one of our favorite guys to have a pre-draft visit with. He’s very likable.”
Throughout the months leading up to the draft, Suamataia kept impressing the Chiefs, kept intriguing them, kept being an alluring prospect who they felt could blossom on their roster. When Veach called Suamataia late in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night to inform him he was going to become the latest member of the Chiefs, Suamataia cried with Samoan family members surrounding him in Orem, Utah.
“Blocking for Patty Mahomes?! Oh, my! It’s mind-blowing,” Suamataia said of quarterback Patrick Mahomes while wearing a red-and-yellow lei. “I’m going to have to come in there and let him trust me.
“With (running back Isiah) Pacheco, (tight end) Travis (Kelce), that’s the dynamic trio. That’s everything you could ask for (when it comes to) blocking. It’s definitely a dream come true. If I do get the opportunity to be his blind-side blocker, that would mean the world to me. I can’t wait to be Patty Mahomes’ left-hand man or right-hand man, whichever one he needs.”
To select Suamataia, the Chiefs traded their original second-round pick, No. 64, and No. 211 to the San Francisco 49ers for Nos. 63 and 173.
Veach made the trade because the Chiefs believe Suamataia has the potential to be the team’s long-term solution at left tackle. Borgonzi shared that the Chiefs were concerned that the 49ers, or another team with a high pick in the third round, could’ve selected Suamataia. The Chiefs also wanted to ensure they acquired Suamataia once the Baltimore Ravens selected right tackle Roger Rosengarten with the 62nd pick.
The Chiefs believe Suamataia, 21, was the best candidate in the second round to be a possible plug-and-play left tackle. He started 11 games at the position last season. Over the last two seasons, Suamataia played 701 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, allowing just 24 quarterback pressures and two sacks. He has above-average length (34 1/4-inch arms) and hand size (10 5/8 inches), which should help him in his bid to win the starting job.
When Suamataia arrives in Kansas City, he is expected to compete with second-year player Wanya Morris for the starting left tackle job this year.
“That’s exactly why we brought him in,” Borgonzi said. “We felt like Wanya has things (he) can do to develop. We felt like bringing competition is the best thing for these young guys.”
Entering the draft, the Chiefs had just four tackles on their roster — Morris, Jawaan Taylor, Chukwuebuka Godrick and Lucas Niang — with no clear starter at left tackle. If Suamataia excels during the Chiefs’ offseason program, training camp and the preseason, he could be elevated to the starting role. Morris, who started four games during his rookie season, is projected to have the advantage when the competition with Suamataia begins.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s draft expert, had Suamataia graded as the 40th overall prospect and the seventh-best offensive tackle in this year’s class.
“He is nimble in pass protection with the strength to lock down rushers, but his timing, technique and recognition skills remain immature,” Brugler wrote in “The Beast.” “Overall, Suamataia is still very young and lacks refinement in several areas, but his blend of size, mobility and core power is the foundation of a scheme-diverse NFL starter. He will require a patient coaching staff who can ease his transition to the pro level.”
Borgonzi said Suamataia, listed at 6-foot-4 and 326 pounds, has the combination of size, power and mobility to potentially be an above-average starter if he develops quickly.
“He’s a prototype left tackle with his athleticism and length,” Borgonzi said. “That’s what we see him as. You see the feet. He’s light on his feet. The athleticism was a big piece, especially for a guy that big.”
Mahomes reacted to the Chiefs’ selection of Suamataia by writing “I love Veach man!” on his X account along with posting a smiling face with sunglasses emoji.
When Suamataia visited the Chiefs’ training facility, he hoped to meet Mahomes in person for the first time. Although that didn’t happen, Suamataia did have a fortuitous introduction with Chris Jones, the Chiefs’ best pass rusher and defensive player.
“It was amazing, a big blessing,” Suamataia said, smiling. “When I saw Chris, he asked the lady that was taking me around and he said, ‘Hey, who’s that?!’ She was like, ‘He’s on a top-30 visit. He’s from BYU.’ (Jones) was like, ‘Gosh damn, you’re big!’
“Just being able to shake his hand and talk to him was pretty dope. Yeah, it was super dope. I can’t wait to get around all the boys. That’s what I’m excited for.”
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