The Kansas City Chiefs know full well their biggest roster weakness, and the Super Bowl loss highlighted it.

The offensive line was chopped and changed throughout last season, with Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia both trying their hand at left tackle. But both failed to make it stick.

As such, guard Joe Thuney, who is now with the Chicago Bears, was forced to shift outside to tackle, which meant Mike Caliendo would start at guard, and it didn’t go well.

This offseason, the Chiefs signed Jaylon Moore to be the starting left tackle, but more needs to be done, with the draft seen as the place where the franchise can get depth and a potential starter.

And in Field Yates’ mock draft with Mel Kiper Jr. for ESPN, Josh Conerly Jr. is taken in the first round.

“What a coup this would be for Kansas City,” Yates writes. “The Chiefs must continue to address the offensive line even following the signing of Jaylon Moore. Conerly was excellent last season as the frontside protector for Dillon Gabriel, allowing just one sack. He could eventually do that for Patrick Mahomes. Conerly is always in control and dependable.”

One thing that sticks out to us about Yates’ comments on Conerly Jr. is the word dependable.

Given that Suamataia and Morris failed to take their opportunity last season, they won’t be seen as dependable options in 2025. But Conerly Jr.? If he can prove to be a reliable source of production from his left tackle spot, the Chiefs’ offensive line could be in business.

Needing to protect Patrick Mahomes better than last season (47 total sacks), the Chiefs, in drafting Conerly Jr., could be getting a solid and dependable tackle who could protect Mahomes’ blindside for the foreseeable future.

So, for all the athletic traits and football IQ, being “dependable” might be the trait that makes the Chiefs be sold on taking Josh in the first round.