Kingsley Suamataia is already getting the thumbs up from his coaches on the Kansas City Chiefs as he makes the transition to a new position in 2025. His teammates are believers as well.

The Chiefs selected Suamataia in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Brigham Young as a raw but exciting young offensive tackle with the hopes of molding him into a long-term starter on the left side. And while that left side still might be his home going forward, the position is not quite what the team originally envisioned.

Last season, Suamataia received a quick hook at the left tackle position after having won the starting role outright following training camp. Suamataia was even entrenched as the left tackle with the first-team unit from rookie mini-camp through Week 2 of the season. However, after looking overwhelmed agaisnt both the Balitmore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals to start the year, he was benched for the rest of the season.

After deciding (quickly) that Suamataia wasn’t ready, the Chiefs went with a rotation of tackles on the left side for myriad reasons—from Wanya Morris to D.J. Humphries to Joe Thuney—for the rest of the season.

Chiefs coaches are hopeful but the real endorsement came from their most trusted lineman.

Late in the year, however, Suamataia enjoyed a bit of redemption when the Chiefs gave Thuney a week off at left guard in a meaningless game against the Denver Broncos in Week 18. Suamataia slid inside to fill in for Thuney and the results were strong. While the Chiefs lost in embarrassing fashion, a bright spot was the rookie’s play at left guard, and eventually Brett Veach traded away Thuney to make way for Suamataia (and to save plenty of money on the 2025 cap).

This offseason, Veach and head coach Andy Reid have already spoke confidently about Suamataia’s ability to hold down the position for the coming season—although he will be competing with Mike Caliendo for that role. Now his teammate Creed Humphrey, the Chiefs’ All-Pro center, has weighed in with strong support as well.

“You know, he’s an extremely talented player, first and foremost, and he tries to be really good every single day,” said Humphrey when asked about his thoughts on Suamataia’s transition. “He shows up with the right attitude. He shows up with the right mindset. So with a guy like him, with how talented he is and his work ethic, things usually turn out to be pretty good. So we’re excited for him.”

Humphrey knows a thing or two about dominant play inside for the Chiefs, and he’s also going to be playing next to whoever replaces Thuney, so he has an informed perspective and vested interest in the outcome.

While no one should expect Chefs coaches and players to badmouth Suamataia at this stage, they could also tone down their support and rhetoric when asked about his chances at left guard. It’s perfectly understandable for someone to say something akin to “we’re excited to see him compete” and leave it at that. Instead it feels like there’s a real optimism about his chances to find a new home along the Chiefs offensive front.