The Kansas City Chiefs have taken an offensive tackle in each of the last two rounds, taking third-rounder Wanya Morris and second-rounder Kingsley Suamataia.
However, Patrick Mahomes continued to struggle with a big LT issue until recently, when the coaching staff moved veteran Joe Thuney over from left guard.
Perhaps the Chiefs should stick with Thuney as their starting left tackle, but Pro Football Network’s Dalton Miller predicts that KC will try to remedy this problem again in the draft. This time, however, they will use a first-round pick to select their next offensive tackle.
“We can’t keep letting the Kansas City Chiefs get away with this,” Miller said after ridiculing Missouri prospect Armand Membou’s selection by the Chiefs at No. 32 overall.
“There isn’t a single offensive lineman in the country with a better résumé than Armand Membou,” the Pro Football Network analyst explained. “He allowed only nine pressures without a single sack this season and did so playing against Boston College (Donovan Ezeiruaku,) Texas A&M (Stewart and Scourton), Alabama (LT Overton and Co.), South Carolina (Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart), and Arkansas (Jackson).
“Oh, and he was Missouri’s representative on Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freak List’ for 2024 over [Luther] Burden. The lack of hype surrounding Membou and the narrative that the NFL might see him as a guard are frankly frightening. If anything, a move to the interior would only magnify the few flaws in his game on tape.”
Miller concluded that “the Chiefs will start [Membou] at right tackle on Day 1 and he’ll thrive,” which would presumably shift current RT Jawaan Taylor over to LT.
The Missouri product was described as a “sure-fire starter” by The Draft Network, and an “NFL starter” at either tackle or guard via 33rd Team.
Armand Membou Scouted as Fluid Pass Protector & ‘Nasty’ Run Blocker
The Draft Network stated at the top of their scouting report that “Armand Membou possesses all of the traits necessary to catch the eye of NFL decision-makers.”
Bleacher Report draft analyst Brandon Thorn appeared to agree, breaking down the skill components that make Membou so appealing as a prospect.
“Membou operated inside of a zone-based run scheme at Mizzou, where he excelled using very good quickness and his big body to cover up the frontside end, work his hips around to seal and kick out when necessary,” Thorn scouted. “He has the body control, jarring power and nasty demeanor to sustain, displace and dump defenders in the second and third phase of a block.”
As a pass protector, Thorn stated that “Membou glides out of his stance with the fluidity to expand his set points and maintain his balance up the arc to widen the corner with control against widely-aligned, high-side rushes with the redirect ability to cut-off inside counters.” He has good length and flashes of proper strike timing to make initial meaningful contact with his punch and anchor on command, but he will also be caught off guard by speed to power, generally due to tardy hands.”
Membou is a tad undersized at 6-foot-3, which is why there has been debate about him playing guard. However, his underlying power and athleticism appear to compensate for any shortcomings that his height may cause.
At worst, he’d provide the Chiefs with a flexible new guard option who has immediate “Pro Bowl” potential, according to the 33rd Team. That may also assist if Trey Smith leaves in free agency or Thuney moves to left tackle full-time.
Offensive Line Could Be Chiefs’ Greatest Need in 2025
With Xavier Worthy developing and Rashee Rice expected to return, wide receiver should be less of a need in 2025. Running back and tight end should be alright, if Travis Kelce does not retire, and Kansas City clearly has a quarterback.
There are some defensive openings to fill or bolster, depending on which free players the Chiefs keep. However, one could easily argue that the offensive line is Kansas City’s most pressing need going into 2025.
The Chiefs have three starters under contract, as long as they want them to return. These are Thuney, Taylor, and Creed Humphrey, the center.
After that, there is still a question mark at left tackle, and it may be difficult to keep Smith in free agency.
KC may be hoping that current developmental prospects will fill these responsibilities next year. Suamataia, Morris, and UDFA Ethan Driskell will remain options at offensive tackle, while interior OLs Mike Caliendo, Hunter Nourzad, and C.J. Hanson could compete for right guard.
Having said that, adding another “sure-fire” prospect to the mix is never a bad idea. And Chiefs general manager Brett Veach typically overstocks on offensive lineman. That all makes Membou a smart fit for Kansas City.
