The Kansas City Chiefs added to their offensive line depth on Friday night by selecting former BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia with the No. 63 overall pick.
Here are five things to know about the newest member of the offense.
1. Suamataia is a big man with experience at both left and right tackle.
The 21-year-old Suamataia stands at 6-foot-5 and 326 pounds with 34-inch arms. With that size in mind, the folks at Pro Football Focus wrote the following:
"He has impressive posture, weight distribution and balance for a player of his size."
He's versatile, too. Suamataia logged 1,342 offensive snaps during his two seasons at BYU, splitting his time almost right down the middle between right tackle (51.2%) and left tackle (48.8%). He was the Cougars' starting left tackle in 2022, recording 11 starts at the position after tallying 12 starts at right tackle the year prior.
Suamataia spoke about his versatility shortly after being selected by Kansas City:
"Wherever [Offensive Line Coach Andy Heck] and [Head Coach Andy Reid] need me at, [I can play]," Suamataia said. "I can play both ways – right and left. Wherever they can fit me in and [need me] to work, I'm ready to do whatever it takes."
2. The Athletic's Dane Brugler had some impressive (and hilarious) praise for his abilities.
Brugler, whose draft guide is one of the best in the business, penned some excellent analysis (and phrasing) on Suamataia. He wrote that Suamataia "likes to mash defenders in confined spaces" and that he "delivers more pancakes than Denny's. Additionally – in another bit of comedic jargon – Brugler wrote that Suamataia "plays crabby."
He also cited Suamataia's history as a boxer during his childhood, writing that he's an "eager brawler with his hands and his boxing background shows with his on-field punch."
Brugler noted that Suamataia played – and excelled – in a run-heavy offense at BYU that wanted to play downhill, but he also possesses nimble footwork and strength to be a successful pass-protector.
3. He allowed just two sacks over the last two seasons.
Suamataia surrendered just two sacks in his last 742 pass-blocking snaps, including a 2022 campaign in which he didn't allow a single sack.
His production, youth, talent, and versatility prompted Dane Brugler to write the following overall evaluation in his pre-draft guide:
"His blend of size, mobility and core power are the foundation of a scheme-diverse NFL starter."
Pro Football Focus added a similar note, writing this: "Suamataia is a dream prospect to draft and develop."
As for what the Chiefs' front office thinks of him, Assistant General Manager Mike Borgonzi spoke about Suamataia's athleticism following Day 2:
"You can see the feet. He's 325 pounds and he's light on his feet. That certainly jumps out when you see a big guy who can move like that," Borgonzi said. "He's a prototype left tackle with his athleticism and length, but he has the versatility to play both, which is good, and we've actually seen it."
4. Suamataia is a former five-star prospect who began his career at Oregon.
According to Dane Brugler, Suamataia first began receiving attention from FBS programs when he was in eighth grade. He eventually grew into a five-star prospect and the No. 6 offensive tackle prospect in the country in 2021, drawing offers from numerous big-time programs.
He initially settled on Oregon, but he transferred to BYU the following season in order to be closer to his family.
5. Suamataia comes from an impressive football family.
Suamataia has numerous relatives who have either played or are currently playing in the NFL, including Detroit Lions' star right tackle Penei Sewell. In fact, Suamataia cited Sewell as one of the major influences on who he is as a player during his post-selection presser on Friday:
"Big shout out to cousin Penei. The things he's taught me [are invaluable]," Suamataia said. "Much love to that guy. I've learned a lot from him…Just how he sees the game. I wouldn't be half the offensive lineman I am without him."
Now a member of the Chiefs, Suamataia will have an opportunity to continue that familial legacy and make his own mark in the NFL.
The Kansas City Chiefs selected BYU Offensive Tackle Kingsley Suamataia in the 2nd Round (Pick 63) of the 2024 NFL Draft.