{"id":181555,"date":"2024-07-13T16:30:43","date_gmt":"2024-07-13T20:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=181555"},"modified":"2024-07-13T16:03:27","modified_gmt":"2024-07-13T20:03:27","slug":"chiefs-humphrey-thuney-smith-offensive-line-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/07\/13\/chiefs-humphrey-thuney-smith-offensive-line-rankings\/","title":{"rendered":"Rival Executives Rank Chiefs&#8217; Position Group &#8216;Best&#8217; in NFL: Insider"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Kansas City Chiefs might still be chasing their <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/02\/08\/chiefs-mahomes-game-manager-49ers-purdy-newton\/\" target=\"_self\">third Super Bowl victory<\/a> were it not for their offensive line. The NFL\u2019s seventh-best pass-blocking <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/nfl\/teams\/2023\/REGPO\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">offensive line<\/a> and 16th-best run-blocking group in 2023, per Pro Football Focus, the strength of the group is undoubtedly on its interior where veteran left guard Joe Thuney is joined by Creed Humphrey at center and Trey Smith at right guard.<\/p>\n<p>Humphrey, the No. 63 overall pick, and Smith, No. 266, were both members of the Chiefs\u2019 2021 NFL Draft class. Now, they help anchor the \u201cbest interior\u201d offensive line, per ESPN\u2019s Jeremy Fowler.<\/p>\n<h2>Chiefs Dominate Top-10 IOL Survey<\/h2>\n<h3>Joe Thuney \u2018Incredibly Fundamental\u2019 Along Chiefs\u2019 Offensive Line<\/h3>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/insider\/story\/_\/id\/40284084\/top-10-nfl-interior-offensive-linemen-execs-scouts-2024-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts<\/a>, the Chiefs\u2019 three interior offensive linemen comprised three of the top 10 spots, with Smith\u2019s ninth-place ranking the lowest of the bunch.<\/p>\n<p>Thuney checked in at No. 4 while Humphrey was No. 7 overall and the highest-ranked center on the board.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThuney is something of a pass-blocking wizard. He lost four out of 431 pass-block attempts for a 99.1% win rate with one sack attributed. That clip easily led the NFL,\u201d Fowler wrote on July 13. \u201cThe Chiefs have gotten a great investment out of Thuney&#8217;s five-year, $80 million deal in free agency signed three years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Andy Reid provided a promising update on guard Joe Thuney as we enter the quiet part of the summer for the <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Chiefs<\/a>. <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/VeachSZN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#VeachSZN<\/a><a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RockyMagana?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@RockyMagana<\/a> | <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KramerTalks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@KramerTalks<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa: <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HIInkD1rYs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/HIInkD1rYs<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Jk1qQBFa9x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Jk1qQBFa9x<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Foolish Club Media (@ClubFoolish) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ClubFoolish\/status\/1803155725373370850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Fowler notes Thuney\u2019s drop from No. 2 on the list in 2023 to No. 4 ahead of the 2024 campaign. However, an anonymous NFC executive points to a \u201cyounger, more explosive players\u201d who could rank higher.<\/p>\n<p>Thuney, 31, finished behind two players younger than him \u2013 Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons, who is 27 years old, and 28-year-old Indianapolis Colts guard Quentin Nelson. The No. 1 spot went to an older player; Zack Martin, 33, of the Dallas Cowboys.<\/p>\n<p>Thuney, a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, is the only non-first-round pick of that group.<\/p>\n<p>He arrived in Kansas City with two Super Bowl rings from his time with the New England Patriots and has helped the Chiefs secure two titles since.<\/p>\n<p>An anonymous AFC executive cited Thuney\u2019s \u201cgrip strength\u201d in pass protection to Fowler. The AFC exec noted that Thuney does not let go once he has his hands on a defender, calling the veteran offensive lineman, \u201cincredibly fundamental.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Creed Humphrey &amp; Trey Smith are Chiefs\u2019 Success Stories<\/h3>\n<p>Humphrey, 25, has yet to miss a game in <a href=\"http:\/\/pfref.com\/pi\/share\/JzyUo\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">three years with the Chiefs<\/a>. He did not miss a game in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/pi\/shareit\/kz2ko\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">three years with the Oklahoma Sooners<\/a>, either, proving his durability is hardly a fluke.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/creed_humphrey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@creed_humphrey<\/a> once again leading a breakout session at <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OLMasterminds?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@OLMasterminds<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Humphrey has gone from participating as a college player to instructing as a two-time defending Super Bowl Champion.<\/p>\n<p>The college guys are firing questions at him. Incredible opportunity for young players. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EOuKwRVzJ4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/EOuKwRVzJ4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; BJ Kissel (@BJ_KCSN) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BJ_KCSN\/status\/1811823849207472366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHumphrey has made a compelling case for the game&#8217;s best overall center now that <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/03\/10\/chiefs-jones-message-eagles-cox-retirement\/\" target=\"_self\">Jason Kelce is retired<\/a>,\u201d Fowler wrote. \u201cHumphrey and teammate Trey Smith are both considered elite and gems from the 2021 draft class. But Humphrey tends to get the slight nod over Smith, who&#8217;s considered better in the run game.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSmith sometimes gets overshadowed by Humphrey and Thuney, but he adds a unique dimension to the Chiefs offense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fowler does note <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoeGoodberry\/status\/1734595626183147801\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Humphrey\u2019s woes with snapping<\/a> from late in the 2023 season.<\/p>\n<p>While one anonymous NFL personnel director showered Humphrey with superlatives from \u201cextremely consistent\u201d to \u201ca great communicator and field general,\u201d an anonymous defensive coach noted the snapping issue may have been a bigger problem than the Chiefs indicated.<\/p>\n<p>There were nods to Smith\u2019s power in the run game from some of the personnel surveyed. An anonymous NFC executive told Fowler the Chiefs young guard could top the list one day.<\/p>\n<p>It certainly helps to have the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/07\/07\/chiefs-mahomes-shoe-tower-bridge\/\" target=\"_self\">game\u2019s top quarterback<\/a> making the right decisions.<\/p>\n<p>However, the Chiefs\u2019 offensive line\u2019s part in allowing the six-time Pro Bowler and three-time champion to operate as he does. That is especially true with the negative attention their tackles received throughout the 2023 season.<\/p>\n<p><em>Main Photo: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One critical aspect of the Kansas City Chiefs&#8217; roster came out as the best in the NFL in a recent survey of NFL personnel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2879,"featured_media":181558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[7811,7581,3875,2186,7240],"class_list":["post-181555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chiefs","tag-chiefs-featured","tag-creed-humphrey","tag-joe-thuney","tag-patrick-mahomes-ii","tag-trey-smith"],"modified_by":"Will Noltie, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2879"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=181555"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181555\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/181558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=181555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=181555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=181555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}