The Kansas City Chiefs have four of the five starting offensive line positions locked in: Josh Simmons at left tackle, Kingsley Suamataia at left guard, Creed Humphrey at center, and Trey Smith at right tackle. Throughout the spring and summer, the Chiefs will hold a competition at right tackle to replace Jawaan Taylor. Jaylon Moore is currently the projected starter after signing a two-year, $30 million contract last offseason, where he served as the team’s swing tackle in 2025 and started six games.
However, an under-the-radar rookie could push him for the job.
The Kansas City Chiefs UDFA has entered his name into the mix
Indiana’s Kahlil Benson (67) celebrates after the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
The Chiefs signed former Indiana Hoosiers and Colorado Buffaloes offensive tackle Kahlil Benson to a three-year, $3.1 million undrafted free agent contract. He spent his first four collegiate seasons at Indiana from 2020 to 2023 before transferring to Colorado in 2024 and returning to the Hoosiers in 2025. Benson won the starting right tackle job in 2025 and allowed 24 pressures and four sacks across 16 games and 12 starts. He finished his college tenure with 49 appearances and 33 starts, including roughly 22 at right tackle and 11 at right guard.
Kahlil Benson has surprisingly been competing against Jaylon Moore for the right tackle job this early.
The Chiefs undrafted free agent is vying for a starting job in 2026
In an ESPN article, writers covering each NFL team identified one surprising player to watch for the 2026 NFL season. For the Chiefs, Nate Taylor named Kahlil Benson, noting that his performance during the spring led Kansas City to trade Wanya Morris to Atlanta. Taylor also added that Benson split first-team reps with Jaylon Moore at right tackle during mandatory minicamp, with the competition expected to pick up steam in training camp once pads come on and the opportunity for live reps in the preseason.
“While quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to recover from his knee injury, the surprising player who has emerged the most is Benson, an undrafted rookie from Indiana who will be competing in training camp against veteran Jaylon Moore for the starting role. Benson shared repetitions with Moore during the Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp. With Benson’s rise up the depth chart, the Chiefs were comfortable earlier this month with trading Wanya Morris to the Atlanta Falcons,” Taylor said.
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