Kansas City might have just been blindsided at the worst possible time. No, not by another overtime rule change—this one’s about something even more crucial: protecting Patrick Mahomes (especially after those 6 sacks in the SB LIX).
The Chiefs entered the offseason knowing they needed to shore up the left tackle position, but the latest measurements from the NFL Scouting Combine just threw a massive wrench into their plans. And that wrench might just force Andy Reid to break his own golden rule.
Reid has long stuck to a philosophy: no offensive players in the first round.
But desperate times call for desperate measures, and KC is running out of viable tackle options. Thanks to the NFL’s updated guidelines, offensive tackles now need a minimum arm length of 34 inches to make the cut. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, many of the top prospects this year came in under that threshold. Translation? Their draft board just got a whole lot thinner.
Historically, Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach have valued arm length more than a BBQ joint values burnt ends. Every offensive tackle drafted by the Chiefs in recent years had at least 34-inch arms—Lucas Niang, Wanya Morris, Darrian Kinnard, all of them. Even their undrafted free agent additions fit the mold.
Best Fit for The Kansas City Chiefs
Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery just ran a 5.01-second 40-yard dash
That’s the fastest mark by an offensive lineman that is at least 6’6” and 330 lbs since 2003#gopherfootball | #NFLCombine #chiefs #chiefskingdom… pic.twitter.com/aB7hqH1N9t
— Chiefs Blitz (@ChiefsBlitz) March 3, 2025
It’s not just a Kansas City preference; it’s a league-wide trend. Long arms give tackles a crucial edge in keeping elite pass rushers at bay. And when you’ve got Mahomes under center, giving him that extra millisecond to work his magic isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity.
So what does this mean for the Chiefs? Well, the easy answer would be to adjust their standards, but that’s like telling a team to ignore a franchise QB just because he’s a little short.
If the front office doesn’t budge on their arm length criteria, they’re staring down two options: reach for a tackle who fits the mold but isn’t first-round worthy, or—brace yourself—use their first-round pick on offense for the first time under Reid.
Would that be such a bad thing? The Chiefs’ last first-round offensive pick was Clyde Edwards-Helaire in 2020, and let’s just say that experiment didn’t go as planned. But this is different. This isn’t about luxury picks; this is about keeping the most valuable player in the NFL upright. And let’s be honest, if you’re going to bend a rule, doing it to protect Mahomes is about as good of a reason as you’ll ever find.
Andy Reid’s Chiefs are not worried about the records
Andy Reid doesn’t care about records. He’s not counting wins, he’s not chasing milestones, and he’s certainly not scrolling through career stats at night. That’s just not his style. Since taking over the Chiefs, all he’s done is win—three Super Bowls and a dynasty later, Kansas City is still the team to beat.
Last season, they were this close to making history as the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. Even after the loss, Vegas still has them as favorites. And Reid? He’s just thinking about the next snap.
Reid’s name is already near the top of the all-time wins list for head coaches. A few more seasons, and he could be the guy. But don’t expect him to lose sleep over it. “I am not big on all the records stuff,” he said. “If you ask me how many wins I have right now, I could not tell you.” Classic Reid. For him, coaching isn’t about numbers—it’s about teaching. He’s here to make players better, on and off the field.
That’s not to say he’s avoiding the retirement conversation altogether. He’s got a plan, and it’s not coming anytime soon. “You just know,” Reid said, recalling advice from his parents. “I know that it is not now, not today. When it is, I am going to call you, and we will walk out together.” So yeah, Chiefs fans can breathe easy—Big Red isn’t going anywhere yet.
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And as long as Andy Reid is on the sideline and Patrick Mahomes is under center, the Chiefs are contenders. That duo isn’t just good; it’s historic. We’re talking Brady-Belichick levels of dominance. Three rings in five seasons? That’s absurd. And they’re not done. As long as Mahomes keeps slinging it and Reid keeps scheming, this team’s Super Bowl window is wide open.
So, records? Sure, they might come. But that’s not the goal. The goal is winning. The goal is teaching. And the goal is legacy. And as long as Reid is calling plays, you can bet the Chiefs will be right in the mix. Every. Single. Year.
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