The Kansas City Chiefs are working through a position battle at right tackle. Less than two weeks out from their season opener on Monday Night Football when they host the Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs still don’t know who their starting right tackle will be when the game kicks off.
Two players are currently locked in a battle for the role: veteran Jaylon Moore, who signed a two-year, $30 million deal in free agency last year, and undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson. Though he played both guard and tackle during his college career at Indiana, Benson primarily works at right tackle for the Chiefs.
Benson is one of the darlings of Chiefs camp, and in recent weeks, he’s earned the bulk of the reps at right tackle with the first-team offense. However, during Saturday’s preseason game against the Buccaneers, Benson struggled against the length and athleticism of the Bucs’ pass rushers, drawing concerns since he’s slated to start.
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid Defends Rookie UDFA RT Kahlil Benson
GettyST JOSEPH, MISSOURI – JULY 25: Josh Thompson #62, Pete Nygra #50 and Kahlil Benson #70 walk toward the practice field during Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western State University on July 25, 2026 in St Joseph, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Benson went viral on Saturday for the wrong reasons, as he was on the receiving end of a nasty long-arm move from Buccaneers first-round edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. On the play in question, Bain displaced Benson with one arm, sending him stumbling backwards as Bain applied pressure to the quarterback.
On another play, Benson surrendered a quick pressure to a different Tampa Bay pass rusher, Anthony Nelson. It was the first look Chiefs fans got of their potential starting right tackle, and it wasn’t a good showing.
But Chiefs HC Andy Reid isn’t concerned. While he acknowledged Benson struggled in his debut at right tackle on Saturday, he defended the rookie, offering an explanation for a few of his worst plays.
“[Benson] did some good things, he’s got some things he needs to work on,” Reid said, via ESPN’s Chiefs beat reporter Nate Taylor. “He has the talent. He opened the gate a couple times.”
Charles Goldman went on to report that Reid defended Benson further, informing reporters that the silent count the Chiefs used was “new to [Benson].” Kansas City played on the road in Tampa Bay, so they were forced to go to a silent count at times in the loud environment. Given Benson’s unfamiliarity with it, he was late off the ball a few times.
Where Will the Chiefs Ultimately Play Benson?
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 09: Roman Hemby #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers is pulled by teammate Kahlil Benson #67 of the Indiana Hoosiers (now of the Kansas City Chiefs) against the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Lost in the right tackle debate between Benson and Moore is that both players are also working as backup guards. The Chiefs have a depth problem on the interior, and Benson could be valuable depth there, especially considering the injury to All-Pro RG Trey Smith.
Guard was Benson’s primary position in college. Perhaps the Chiefs will start Moore at right tackle and have Benson be the backup at both right guard and right tackle. At least until he gets his legs under him a bit more in the NFL.
Chiefs’ Andy Reid Defends Embattled Rookie After Rough Preseason Performance