The Chiefs will enter 2025 with several questions related to the offensive line after a plethora of struggles in 2024. They’ll have one of the best interior offensive lines in all of football with maybe the best center and guard in the NFL (Joe Thuney and Creed Humphrey) both under contract. They also will likely enter the year with Jawaan Taylor at RT despite some struggles due to the high volume of dead cap in his contract next season.

With Trey Smith hitting free agency and commanding a contract the Chiefs likely can’t afford, as well as the revolving door at LT for the Chiefs, there will potentially be two spots up for grabs heading into 2025. The team will likely look to add a veteran swing tackle to help some of the young guys develop. In the draft it is likely they will attack the offensive line with force, and here are some potential options.

As you look at the guys I have listed you will see a theme for what I like to see in offensive tackle prospects. I like players who are athletically gifted and would rather add a prospect who is a great athlete but a raw player rather than someone who is “day one ready” but has polished technique. All the tackles I list have impressive measurables and are guys who are athletically gifted with plenty of upside to improve with time and development.

Let’s look at a handful of tackles who the Chiefs must target on each day of the draft, as well as a couple of honorable mention candidates and rankings as well.

1. Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota – Day One

Ersery is one of my favorite offensive tackles in the class and is a guy who I listed as a breakout candidate prior to 2024 due to his elite frame and athleticism. He has started 38 games for Minnesota at left tackle over the last 3 seasons where he was incredibly successful in the Big 10. Ersery is a strong dominating force at LT and knows how to use every bit of his six-foot-six, 340-pound frame, and his 34-inch arms to get leverage and make impact blocks on the edge.

Ersery has plenty of experience blocking some of the best pass rushers in the nation throughout his time playing in the Big Ten. With this experience and success, I think Ersery could be a day one starter at either of the two tackle spots for the Chiefs as needed. My biggest gripe with Ersery comes from his posture and stance as he doesn’t get upright with his chest out.

This can cause him to lose his balance and take bad lateral steps which in turn gives edge rushers leverage at times, but this is a fixable problem and his skillset is well worth a first-round pick.

Ersery has ideal measurements and movement skills that will translate to the NFL and his elite skill set should make him an early priority for the Chiefs. If the athletic skill set and history of success aren’t enough, Ersery is a Kansas City native and would be a fun hometown hero for many Chiefs fans. As a prospect, I think Ersery can make an immediate impact at tackle as well as having tons of potential to grow.

With the right development and help, in time he could be one of the best tackles in the NFL and would be a great grab for the Chiefs in the first round.