The Kansas City Chiefs’ left tackle situation is one of the few question marks on an otherwise well-stocked roster. After Donovan Smith failed to bounce back in his first year in Kansas City, the team turned to the NFL Draft to find a long-term protector for Patrick Mahomes. Second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia and incumbent Wayna Morris are competing for the starting spot, and former third-round pick Lucas Niang has become a popular trade target.
The 96th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of TCU is in the final year of his rookie contract with his playing time unclear. Either Morris or Suamataia will start at left tackle, while Ja’Wuan Taylor will start at right tackle all season thanks to his huge contract. In a recent article, Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler wrote that the reigning Super Bowl champions should consider a trade for Lucas Niang as there may be several teams looking to add depth at tackle.
Niang’s trade value may be at its peak now given his youth and potential, even with his limited playing time, and teams that can ignore his injury history may be willing to take a chance on the 25-year-old Niang, betting on his potential future and his potential to develop into a solid starter if he stays healthy.
Lucas Niang could be a trade target, with Saints and Panthers pursuing him
No team needs tackles more than the New Orleans Saints. Derek Carr is one of the league’s worst quarterbacks against pressure, and the Saints may have the league’s worst offensive line. Eric McCoy is a good center, but the guard and right tackle positions are practically useless. First-round draft tackle Talise Fuaga has potential, but injured his back in practice. With Trevor Penning at right tackle and an injured rookie on the left wing, Carr probably won’t make it through a season. So why wouldn’t the Saints trade for Lucas Niang?
Niang has not been consistent since entering the league, especially struggling to stay healthy in his first three seasons. But the Saints are not forced to choose, and they are not in a position to dwell on adding to their offensive line. Coach Dennis Allen stands to lose his job if New Orleans does not make the playoffs, so he has every reason to try to acquire a player like Lucas Niang in a trade. It may not work, but there is no harm in trying.
Panthers add depth
The Carolina Panthers have done a great job of surrounding Bryce Young with talent over the past few months. Last year, the quarterback had poor blocking due to a lack of weapons, but with the addition of notable players like Diontaie Johnson, Robert Hunt, Damien Lewis, and first-round draft pick Xavier Leggett, that shouldn’t be the case. However, there is still one big question mark on this offense: the left tackle position. First-round draft pick Ikem Ekwonu has played well in his first two seasons, but it remains to be seen if he can become a true franchise left tackle.
In an ideal world, Ekwuonu would step up and prove to be Carolina’s blindside protector of the future, but if the tackle continues to decline, this team has no plan B. Lucas Niang is still one of the best options available for trade and shouldn’t cost much in draft capital. Perhaps a late-round pick swap would be enough to add some much-needed insurance to the offensive line.
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