KC Chiefs 2023 Roster Preview: Interior Offensive Linemen Entering Training Camp

A stellar trio of Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith paves the way for an excellent group of interior linemen for KC this year.

Sep 11, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith (65) and center Creed Humphrey (52) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line was regarded as one of the best units in the entire NFL a season ago, and the main reason why was the stellar play of its interior.

The trio of Joe Thuney at left guard, Creed Humphrey at center and Trey Smith at right guard paved the way for the Chiefs in 2022, leading to tremendous overall success. Kansas City's offensive line finished first in ESPN's pass block win rate at 75%, also taking home a top-three spot in run block win rate to boot. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and running backs Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon looked comfortable all year long, culminating with a Super Bowl LVII victory in which the entire line rendered a scary Philadelphia Eagles front largely ineffective. 

As 2023 Chiefs training camp comes into fo, Arrowhead Report will be previewing each of the team's position groups. This precedes a roster projection once training camp is in full swing, allowing for in-depth analysis and observations of the roster general manager Brett Veach has put together. The series continues with the interior of Andy Reid and Andy Heck's offensive line, a collective that projects to be stellar once again.

The starters: Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith

Nothing will change from last year here as Thuney, Humphrey and Smith make up perhaps the league's best interior offensive line group. Thuney was the NFL's best guard in Pro Football Focus' pass blocking grade a year ago, Smith was a top-15 guard overall and Humphrey was the site's top-ranked center. Assuming good health, there isn't a height that this trio shouldn't be able to reach with another offseason, training camp and preseason together. 

The backups: Nick Allegretti, Austin Reiter and Darian Kinnard

Many expected Allegretti to command a serious financial commitment from another team in free agency, yet the 27-year-old ended up re-signing with Kansas City on a one-year deal worth just under $2.6 million. He's one of the better backup guards in the NFL and also has experience working at center. Reiter played in 42 games with the Chiefs from 2018-2020 and returned on a practice squad basis last year, but he could be Humphrey's backup moving forward. 

While Kinnard was drafted in 2022 as a tackle, the team has hinted at him being more of a guard at the NFL level. It's possible that one member of this group — potentially him or Reiter — ends up on the outside looking in if he doesn't get off to a good start during training camp. 

The intriguing pieces: Mike Caliendo, Jerome Carvin and Anderson Hardy

Caliendo and Carvin, respective undrafted free agent pickups by the Chiefs in 2022 and 2023, are talented players who could eventually find their way onto the 53-man roster. With how much depth is already there, however, it isn't likely for this season. Carvin has a tackle background in addition to playing plenty of guard at Tennessee, so that could give him an inside edge down the road. Hardy is transitioning from tackle to center and is a prime practice squad candidate coming out of Appalachian State if he sticks around.

Read More: Even With Mahomes, KC's QB Room Has Questions to Answer