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The Kansas City Chiefs have managed a lot of production out of their rookie class through four weeks of play.
Not only have the Chiefs tied for the third-most snaps among rookie classes through three weeks, but they’ve also managed to have two of the highest-graded rookies by Pro Football Focus. Those two rookies also happen to be from the position group that Kansas City most aggressively invested in this offseason.
First up, Chiefs starting center Creed Humphrey has been one of the most impressive players (not just rookies) in the league at his position through four weeks of play. Among starting centers he has the third-highest grade through Week 4. He came in at No. 2 on PFF’s list of the top-15 highest-graded rookies. Here’s what Mike Renner had to say about him:
“Humphrey is fresh off one of the most impressive performances we’ve seen from any member of the 2021 NFL Draft class. Humphrey was a man possessed in the run game this past week, earning a 93.7 grade in that regard. He’s only allowed one pressure on the season and done more than his part to revamp the Chiefs’ offensive line.”
Then we have sixth-round draft pick Trey Smith, who spends his days mauling defensive linemen in the trenches. He’s the No. 12 ranked guard in the league as a rookie, coming in one slot behind his counterpart on the left side Joe Thuney. Smith came in at No. 9 on PFF’s list.
“Very few sixth-round picks have been as impactful as Smith has through the first month of the season. Not only are sixth-rounders not supposed to earn starting jobs, they definitely aren’t supposed to dominate the way Smith did this past week. The Tennessee product earned an 85.4 overall grade against a talented Eagles front, with no pressures allowed on 39 pass-blocking snaps.”
It’s safe to say that both Humphrey and Smith have outplayed their expectations as rookies. They’ll soon be recognized as mainstays, not just on the Chiefs’ offensive line, but within the league as a whole.
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