OL Joe Thuney becomes first Kansas City Chiefs player since 2021 not named Patrick Mahomes to win prestigious award
The Kansas City Chiefs have given offensive lineman Joe Thuney their 2024 Derrick Thomas MVP Award. Thuney is the first player besides quarterback Patrick Mahomes to win the award since 2021, when safety Tyrann Mathieu won it. It is well-deserved for Thuney, who essentially saved the Chiefs' season when he switched from left guard to […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have given offensive lineman Joe Thuney their 2024 Derrick Thomas MVP Award.
Thuney is the first player besides quarterback Patrick Mahomes to win the award since 2021, when safety Tyrann Mathieu won it. It is well-deserved for Thuney, who essentially saved the Chiefs' season when he switched from left guard to left tackle in Week 15.
Even though Kansas City fell short in Super Bowl LIX, it likely wouldn't have made it that far if not for Thuney holding it down at LT. Rookie Kingsley Suamataia was the Week 1 starter at LT for the Chiefs, but was benched in Week 2 after struggling mightily.
The job then went to second-year OL Wanya Morris, who started the next 11 games. He produced mixed results as he was battling through a knee injury, leading K.C. to sign free agent D.J. Humphries. In Week 14 Humphries got the start at LT, but injured his hamstring late in the game, costing him the following three weeks of action.
Rather than going back to the inconsistent Morris, the Chiefs made the bold decision to kick Thuney out to LT and start Mike Caliendo at LG. It paid off in a huge way, as the offensive line surrendered just one sack in the three games that Thuney started at LT. Thuney also played admirably during the postseason.
Unfortunately, Caliendo was a major downgrade from Thuney at LG, and he was dominated throughout the playoffs. Thuney will return to his natural LG position in 2025, and hopefully the Chiefs can find a solution at LT. One positive moving forward is now they know that Thuney can fill in at LT if needed and play well.
For the third consecutive year Thuney was named an All-Pro, totaling four throughout his nine-year NFL career. Thuney has one year left on his current contract, and the Chiefs would be wise to give him an extension, especially considering they may lose right guard Trey Smith to free agency.
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