Recent discovery will help Chiefs with long-term roster plans

The Kansas City Chiefs appear to have made a massive discovery that will surely help the team's long-term plans at one of the most important positions in football. 

Third-round draft pick Wanya Morris made his first career start in the NFL against the Buffalo Bills in Week 14, filling in at left tackle for Donovan Smith, who was out with a neck injury. He appeared in 66 total offensive snaps, surrendering just five total pressures and no sacks against a talented Bills defensive front. 

That's not even the most impressive part of his start, though. When you consider the Chiefs' penalty troubles at the offensive tackle position this season, it's a breath of fresh air to know that in 122 total snaps on offense this season, Morris hasn't been called for a single penalty. 

When you consider that he's also been exceptional as a run-blocker, it's beginning to feel more and more like Kansas City has found something in their latest third-round pick. He's performed so well that some have questioned whether Smith will regain the starting job over Morris when he returns to health. 

At the very least, what the Chiefs have seen from the 23-year-old indicates that he just might be their long-term solution at the left tackle position. It's a development that will strengthen their position heading into 2024 free agency and the 2024 NFL draft, where the team will almost certainly make acquiring weapons for Patrick Mahomes a top priority. 

Morris had the right mindset heading into his first career start

Making your first career start as a rookie can be daunting, but Morris didn't seek to change anything about his preparation and strategy ahead of the game. He'd been preparing as if he could start every week from the moment he arrived in Kansas City.

“Just be prepared and do whatever I can, just do my best out there and that’s all they ask for is to do your best," Morris said. "That’s what I tried to do today – do my best – but obviously, we have to do some more. More film studying and get back in the room, get back to work.”

The Week 14 game against the Bills didn't go the way of the Chiefs, but it wasn't through any fault of Morris. Still, he feels a responsibility to be and do better in the wake of the loss, which is the mark of a true competitor. Speaking on the preparation and study ahead of facing the Bills' defensive line, Morris explained how he managed to gain an edge.

“You watch film on those guys, those guys are great guys," Morris said. "They all have great tape and great years of experience. That one thing they hold against me is experience but at the end of the day it comes to my preparation, and I feel like I prepared well enough. When it came down to it and I got settled I feel like I was able to catch a groove and we battled. It was a dog fight.”

What's next for the Chiefs and Morris?

Morris doesn't know if he'll get the start in Week 15 against the New England Patriots, but he'll continue preparing as if he'll be the starter. Right now, it's all about hitting the film room, finding areas where he can improve, as well as looking for an edge against a defense that's much better than their record might indicate.

“Like I said, it’s just going back in the film room, seeing what we did wrong, seeing what we could do better," Morris said. "Each and every week is any given Sunday, so we just have to get back in there and prepare like we did last week and come out with the same energy because I feel like our energy was really good this week. We just have to go out there and execute, that’s all it comes down to.”

As for putting the disappointment of Week 14 behind him, he's focusing on what he can learn and build upon with his NFL career in its infancy. 

“This is obviously a tough game because this is obviously one of those ones that you want," Morris said. "The history of this game, these are always good games, so you always want to come out on top. It’s never a good feeling when you come out with an L. We are going to come out and build from it.”