Chiefs News: Joe Thuney, Trey Smith named to PFF’s top NFL guards

Pro Football Focus (PFF) continued along with its rankings series on Tuesday, grading the NFL’s top offensive guards. As it so happens, according to PFF, the Kansas City Chiefs have two of the best at that position in the entire league.

Left guard Joe Thuney and right guard Trey Smith cracked the top 15 offensive guards in the league (they actually cracked the top 13, but 15 reads better in a headline).

Let’s see what PFF’s Thomas Valentine had to say:

2. JOE THUNEY, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Thuney has cemented himself as one of the NFL’s best guards, providing flawless protection for Patrick Mahomes over the past three seasons and earning himself first- and second-team All-Pro nods in the past two seasons. Thuney’s 74.6 PFF overall grade in 2023 ranked ninth among guards, and his 83.4 pass-blocking grade led the position.

Thuney is an adequate run-blocker, but he has made a name for himself in pass protection. He allowed just a 4.6% pressure rate in 2023, and his 88.8 pass-blocking grade over the past two years is better than that of every other guard in the NFL.

Only Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom was ranked better than Thuney in this exercise. Then, 11 spots later…

13. TREY SMITH, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Smith has the unenviable task of ensuring the NFL’s best quarterback stays upright, and he has earned a PFF overall grade of at least 71.0 in three straight seasons. While he has allowed more than 30 pressures in each season, only 15 were quarterback hits. Generally, Smith is as solid as they come.

Availability has been a big green tick for Smith since he was drafted in 2021. He has missed just one game in three seasons, playing 3,319 snaps in that time. A true potential stalwart.

Takeaway

The 31-year-old Thuney is still under contract with the Chiefs for two more seasons. Considering he has been proven to be very good at ensuring Mahomes stays clean, that’s a good thing. I think an under-discussed challenge facing Thuney, in particular, is the never-ending carousel at left tackle.

One of the essential elements of building a strong offensive line is the chemistry that comes from continuity, and circumstances haven’t allowed for that in Kansas City. Since Thuney arrived in 2021, he’s excelled while playing next to Orlando Brown Jr., Donovan Smith and Wanya Morris — and he has even played a game at left tackle himself. If Kingsley Suamatia beats out Morris for 2024’s starting job, Thuney will play alongside his fourth left tackle in as many years in Kansas City.

Thuney suffered a pectoral injury during last year’s playoff run. The Chiefs hope he will be available at the beginning of training camp.

Smith, 24, is the definition of a draft steal after cardiovascular health concerns saw him dip all the way to the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Among players like Creed Humphrey, L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie, there is an argument that Smith has been general manager Brett Veach’s best selection since taking over in 2017.

Smith is entering the final year of his rookie contract… for now. He is a target the Chiefs would like to retain — perhaps in the months to come.