Seeing the Kansas City Chiefs have done their best to patch up the roster after their gut-wrenching Super Bowl LIX loss, throwing down a $127 million was a bet on stability, targeting Patrick Mahomes’ guards as even the Houdini needed an escape route. Trey Smith got the franchise tag, Jaylon Moore is now Mahomes’ new bodyguard on the left, and Kristian Fulton joins a secondary that needed an extra set of eyes. And yet, despite all these moves, the reviews have been… lukewarm. Their own insider in Arrowhead Pride stamped HC Andy Reid’s free agency efforts with an ‘A-‘, which for Chiefs fans might as well be a failing grade. The one glaring gap? The same issue that cost them the Lombardi—Mahomes spent too much time scrambling for his life.

That’s why Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt is banging the table for the current sixth-best OT per ESPN, Aireontae Ersery. The Minnesota Gophers left tackle, a 6-foot-6, 330-pound athletic freak, has surged up draft boards and could be Kansas City’s answer at pick No. 31. Klatt didn’t mince words, saying, “All right, Chiefs. Chiefs at 31. Left tackle was a problem for them last year. Now they’ve traded away Joe Thuney to the Bears, who stepped in out of position… Let’s protect Patrick Mahomes better. It’s the reason you lost the Super Bowl. Let’s look at the best available offensive linemen. In my estimation, it’s the All-American from Minnesota, Aireontae Ersery.” That’s a bold endorsement, but one that makes all the sense in the world for a team that needs to get its trenches right.

Aireontae Ersery isn’t just another big body. He’s an elite mover for his size, a rare blend of power and speed. Ranked 25th on Bruce Feldman’s annual ‘freaks list’ before the 2024 CFB season, he was hyped as one of the best athletes in his position. Then he went to the Combine and somehow exceeded expectations. His performance cemented his place in first-round discussions, and Klatt believes KC can’t afford to pass on him, adding, “He’s a very good player. Ersery, again, All-American. He made 38 starts at left tackle. He’s very experienced. He’s a guy that can step in and play really well for you in front of Patrick Mahomes.”

The Chiefs have always operated with a forward-thinking approach, but this is the first time in years that they can’t afford to be cute about a position of need. Klatt drove that point home, explaining, “This is one of those that it’s like, for a lot of years, they’ve had this luxury of not having a position of need. They no longer have that luxury. They have to get an offensive lineman, and I think Ersery is likely going to be the last, well, not the last one, but one of the quality ones, the best one available at 31.” With the market for premium tackles drying up, waiting could leave Andy Reid with a 2-tier option. And that’s not something you want when Mahomes is your franchise.

If Ersery lands in Kansas, he won’t just be a necessity pick—he’d be a foundational piece for a team looking to extend its dynasty. The Chiefs’ offensive line shuffle has been a constant theme over the last few years. Now, with Joe Thuney gone, there’s a clear opening for a long-term left tackle. Ersery has the tools to not only fill that gap but thrive in an offense that demands its linemen be as athletic as its skill players.

Kansas City has already spent big in free agency, locking in six key players to the tune of $127.9 million. Moore ($30M) and CB Fulton ($20M) addressed two crucial spots, while Smith ($23.4M) and Nick Bolton ($45M) ensured some continuity. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown ($7M) gives Mahomes another weapon, and Elijah Mitchell ($2.5M) adds depth to the backfield. But none of that will matter if the offensive line isn’t rock solid.

Aireontae Ersery turned heads at NFL Combine with freakish athleticism

Every year, the NFL Combine delivers jaw-dropping performances, and this time, it was Aireontae Ersery who stole the show. The Gophers’ standout tackle didn’t just impress—he made history.

Ersery clocked a 5.01-second 40-yard dash, making him the fastest offensive lineman standing at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds since 2003. Let that sink in—two decades of draft classes, and nobody that size has moved that fast. But he wasn’t done flexing his athleticism. He also posted a 9’3” broad jump and a 29.5-inch vertical, numbers that would be impressive for a tight end, let alone a massive tackle.

Then, there’s the Relative Athletic Score (RAS)—a system that quantifies a player’s overall athletic profile. Ersery’s 9.89 out of 10 ranks 16th out of 1,379 offensive tackles since 1987. In other words? Absolute beast.

Of course, testing is just one part of the equation. Ersery has three years of strong tape to back it up, and now, his Combine performance might be the final piece he needed to lock himself into the first round. Klatt might be onto something.