One undrafted rookie is forcing Andy Reid to make a difficult decision

An unexpected storyline is emerging at Kansas City Chiefs training camp, and it’s coming from a player few expected to be competing for a starting job this early. Undrafted rookie offensive tackle Kahlil Benson is making a strong impression after spending a second consecutive practice with the first-team offense.

What made Thursday’s practice particularly noteworthy was that head coach Andy Reid entrusted Benson with all of the first-team reps at right tackle. That decision came as a surprise considering five-year veteran Jaylon Moore entered training camp as the favorite to claim the starting role.

Benson, who starred at Indiana before signing with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, has quickly earned the coaching staff’s attention through his combination of size, athleticism and physical play.

“He’s done a nice job,” Reid said. “He’s learning. Very strong and powerful, good feet, good athletic ability. He’s working at the consistency part, scheme-wise. Physically, he’s got all the tools.”

The biggest surprise at Chiefs camp

While Reid praised Benson’s raw talent, he emphasized that the rookie’s biggest challenge now is proving he can consistently perform against NFL competition.

The next phase of training camp will provide Benson with exactly that opportunity. As the Chiefs put on the pads for the first time next week, he’ll be matched up against some of Kansas City’s top pass rushers, including George Karlaftis, Ashton Gillotte, R Mason Thomas and Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

For Reid, those practices will reveal whether Benson is truly ready to compete for a starting spot.

“Can you pound through those 2½-hour practices in the heat with the pads on?” Reid said. “And then, you’ve got the preseason game. How do you handle that? It’s a long road, but we’ll see how he does. But up to this point, my hat goes off to him.”

If Benson continues to hold his own against the Chiefs’ talented defensive front, the undrafted rookie could complete one of training camp’s biggest surprises by winning a starting job before Week 1.

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