Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson is guarding Mahomes' blindside — 0 sacks
An undrafted free agent has started both games at left tackle for the 2-0 Chiefs, allowing zero sacks and six pressures. What it means for Mahomes owners.
Rookie LT is holding up, but Mahomes' cold last 5 games is the real worry.
- 0 sacks, 6 total pressures allowed in 2 starts
- Chiefs are 2-0 with Benson at LT
- Simmons (back) out; missed 9 games last year
- Mahomes -6.3 fantasy pts last 5 vs season avg
- Mahomes ranks #9 at QB in our model
The Chiefs are 2-0, and the guy protecting Patrick Mahomes' blindside wasn't even drafted. Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson has started both games at left tackle and, per TruMedia, hasn't surrendered a single sack — just six total pressures across two outings. For a player who spent his entire college and training-camp career on the right side, that's not nothing.
Kansas City penciled in former first-rounder Josh Simmons at left tackle, but a back injury shelved him before Week 1. Simmons already missed nine games last season under murky circumstances, so this isn't a fluke absence — and the Chiefs had no obvious answer. Benson, who'd been cross-training at right guard and right tackle, got flipped to the premium spot and thrown onto an island.
From Bloomington to Mahomes' Blindside
Benson's path was anything but linear. A Mississippi native, he signed with Indiana, lost his 2020 season to a knee injury in fall camp, then bounced to Colorado to protect Shedeur Sanders before injuries limited him to four starts. He returned to Indiana for the Hoosiers' College Football Playoff run. The size and strength were always there; the questions were about hand placement, block retention and whether his feet were quick enough to mirror edge rushers.
Andy Reid called the performance 'decent,' which sounds lukewarm until you notice the play-calling. Reid rarely gave Benson chip help against the Colts, leaving him largely alone — a quiet vote of confidence. Reid also credited GM Brett Veach's eye and O-line coach Andy Heck for developing the kid. There was one clear loss to Arden Key, but as protection goes, losing slowly still counts as a win.
The Fantasy Fallout
Here's the fantasy reality: a stable line matters for Mahomes, and Benson holding up is good news. But Mahomes owners have a bigger issue than pass protection. He's averaging 6.3 fantasy points below his own 2025 season line over his last five games (2025 actuals), and our model has him at QB9 — solid, not elite. The 2025 numbers (3,587 pass yards, 22 TD, 0 INT plus 422 rush yards and 5 scores over 14 games) show the ceiling is still there when he's clicking.
The move is simple. Keep starting Mahomes — you drafted him to be your QB1 and a rookie tackle allowing zero sacks doesn't change that. Just temper expectations while the offense sorts itself out, and monitor Simmons' return, since an upgrade back to a healthy first-rounder only helps Mahomes' floor. No add-worthy fantasy value in Benson himself unless you're in an IDP-adjacent format, but he's the reason your Mahomes stock isn't cratering.
