How Darian Kinnard Can Take the Second-Year Jump

Darian Kinnard didn't find a role in the Chiefs' o-line in his rookie season, but could some changes in year two bring Kinnard to a second-year jump?

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t originally have a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but a trade back with the New England Patriots was able to land the team the No. 54 and No. 158 pick in return for No. 50. In the second round, they selected wide receiver Skyy Moore. When it came to the fifth-round pick, the Chiefs opted to move up to pick No. 145 to select offensive tackle Darian Kinnard, a 6-foot-5, 322-pound offensive lineman from the University of Kentucky.

Kinnard was a steady force and a multi-year starter while playing for the Kentucky Wildcats. Many prognosticators felt Kinard could be taken on Day 2 of the 2022 draft, but he fell all the way to the middle of Day 3. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach decided it was worth jumping up 14 spots to take an offensive lineman with his talent.

Heading into the draft, the Chiefs were looking to secure a starting right tackle, or at the least, secure depth at the position, and Kinnard looked like the type of diamond in the rough that could help the team out. He started his final 39 collegiate games at right tackle and was a second-team All-SEC player his junior year before ascending to consensus All-American status as a senior. He led Kentucky with 30 knockdown blocks and was one of three offensive lineman to grade out 85 or higher in both run and pass blocking, according to Pro Football Focus.

The college accolades and the fact Kinnard slipped to the fifth round had Chiefs fans excited about his potential to start for the team since KC was in need of a right tackle. With offensive tackle Lucas Niang still recovering from a serious knee injury, it was an open competition for the job.

Initially, Kinnard struggled to adjust at the next level during training camp and in the preseason. The right tackle job was ultimately won by Andrew Wylie, who went on to have the best season of his career and wound up getting scooped up by Washington in free agency after helping the Chiefs win a Super Bowl. Some thought this could lead to Kinnard having a chance to get more playing time in 2023, but Veach and company seem to have other plans.

Much like the offensive line overhaul after the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl in 2021, Veach decided it was time to do the same at the offensive tackle positions. They signed former Jacksonville Jaguars right tackle Jawaan Taylor to a four-year, $80 million deal. Many projected him to switch from right tackle to left tackle since the Chiefs let their left tackle, Orlando Brown Jr, walk in free agency. That would have opened up a starting right tackle spot. Yet again, it seems like Veach had other plans.

The Chiefs signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran left tackle Donovan Smith to a relatively cheap one-year deal. All of this movement and bringing in new guys to compete on the offensive line doesn’t bode well for Kinnard, who was looking to push for playing time. If Taylor is indeed the right tackle solution, then Kinnard will be a full-time backup again in 2023. Not only will Kinnard be fighting to get any playing time with the starters, but the Chiefs also drafted Oklahoma tackle Wanya Morris to compete for a tackle spot as well.

With Kinnard working at guard later in his rookie season and again in May's OTAs, it looks like Kinnard's path to playing time may come on the interior.

It looks like it’s going to be an uphill battle for Kinnard in 2023. There are a lot of new faces in the offensive line room, but most are projected to be ahead of Kinnard on the depth chart. However, that doesn’t mean Kinnard can’t work his tail off in training camp and show he’s worthy of a roster spot heading into the season. In order for Kinnard to make a second-year jump, he will have to do something special to get playing time or stay healthy if injuries test the depth chart. The best-case scenario is that Kinnard plays up to his potential during the preseason to secure a roster spot and give himself a chance to play with the starters. It looks like that will be easier said than done. I’m not anticipating a big second-year jump, but any playing time will be better than none for Kinnard in 2023.