KANSAS CITY, Mo. — D.J. Humphries wants another opportunity with the Chiefs.
Ideally, Humphries, the nine-year veteran left tackle, will not be an unrestricted free agent for long next month when the NFL free agency begins. Humphries hopes the Chiefs will offer him a new contract, perhaps a one- or two-year deal, that would give him another opportunity to be the player he was supposed to be for the team late last season.
If he stays with the Chiefs, Humphries knows he will get a chance to prove he can be their starting left tackle, the lineman most responsible for protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. He’s eager to participate in the offseason program and training camp after joining the team in November of 2024.
“I definitely want to return here,” Humphries told The Athletic just days before Super Bowl LIX. “I wish I knew exactly what’s going to happen, but I would love to be back here. This place is special, man. It’s contagious, almost. I still want to add so much to my game.”
When the Chiefs signed Humphries in late November to a one-year deal with a maximum value of $4.5 million, he was added to solve one of their biggest roster issues and be the starter in time for the team’s postseason run. Instead, Humphries watched each of the Chiefs’ three postseason games from their sideline, the result of him sustaining a strained left hamstring, a nagging injury that limited him to 92 regular-season snaps.
Without Humphries, the Chiefs still made the Super Bowl. All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney moved to left tackle in December and provided suitable protection with Mike Caliendo moving into the lineup at guard. But in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs had their worst performance of the season, an embarrassing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, a 40-22 beatdown that prevented them from becoming the NFL’s first three-peat champion in the Super Bowl era.
The Eagles defense dominated the line of scrimmage, exploiting the Chiefs’ biggest weakness: their offensive line. The Eagles never blitzed Mahomes on 42 dropbacks. They played zone coverage on all but two dropbacks, the third-highest rate by a defense in a game since 2018 — and held Mahomes to his second-worst performance by expected points added in a game in his career (-19.3), according to Next Gen Stats.
The Eagles’ four-man pass rush generated 16 pressures and sacked Mahomes six times, the most in his career.
Although Humphries was in uniform that night, coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t make any changes to the offensive line. Humphries was one of the first players to walk into the Chiefs’ locker room as the Eagles celebrated their championship.
“It was definitely frustrating,” Humphries said of his injury leading to him missing the Chiefs’ most important games. “Over time, I’m realizing I’m kind of working myself out of position to be able to build that continuity with the guys (that) it could be weird come time for playoffs. I mentally prepared myself, understanding the level of what the guys had been playing in. I wasn’t there yet physically.”
Humphries, 31, spent much of last season at home while recovering from a torn ACL.
Less than two weeks after joining the Chiefs, Humphries started against the Los Angeles Chargers. The reason the Chiefs felt Humphries had to start was because Wanya Morris, the second-year tackle who played through a right knee injury for several games, allowed 11 pressures on 48 pass-blocking snaps the previous week in the Chiefs’ win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Against the Chargers, Humphries often received additional instructions from Mahomes after the offense broke the huddle. Not surprisingly, Humphries struggled at times in his 44 pass-blocking snaps, surrendering five pressures, two quarterback hits and one sack, according to Pro Football Focus. On his 60th snap, with less than four minutes left in the game, Humphries sustained his hamstring injury while trying to make a reach block.
“It was definitely tough,” Humphries said. “It was one of those situations where I kind of let how I felt get in the way of reality, almost. My knee felt great. I should’ve gone into the game with a better plan for my whole body, understanding I hadn’t played football in a year.
“As quick I could get out there, I wanted to get out there. I think if I knew what I know now, I probably would’ve taken my time a little bit more.”
In the regular-season finale, Humphries played 32 snaps against the Denver Broncos and struggled in pass protection after halftime. Late in the third quarter, Humphries whiffed when he tried to block outside linebacker Nik Bonitto on a fourth-and-7 snap. Bonitto immediately sacked backup quarterback Carson Wentz.
“I want to give D.J. a ton of credit with how he’s handled this entire situation,” Nagy said last month. “He’s nothing but a true pro. I have a ton of respect for him.”
Humphries’ biggest contributions to the Chiefs were with him essentially becoming a top assistant coach for Thuney, who for the first time in his nine-year career was in one-on-one matchups against some of the league’s best edge rushers.
“I had to find a role,” said Humphries, who was a Pro Bowler in 2021 with the Arizona Cardinals. “I’m going to make sure that guys are ready, I’m going to bring energy and I’m going to be the old man that (shares) some wisdom when I can. Everybody knows the type of player I am and they also know the situation. I can’t become a shell of myself and let it change me. That’s not who I am.”
In six games, including the postseason, Thuney surrendered two sacks and five quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus. Thuney credited Humphries for talking through blocking techniques and overall strategy over that time.
“He’s a great guy and he has fit in seamlessly with this group,” Thuney said just days before the Super Bowl. “He has so much experience, so it’s great to pick his brain and see how he sees things and see what he thinks about certain situations.”
Among veteran free agents, Humphries should be one of the Chiefs’ most logical, affordable options. They don’t have a lot of options when it comes to pursuing other notable free agents. Veterans such as Ronnie Stanley, Tyron Smith and Cam Robinson can be immediate starters, but they are also free agents for a reason. Stanley has dealt with multiple injuries, Smith is 34 years old and Robinson struggled at times last season after the Jacksonville Jaguars traded him to the Minnesota Vikings.
As the youngest player of the three, Robinson, 29, is projected to command a three-year, $56.25 million contract, including $35 million guaranteed, according to Pro Football Focus.
In the upcoming NFL Draft, the Chiefs, who have just six picks, likely would have to trade up in the first round and offer perhaps a future first- or second-round pick to select one of the top left tackle prospects.
If Humphries re-signs with the Chiefs, they could have him compete with Kingsley Suamataia for the starting job. Suamataia could also start his second season as a guard instead of a tackle, especially if Chiefs don’t retain right guard Trey Smith, who is expected to be the most coveted free-agent offensive lineman this year.
One reason Humphries wants to rejoin the Chiefs is to play alongside Thuney, whom he admires and who performed admirably in place of Humphries.
“Joe is the man,” Humphries said. “He’s an amazing player, an All-Pro. I want my guy to be where he wants to be.”
