Should Chiefs Trade as Lucas Niang Moves Up?

The Kansas City Chiefs offensive line has been solid for the past several years, as the team has invested several draft picks into it. But, one of those draft picks has not panned out quite yet.

And his chance to do so might be right now.

In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Ryan Fowler , he picks one player that he thinks each NFL team should consider putting on the trade block. For the reigning Super Bowl champions, he thinks they should consider dealing offensive tackle Lucas Niang.

"Injuries have rattled the early portions of his career, which has limited his availability and consistency when called into action," Fowler writes. "Niang missed the entirety of the 2020 season after opting out due to the COVID-19 pandemic... Teams that are able to ignore his injury history could take a flier on the 25-year-old Niang, banking on his upside and the possibility that he could develop into a solid starter."

Oops. Bad idea. Or, at least, bad timing.

For this weekend’s preseason game (Saturday vs. the Lions), Jawaan Taylor has a shoulder injury. Wanya Morris has a bone bruise.

Trade Lucas Niang? Nope. He’s starting at right tackle.

The Chiefs drafted Niang in the third round back in 2020, and he has not lived up to that title yet, mostly due to injury.

Related: Chiefs Can't Get On 'High Horse' This Season

He made his first start at the beginning of the 2021 season, but he was only able to start in seven games before suffering a rib injury that kept him out for the next four games. He then started at left tackle, but immediately suffered a torn patella tendon in that game.

Injuries have been a concern with Niang. But right now, he’s not the problem. He’s the solution.