The path from a rookie minicamp tryout to an NFL starting lineup is usually measured in years, not months. For former Indiana offensive tackle Kahlil Benson, it has taken less than five months.
Benson, an undrafted rookie who initially arrived at the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie minicamp simply looking for an opportunity, is set to make his NFL debut Monday night as the team’s starting left tackle against the Denver Broncos. The assignment carries extraordinary stakes: Benson will be responsible for protecting the blind side of Patrick Mahomes, who is returning from a major knee injury, against one of the NFL’s most aggressive pass rushes.
The Chiefs ruled out starting left tackle Josh Simmons with a back injury, clearing the way for Benson to become the first undrafted rookie to start a Week 1 game for Andy Reid in Kansas City.
It is a remarkable rise for a player who was not among the 257 selections in the 2026 NFL draft.
Benson’s NFL journey began April 28, when Kansas City invited him to rookie minicamp. He was one of 76 rookie tryout players competing for a chance to remain with the organization. The Chiefs already had seven draft picks and 20 undrafted rookie free agents in attendance, meaning Benson entered the weekend with no guarantee that he would even receive another opportunity.
Instead, he forced the organization to reconsider.
The Chiefs signed Benson after the minicamp, turning what had essentially been an audition for a practice-body role into an NFL contract. Kansas City’s assistant general manager Mike Bradway later acknowledged that there was an element of luck involved in the discovery, because the team had not drafted Benson and initially viewed the minicamp invitation primarily as a chance to evaluate additional players.
Benson quickly changed that equation.
At 6-foot-6 and roughly 319 pounds, he brings the size Kansas City wants on the offensive line, but his value has been more than physical. His ability to play multiple positions has accelerated his development in an offense where versatility is particularly valuable.
Benson spent four seasons at Indiana before transferring to Colorado for the 2024 season and returning to Bloomington for his final college season. In 2025, he started 12 games at right tackle for an Indiana team that went on to win the national championship. According to the Chiefs, Benson allowed 24 pressures on 382 pass-blocking snaps during that season.
Those numbers help explain both sides of the evaluation.
Benson possesses the frame and power to create movement in the run game, but his draft evaluation included concerns about technique in pass protection. His footwork and consistency against rushers were areas that needed refinement. Kansas City nevertheless saw enough athletic ability and competitive toughness to give him a chance.
Then training camp began.
Benson initially worked primarily at right tackle, eventually taking first-team repetitions ahead of veteran Jaylon Moore. NFL.com reported that Benson received the majority of first-team reps at right tackle during the early stages of camp, putting an undrafted rookie into a legitimate competition for a starting job.
That competition alone was notable. Moore signed a two-year, $30 million contract with Kansas City last offseason and entered the year as an established veteran option. His 2026 base salary is listed at $14.24 million, making Benson’s emergence an illustration of just how aggressively the Chiefs evaluate performance rather than simply relying on contract status.
But circumstances changed when Simmons’ back injury lingered.
Suddenly, Benson’s versatility became essential.
Rather than simply filling in at his natural right-side position, Benson began preparing for the opposite side of the line. Reid confirmed that the rookie had been practicing at left tackle and said the Chiefs were comfortable using him on either side.
“We try to play the five best guys,” Reid said, according to reports. “We’re comfortable with Kahlil on either side.”
That flexibility is now being tested in the most demanding environment imaginable for a rookie offensive lineman.
Benson will line up across from a Denver defense that has built its identity around pressure. The Broncos finished with the NFL’s No. 1 seed in the AFC last season and have developed a formidable pass rush capable of attacking protections from multiple alignments. With edge rusher Nik Bonitto among the players capable of stressing the Chiefs’ protection scheme, Kansas City cannot afford repeated communication errors or poor angles from its young tackle.
The matchup becomes even more significant because of Mahomes’ return.
Mahomes suffered torn ACL and LCL ligaments in his left knee last season and has spent the offseason working toward his return. Reid has said the quarterback is expected to play, and Mahomes has participated fully enough in training camp to convince the coaching staff that he is ready.
That makes Benson’s assignment about more than simply winning his individual matchup.
Kansas City’s offensive staff must balance protecting Mahomes with allowing the quarterback to operate within the structure of the offense. An inexperienced left tackle can affect the entire protection plan, particularly against a defense capable of generating pressure without committing extra rushers.
Expect the Chiefs to help Benson when necessary through tight-end alignments, running-back protection, motion and a quick passing game. They can also use the run game to slow Denver’s edge rushers and prevent them from attacking Benson exclusively in obvious passing situations.
For Benson, the challenge will be maintaining his technique when the game speeds up.
At Indiana, he played in a run-heavy offense and helped establish the physical identity of a national championship team. In Kansas City, his responsibilities become more complex. NFL edge defenders can manipulate tackles with speed-to-power moves, counters and inside spins, forcing offensive linemen to maintain balance through several stages of a pass rush.
The Chiefs are betting that Benson’s physical tools and preparation can withstand that test.
Financially, the gamble is minimal compared with the potential reward.
Benson signed a three-year, $3.1 million contract after his minicamp tryout. Over The Cap lists his 2026 salary-cap charge at $885,000, with scheduled base salaries of $1.05 million in 2027 and $1.165 million in 2028.
That makes his emergence particularly attractive for Kansas City. Starting-caliber offensive tackles command significant money in the modern NFL, while Benson represents an inexpensive developmental asset who has already demonstrated enough ability to earn a starting assignment.
The Chiefs do not need Benson to become a star Monday night. They need him to avoid catastrophic mistakes, communicate effectively and give Mahomes enough time to operate.
That distinction matters.
An offensive lineman can play a successful game without dominating his opponent. A rookie can win simply by staying on schedule, avoiding penalties and maintaining his leverage. For Benson, the first objective will be reliability.
His story also reflects the evolving economics of roster construction across the NFL. Teams increasingly rely on undrafted players to fill important roles, particularly as salary-cap pressures force front offices to find inexpensive contributors. Kansas City’s discovery of Benson is an example of why teams continue investing resources in rookie minicamps, scouting departments and developmental coaching.
For Indiana, Benson’s rise offers another piece of evidence for the program’s transformation under Curt Cignetti.
He left Bloomington, returned after spending a season at Colorado and became part of a Hoosiers team that ultimately won a national championship. Now, only months after helping Indiana reach the pinnacle of college football, he is preparing to protect one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
The leap is enormous.
So is the opportunity.
Benson began the spring as an overlooked prospect who did not hear his name called during the draft. He arrived at Kansas City’s minicamp without a roster spot and earned one through three days of work. He then climbed the depth chart, competed with established veterans and demonstrated enough versatility to become the answer to an unexpected injury.
Now the former Hoosier stands one step away from an NFL reality few could have predicted when draft weekend ended.
On Monday night, Kahlil Benson will line up at left tackle inside Arrowhead Stadium.
No longer a tryout player.
No longer simply an undrafted rookie.
He will be the man responsible for protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blind side when the season begins.
