Just a day ago, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said they will have to make the tough decision of cutting players to make the 53-man roster. A day later, the Chiefs have said goodbye to one of their own to welcome a new player.

“Adding Pounds: The #Ravens are trading OT Diego Pounds to the #Chiefs, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo,” insider Ian Rapoport said on X on August 29. “The undrafted free agent from Ole Miss lands in KC.”

In the process, the Chiefs have sent a 2028 conditional sixth-round pick to the Ravens, as reported by The Star. However, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it could be a Day 3 2027 pick or a Day 3 2028 pick.

Pounds comes to Kansas City after a good showing against the Minnesota Vikings in preseason Week 2. Per Gordon Guinness, he has been on the field for 15 pass-blocking snaps and did not allow a sack, hit, or hurry. Pounds played 58 snaps at left tackle while allowing no pressure on 26 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. He checked in at No. 3 overall with a 90.9 grade.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds from Ole Miss Rebels, Pounds ran his 40-yard dash in 5.15 seconds, with a 30” vertical jump. According to NFL.com, he ranked 7th among offensive tackles in the NFL Combine, with an athleticism score of 75. Those numbers are good enough for a late-round pick, but Pounds fell off the board. The Ravens signed him right after the draft, on April 26.

Despite the upside, the Ravens are not planning to keep their offensive line crowded. They have six linemen battling for four spots, including Carson Vinson and Gerad Lichtenhan. The fight with Vinson might have been difficult, as he is presumed to be the main backup for Ronnie Staley. Pounds could have, however, fought with Lichtenhan for a spot on the practice squad.

The Chiefs have been looking for offensive help for some time now. Earlier this week, they traded for Joshua Ezeudu from the New York Giants. Chiefs kingdom knows that this O-line needs to be better this year, after allowing quarterback Patrick Mahomes to be sacked a whopping 34 times. Pass protection was particularly bad, and that is where Diego Pounds has shone in the preseason.

And with Josh Simmons going down with an injury scare, the new addition could prove to be valuable for Kansas City

Where are the Chiefs with Josh Simmons right now?

Expected to be the starting left tackle this year, Simmons has unfortunately been absent from practice after being evaluated for a back injury. The tensions grew after Simmons did not play during the Chiefs’ 9-9 preseason tie with the Seattle Seahawks in their preseason finale on August 28. 

“It’s going to take a little bit of time, here,” head coach Reid said, remaining positive. “But he’s a hard worker when it comes to these types of things. It’s just a matter of eliminating some of the pain he has. And strength — making sure he has enough strength, there.”

While they are hopeful about Simmons, Pounds could serve as a backup if the former isn’t available for the opener. He played left tackle during the preseason, and racked up over 2,500 snaps at left tackle in North Carolina and Ole Miss combined. 

However, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer begs to differ that the two situations are intertwined. 

“This, to be clear, isn’t about Josh Simmons, though there is concern there,” he wrote on X. “Coach Andy Reid mentioned last night the team is going to be cautious with Simmons, who has a back issue. Simmons got a second opinion on it recently, and KC’s still working through all that.”

Getting a promising offensive lineman from an AFC rival for a Day 3 pick is some solid business for the Chiefs. We will have to wait and watch to see how the Chiefs use him in the season.