The Kansas City Chiefs had a duo of standout rookies along the interior offensive line last season in Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith.
Despite impressive rookie campaigns, neither player made ESPN’s recent top-10 ranking of NFL guards and centers, which surveys 50 NFL executives, coaches, scouts and players. Both players received votes according to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, but neither had the number of votes necessary to make this particular top-10 list.
Humphrey received an honorable mention, with some very mixed opinions on his abilities. One NFL coach thinks he’s coming for a spot in the top-10 next year, while another personnel executive seemed skeptical that his rookie season wasn’t a fluke.
“A stellar rookie season has Humphrey poised for next year’s top 10. “He’s coming,” a prominent NFL coach said. Humphrey ranked tops among centers in Pro Football Focus rating (91.8) and pass block win rate (97.7%), and his run block win rate (71.8%) was fifth. “Really came on late in the year,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “He presented a lot of problems for us.” But one NFL vice president says Humphrey is good but “a little overrated” and wants to see more.”
Humphrey is coming off of a rookie regular season campaign where he allowed just one sack and nine other pressures. Only Chargers C Corey Linsley, who is No. 10 on this list, had a better season statistically at the center position.
Really, this poll of NFL executives simply shows how Kansas City was able to steal Humphrey at pick No. 63 in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. It also shows that he still has some doubters to prove wrong during the 2022 NFL season.
