The Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line conjured a clinical performance in protecting Patrick Mahomes and creating spaces for the team's running backs in their Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles in February. They held the dominant Eagles pass rush to zero sacks, which proved to be the difference in the second half, as the Chiefs erased a 10-point halftime deficit to win their third Super Bowl. However, the outstanding O-line from the 2022 campaign will look slightly different next season. Left guard Joe Thuney, right guard Trey Smith, and center Creed Humphrey are set to return to the team. But left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is a free agent, while right tackle Andrew Wylie has already joined the Washington Commanders on a three-year deal. The Chiefs had seemingly replaced Brown with former Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Jawaan Taylor, signing him to a four-year, $80 million contract. Last week, they added former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Donovan Smith to a one-year deal, seemingly as a backup to Taylor. However, the Chiefs' head coach Andy Reid made a surprise announcement on Monday. Dov Kleiman@NFL_DovKleimanThe #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…124285The #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/CqET2exE7FHe revealed that the team will line up with Taylor starting at right tackle and Smith at left tackle. Reid explained: "[Smith]'s been a left tackle at a high level. He's a good player. He'll be with the left side with the ones. Jawaan (Taylor) will move over to the right."Chiefs fans on Twitter blast Andy Reid for blowing up Patrick Mahomes' protectionThe Chiefs faithful were shocked and dismayed by Reid's revelation. They believe Donovan Smith is a significant downgrade on Patrick Mahomes' previous left tackle, Orlando Brown Jr. While Smith, who protected Tom Brady's blindside last season, gave up six sacks and allowed 31 pressures. Per NBC Sports, Brown Jr. gave up only three sacks and allowed 39 pressures during the 2022 season. Fans did not react too kindly to the news on Twitter:ひNCLE T@scrill4lifeBro I really hate this for us twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Dov Kleiman@NFL_DovKleimanThe #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…132289The #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/CqET2exE7FBro I really hate this for us twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…ひNCLE T@scrill4lifeBro I really hate this for us twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Dov Kleiman@NFL_DovKleimanThe #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…133189The #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/CqET2exE7FBro I really hate this for us twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…repete@re_pet3Lemme make sure i have this right - Chiefs payed a mid RT 60 mil guaranteed to play LT only to sign the worst LT in the league to play LT instead &,we are to believe this team is a Superbowl contender with no WR #1 and a geriatric inbred playing TE??? Bengals winning 59-7 week 1 twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Dov Kleiman@NFL_DovKleimanThe #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…133689The #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/CqET2exE7FLemme make sure i have this right - Chiefs payed a mid RT 60 mil guaranteed to play LT only to sign the worst LT in the league to play LT instead &,we are to believe this team is a Superbowl contender with no WR #1 and a geriatric inbred playing TE??? Bengals winning 59-7 week 1 twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…TeeJay 💫@KidFromKSOverpaid bro for what man. Coulda had Dhop, OBJ, anything. Instead we trolling twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Dov Kleiman@NFL_DovKleimanThe #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…133989The #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/CqET2exE7FOverpaid bro for what man. Coulda had Dhop, OBJ, anything. Instead we trolling twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Anders 🇵🇹@iAkulazIt’s over. twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Dov Kleiman@NFL_DovKleimanThe #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…135089The #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/CqET2exE7FIt’s over. twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Mal🎈@STYLOUTSYDEIt’s so fucking over Omg twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Dov Kleiman@NFL_DovKleimanThe #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…135289The #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/CqET2exE7FIt’s so fucking over Omg twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Ƀłɇss ᵾᵽ@JermWil24Dumb ass move twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Dov Kleiman@NFL_DovKleimanThe #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…135689The #Chiefs plan to begin with former #Bucs Donovan Smith as their starting Left Tackle, according to Andy Reid.Smith allowed allowed 31 pressures and 6 sacks last season while his 12 accepted penalties against were the most of any player in the NFL last season. He had at least… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/CqET2exE7FDumb ass move twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman…Der German Tiger🐅🇩🇪@DerGermanTiger@sammy______G It may very well work out because theyre the chiefs, but the process behind this is... so questionable2@sammy______G It may very well work out because theyre the chiefs, but the process behind this is... so questionableJaybills Games🐻⬇️ @ CB2023 🔜@JaybillsGames@NFL_DovKleiman@NFL_DovKleiman https://t.co/2LWxNeLLgn🐅 I Aint Got It@JCNL3@NFL_DovKleiman My favorite stat I saw5@NFL_DovKleiman My favorite stat I saw https://t.co/qcTfPhsu4HWhile the move seems questionable on its face, Patrick Mahomes' mobility is in a different stratosphere when compared to Tom Brady's. The Chiefs superstar's elusiveness and the team's creative offense could ease the pressure on Smith, who is coming off an injury-riddled season on a team that struggled to move the ball downfield. Still, most Chiefs fans aren't thrilled about their starting left tackle, arguably the most important position on the offensive line, being possibly the weakest link in the unit. Of course, Smith could easily prove all his critics wrong, but for now, the Chiefs faithful are left questioning Andy Reid's judgment.