It took bumping All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs to finally establish stability on Patrick Mahomes’ blindside. The Chiefs must pursue starting-caliber offensive tackle play in free agency and the 2025 NFL draft.
North Carolina State Wolfpack standout Anthony Belton is a behemoth. According to Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy, Belton is 6’5.5″, 354 lbs. with 34 5/8-inch arms. He needs to lose some weight and cut down to 325 lbs., which is roughly the weight he played at in 2023. Losing weight should also improve Belton’s foot speed and balance.
Belton is a powerful, thickly built left tackle who stonewalls power rushers. Defenders struggle to play through his frame, especially when he sets a wide base. Belton’s pure upper body and core strength help him dominate and toss outside linebackers and other undersized rushers.
Anthony Belton’s tape is insane lol pic.twitter.com/jFnxK8TGsR
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) December 14, 2024
Belton tempos his footwork to match the pass rusher’s pace. His best plays in pass protection feature surprisingly quick and nimble footwork. Unfortunately, Belton’s size limits his ability to redirect and mirror pass rushers. He must improve his speed to carry rushers up the arc and agility to stay square to twitchy defenders.
Belton relies too much on leaning on defenders in both the run and pass games. This compromises his balance and leads to him falling off blocks. His underdeveloped hand usage prevents him from maximizing his arm length. Belton must keep his hands tighter and deliver sturdy punches earlier in plays.
Belton packs the power to pancake defenders in the run game. He creates significant movement on down blocks and looks for extra work at the second level. His high pad level and poor hand usage limit his ability to displace trench players vertically.
The lack of quality offensive tackles in the 2025 NFL draft will propel Belton up draft boards. Ideally, the Chiefs get a shot at him with their second pick in the third round, but they might need to add him sooner.
