Veteran offensive tackle D.J. Humphries has signed with the Los Angeles Rams after a challenging season with the Kansas City Chiefs. The 31-year-old was the first overall pick of the 2015 draft. That’s no fault of his own, but he saw little usage throughout the playoffs and failed to capture the starting left tackle job. Instead, the Chiefs accrued their Super Bowl by starting guard Joe Thuney all three postseason games at left tackle.
Humphries joined the Chiefs relatively late in the 2024 season, a move that proved to be a key addition to shore up left tackle. He finally made his debut in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers. As it turned out, he had to depart early due to a hamstring injury. This setback kept him from returning to the starting lineup until a Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos. Humphries’s experience would prove invaluable, but tragically, his contributions were cut short, and he never received the call up to the playoffs.
At first, Humphries had actually reached a deal with the San Francisco 49ers back in April. In the end, his decision was not to sign with the club. Therefore, they shopped for alternatives, signing former Philadelphia Eagles tackle Andre Dillard. This unexpected twist of fate would ultimately leave Humphries without a deal as he plotted a course through the NFL’s waters under unprecedented conditions.
Prior to his short stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, Humphries’ carved out a successful eight-year career as a NFL starter with the Arizona Cardinals. His productive years with the Cardinals created a strong foundation for him to be a trusted asset in the league. On the field, he proved his talent and fortitude in every game. His practice and game experience at left tackle should suit the Rams very well. They are clearly trying to load up and improve their offensive line.
He still has so much to offer, just in terms of the knowledge from all his years at the highest level of competition. The Rams are banking on his presence making that transition smoother and expanding what they can do offensively next season.
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