Many fans, me included, are a bit disgruntled about the way the Chief ended the 2021 season. However, that offseason is not so far in the past that we can’t look back and appreciate every move that was made, and the miracle that ensued as a result. “Miracle?” You Say? Yes, when you lose two excellent Tackles — on the same day — and not only replace them with very good talent, but replace the interior of your offensive line in the process, nothing but the word, “Miracle” comes to mind.
2021 Timeline
Much of the impetus for the Chiefs offseason moves last year came following the teams devastating 31-to-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on February 7, 2021. The reason for the moves following that game were because the Bucs exposed the Chiefs offensive line and sent the Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes running — no, sprawling — for his life.
With both Tackles, Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, down with injuries — Fisher an Achilles and Schwartz back spasms requiring surgery – the Chiefs faced an uphill offseason battle to bring in others who could perform at a high level. Patrick Allen of ArrowheadAddict shared the significance of losing Schwartz:
“… there was no bigger loss to that unit than that of Mitchell Schwartz. Widely regarded as the best RT in the NFL, Schwartz was the picture of durability, playing 7,849 snaps to start his career.”
Replacing him was going to be no small feat for General Manager Brett Veach, but the task was not too much for the man. However, anyone familiar with football will tell you that it’s the Left Tackle position that requires an uber-talented dancing bear, the kind of athlete that is rare in the NFL, and it’s rarer yet to find one. Once again, not too much for the man, Brett Veach.
- 2021 – Bolton, Humphrey and Trey Smith
- 2020 – CEH, Willie Gay, L’Jarius Sneed, and Lucas Niang
- 2019 – Frank Clark (trade), Juan Thornhill, Rashad Fenton, and Mecole Hardman
The Devil in Mr. Williams
Brett Veach knew the challenge of finding a new Left Tackle — to protect the blindside of his half a billion dollar man — would be a massive undertaking so, he went out and gave the best LT in the game the chance to play for K.C.: Trent Williams. However, things didn’t work out that way:
When Trent Williams said, “It was like a dream come true” for him to be back in San Francisco, I was glad he didn’t sign with K.C.. It’s never a good thing to sign players who really want to be somewhere else. However, Williams did say he was “extremely close to signing with the Chiefs” so hats off to Brett Veach. Williams was not going to be cheap by any imagination so the fact that Veach was out there trying to sign the best, was only a positive sign.
It also tells us that he’ll likely be doing the same thing this offseason when it comes to repairing the Defensive Line, but that’s another story.
No Average Joe
We also know that Mr. Veach went out and signed perhaps the best Left Guard in the game, certainly in Free Agency, in Joe Thuney. Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked Joe Thuney as the #3 Offensive Guard last summer so Veach did nothing but score a huge TD by bringing him to K.C.. Thuney is a man’s man and a players player… meaning, he is at the head of the class when it comes to classiness.
Charles Goldman at ChiefsWire said of Thuney:
“Thuney played 975 NFL snaps before he missed his first snap. During his five-year career with the New England Patriots, he never missed a game. … Another remarkable part about this? Thuney was basically perfect during the game protecting Patrick Mahomes … He was allowed just one pressure on 37 pass-blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus.”
Should we attribute all of that to Joe Thuney? Or can we give the man who brought him to Kansas City some credit? I’ll leave that up to you.
Prayers Answered: Orlando Brown Jr.
On March 23rd, 2021, Trent Williams re-signed with the 49ers and exactly one month later, Veach traded for Orlando Brown Jr. with the Baltimore Ravens. To get him: Veach gave up the 31st pick overall in 2021 plus a 3rd-round pick — 94th overall — a 4th-round pick — 136th overall — (last year), a plus a 2022, 5th-round pick.
Note: It doesn’t seem likely that Veach would walk away from a trade for a player who he still has yet to see another team use a pick he traded away.
The issue many have with Brown is his fit in the Chiefs offensive scheme and the fact that he wasn’t a perfect Left Tackle this year. Although Brown made the Pro Bowl this year, many are questioning that, and are more interested yet in his ability to play in the Chiefs system. While I have similar questions, I believe his upside is Trent Williams and he also has Hall of Fame potential. Here’s Orlando Brown’s stats in his first season in K.C.:
Brown’s snaps is especially encouraging as he not only played 100% of the snaps this season, but he’s done that three (3) years in a row now. His penalties number will likely improve because this will be his second year in the system (assuming Veach will re-sign him). Four (4) sacks allowed is very good and being tied for 27th in the league means there are 26 tackles worse than him in that department, plus only Kirk Cousins was sacked fewer times than Patrick Mahomes in 2021 (including the playoffs). Brown also had a 75.2 grade from PFF, and they recently ranked him as the 17th best OT in the NFL, which is closer to average than it is excellent. While, we’ll have to see how he progresses, it seems like a dream come true that Veach was able to pry Brown lose from the Ravens last offseason.
The Center of Attention
In the Andy Reid era at the Center position, K.C. has gone from Rodney Hudson, to Mitch Morse, to Austin Reiter… and that’s like going from beast to feast to famine. With Veach choosing not to re-sign Austin Reiter last offseason, although he brought Austin Blythe in to apparently replace Reiter, he then proceeded to draft Creed Humphrey thereby solidifying that position for years to come. Here are he top Offensive Center’s in the 2021 season:
These PFF grades say it all. Creed Humphrey is the top (or a top) Center in the NFL. Humphrey played in 99% of the Chiefs offensive snaps in 2021. Not a bad start for a rookie. He allowed one (1) sack all season long. That should tell you all you really want to know about this Veach draft pick (taken 63rd overall).
RG: Wanna Get Pancakes?
From a favorite movie of mine: “RED” John Malkovich delivers a great line: “Wanna Get pancakes?” and I offer this in honor of the Steal of the 2021 draft, RG Trey Smith. Smith is known for his pancake blocks and you could see them as soon as he set foot on the field in Chiefs training camp.
Trey Smith’s stats this season were very much like Orlando Browns — 100% of the snaps. 9 penalties, 4 sacks allowed, and a 72.4 grade from PFF — but considering that he’s a rookie, his future is bright and he helped lock down the Right Guard position not only for 2021, but for years to come. I firmly believe his upside is to make the Pro Bowl and I expect that kind of result in year three or four. With Veach signing Kyle Long and with Laurent Duvernay-Tardif returning in 2021, Smith overcame that competition — the favorites, if you will — and he played on every single down this year for the offense. Brett Veach has himself another miracle worker and Smith is here to stay.
RT New Order: Right for Might
With Lucas Niang returning, it looked like the Chiefs would be set all year long at Right Tackle. However, multiple injuries — including a rib injury when he was out weeks 9-thru-13, out of 5+ games — and his year ended with a torn patellar tendon injury. That injury means he’ll have extensive rehab during the offseason and David Bell anticipates Niang possibly not being ready by week one of the 2022 season. I concur. Andrew Wylie took over for Niang and after a rough start, he nailed down the RT position for the rest of the year.
Rookie of the Year
While Creed Humphrey would have been an excellent choice for the Kansas City Chiefs Rookie of the Year, Nick Bolton, Veach’s other 2nd round pick, at #58, was the choice. Why, because LB Nick Bolton, had an incredible season in 2021. Considering that most teams have 2-to-3 Linebackers on the field at all times, PFF’s ranking of Bolton at the 17th best LB in the NFL for 2021, actually places him in the top ten (if you do the division). I was happy with the addition of Willie Gay Jr. as a second round pick in 2020, but Gay is strictly a LB who plays on the outside as either the Strongside or Weakside LB. Bolton is not only able to play in the middle, but can calls plays, a job that has belonged to Anthony Hitchens for the past three years. Now, it looks like Hitch may have a new fate:
“The wind began to switch, the house to pitch,
and suddenly the hinges started to unhitch.”
Hitchens always did look unhinged in a Chiefs uniform. It’s hard to recall a time when I was thrilled that he was on the field for K.C.. Now, Nick Bolton may be that man in the middle for the Chiefs… for years to come. Of course, that doesn’t preclude Veach taking another LB in the 2022 draft.
Glory Be To Veach
No, the Chiefs did not win the Super Bowl this year. I get that. No, they didn’t even go to the Super Bowl, but you could argue that they were one play away from getting there. That doesn’t diminish what they accomplished in the offseason last year. Last year’s offseason and draft have certainly raised the bar this year, so let’s hope for similar results this offseason. The Chiefs will not only open up a boat load of cap space by jettisoning Frank Clark and Anthony Hitchens — both which I believe will be a high probabilities — but with five draft selections in the first 134-ish picks, things are looking up for K.C.. Way up.
.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
.
If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/2021-chiefs-the-miracle-offseason/#disqus_thread)
.