Laddie Morse
When you have won the most recent Super Bowl, the number of battles over a position in the following training camp are minimal. Well, that is until both of your offensive tackles walk away to other teams. As much as coaches and fans want the right and left tackle positions to already be settled, they aren’t. That also goes for the Safety position and the Wide Receivers position. Let’s take a look.
Offensive Tackles
When the Chiefs had their most recent OTA practice (last week), both of the Chiefs new tackles took turns at Left Tackle. Left Tackle is really the only position up for grabs. Sure, the Chiefs signed LT Donovan Smith recently and said he’d be their starter… but they said the same thing about Jawaan Taylor when they signed him. Now, all of the sudden were supposed to buy into the idea that Donovan Smith is going to play the Left side of the OL and Jawaan Taylor is strictly assigned to the right side?
It’s been said that it’s best for Jawaan Taylor to stay put on the right side simply because his move there would weaken two positions at the same time. While I agree with that theory during the season, on the other hand, during training camp is when it’s time to sort those things out and make sure you are starting the best five players. Period.
Do I think Taylor will beat out Donovan Smith for the Left Tackle positions? No, I don’t. With both Smith and Taylor available, it appears the Chiefs are going to give Donovan Smith every opportunity to fill that void showing the world that he’s over whatever was ailing him for the past season.
If it doesn’t work out, look for HC Andy Reid to make a move to replace Donovan Smith in the Bye week, which is the second week of November this year.
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Wide Receivers
Many fan in the Kingdom still expect GM Brett Veach to sign or trade for a veteran WR prior to the season beginning. I don’t. I think the WR corp is good as is, and that has more to do with Patrick Mahomes than it does with the group of guy who comprise the current WR room.
In the meantime, the battles come down to who will serve as the Chiefs WR#1. If you read the previous paragraph then you know I think the success of the WR room depends mostly on Patrick Mahomes, and consequently, I think were headed for a shared system and from week to week, Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore will take turns playing that role.
Then, the battle comes down to who else makes the WR squad, and who doesn’t.
With Rashee Rice, Richie James, Justin Watson, Justyn Ross, John Ross, Cornell Powell, Nikko Remigio, and Ty Fryfogle battling it out for the remaining 3 (4at the most) WR positions, you can see the traffic jam. I think Rashee Rice is a lock, and Richie James seems to be as well, especially when you consider his Kick return ability. That leaves 6 or possibly seven if you count Jerrion Ealy who is listed as a WR/RB by the Chiefs.
My bet is on Justyn Ross because of his upside. David Bell thinks one of these WRs will end up on the IR list this year… someone who gets a hangnail. I agree with that take.
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Second Safety
Last season, the Chiefs played Juan Thornhill on 95% of the defensive snaps. New (to the Chiefs) Safety Mike Edwards played with the Chargers on 94% of their snaps. Bryan Cook, the Chiefs second second round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft played in 32% of the Defensive snaps for the Chiefs. Cook has had a very good offseason and so while I project him to have a much larger role, Mike Edwards could easily beat him out for that starting position in the defensive backfield. Starting Safety Justin Reid said it best:
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With a year in Steve Spagnuolo’s system, Cook looks primed to be the starter this year next to Reid. If he doesn;t take over that role, Edwards will eb ready to step right in.
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Linebackers
The one position that may be the strongest on the team — besides QB of course — if the LB position. MLB Nick Bolton is a sure fire starter and although he was the second leading tackler in the league last year, if he gets the same number of snaps this season, I believe he’ll take over the top spot in that category.
This is a contract year for Willie Gay and I think Terez Paylor’s idiom applies, ” the contract season is undefeated” so, we can expect great things from Willie Gay this season. While I also expect an improved season from Leo Chenal, it’s the role of newbie LB Drue Tranquill that has me excited.
Although Bolton had 180 tackles in 2022, Tranquill had 146, which is also good enough to beat out Derwin James for first place on the Chargers by 31 tackles.
If Tranquill gets some of Nick Bolton’s snaps it could easily prolong Bolton;s career and improve the coverage abilities of the LB crew whenever he hits the field. BTW, Derrick Johnson held the Chiefs single season Tackles record before Nick Bolton broke it this past season, and DJ was watching:
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What other battles do you expect this coming Training Camp and mandatory OTAs?
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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