David Bell
In my previous venture looking at the Chiefs for the upcoming draft, I focused on defense: “Aiming at the Chiefs Draft: A Peek at the Defense.” Today, my focus is on the offense.
Backup Quarterback
We don’t need to draft a QB – we are at home with Mahomes! Also under contract are:
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The Chiefs do not need to draft a QB, obviously. Chad Henne retired and his veteran experience was solid; perhaps the Chiefs will sign a Veteran Free Agent, or, maybe the view is that Shane Buechele has advanced enough to be depended upon as the #2 QB. They will at least, add a UDFA or free agent for Camp (or both).
Running Back
I don’t see a problem with the pairing of Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon though McKinnon is not under contract. It is not determined if the Chiefs will exercise the 5th year option on Clyde Edwards-Helaire (541 rushing yards per season in three years, in 29 starts). It is my view that the team doesn’t save anything by releasing him so he probably returns for one more year. CEH has been a disappointment for KC — he absolutely has not lived up to his round-one draft pick billing. This has been discussed off and on over the past two seasons. In 2022, he didn’t have the Availability Ability… again. I hope Veach trades him and finds another avenue for RB #3. At least we might get a 7th-round draft pick in compensation. Fumble fingers, Melvin Gordon, is gone. Look for a UDFA and maybe a late round pick in 2023.
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Wide Receivers
I delved into this about a week ago. This is not a very good draft year for wideouts. Look for KC to resign JuJu Smith-Schuster for that reason (Reid said at the Combine yesterday that he wants JuJu back). I mentioned that Marques Valdez-Scantling could be cut if GM Brett Veach needs the cap space to get JuJu on board. I would like to see Smith-Schuster get a multi-year deal and stick around. I also like MVS, but… can they afford to keep both?
Logically, I think Mecole Hardman is going to end up a Free Agent departure (Reid also said at the Combine yesterday that he likes both Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney and their attitudes towards football… which may mean Hardman is done in K.C.). Mecole is going to want his next contract to be a big boost, but his injury situation will also affect his marketability. We’ll see. I do love his speed and would hate to lose it.
Still under contract WRs:
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The Chiefs will draft a WR but… with which draft pick becomes the big question? As noted, I think (and hope) they add back JuJu in the off-season work.
Tight Ends
The Chiefs top four TEs under contract:
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*Jody Fortson will be back and with good reason so… I added him to the above list of 4 under contract TEs. The Chiefs could spring for a TE in the draft if the right player is available in the right spot. Late in the draft or, I am inclined to think they add a UDFA, but could take a late round flyer on a TE like Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave — if he there that late. I am not saying Musgrave is my target, but has good speed and room to develop. He must end the dropsy-habit to be a consideration though. Watch him at the Combine. There are others, but I am talking about Musgrave after round five.
Because there are so many TEs in this draft worthy of a pick, it might be that the Chiefs focus on a fourth-round pick (or earlier). However, I hope the focus is upon Edge, OT, and DT with a WR being a possible choice. It’s going to be tough to find a CB or Safety who would be a safe bet as well.
The Offensive Line
This is a favorite topic with built in controversy. Our Interior OL is set. I believe you move Darian Kinnard to OG in the process. This is one of the NFL’s top Interior OL crews!
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The Tackles are really already set because the Chiefs will contract with Orlando Brown, Jr. or use the Franchise Tag… again. The next question about OTs is about re-signing Andrew Wylie (Reid stated at the Combine yesterday that he wants Wylie back too, if possible). If Wylie wants to cash in, he will do so in free agency, especially since he had a very good Super Bowl. The Chiefs might see him as a solid keeper and anti-up the money. He is absolutely valuable as an OT as Wylie finished the 2022 season playing better than he did in the first two-thirds of the season.
I do think Wylie should be considered as an important cog on the offensive line. It’s my view that Lucas Niang will get the nod in training camp as the starting ROT and hopefully he plays well and doesn’t look back. The data on Caliendo is known for now. He is listed as OL, but played Center and OG at W. Michigan. Very smart player. Mike is 6’4″, 300+ lbs. and was a UDFA in 2022. He checks the right boxes as a developmental player and he could have gone to Med. School in 2020, but opted for another year, so, apparently football is in his genes. Beyond that, we know little about him.
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Note: the Chiefs have had a good working relationship with the former Western Michigan Broncos HC, Tim Lester… but… he is gone now. He’s been replaced by Lance Taylor. Taylor has a 16 year coaching career including Stanford, Notre Dame and was the OC at Louisville in 2022. In 2007-2008 Taylor was a WR for the Crimson Tide. He also coached WRs for the Panthers in 2017-18 and was an interim HC for the Jets in 2010.
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Considering my list below, a draft pick is going to be necessary!
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Credo’s to Andrew Wylie: Wylie is not my choice as a starter, but think he’s a home developed player who excelled in the playoffs, and that is worthy of consideration. Considering the alternatives in the draft and the draft capital it would require to trade up to get a “sure bet” OT? I think Wylie deserves a lot more credit that we give him. I think about OL Stability and what that means to Patrick Mahomes. I think about continuity. This means that Wylie should get a contract, even though my personal view is that Lucas Niang gets the nod.
However, there is more to it than that. Wylie played good football as the season closed down and he had a very good post-season. His expected market value is $7.3M+. Considering the necessity of protecting Patrick Mahomes, is it plausible to retain both Brown and Wylie? That is a tough question. I think the Chiefs make a strong run at both OTs.
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As Charles Goldman wrote in an article at Chiefswire:
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“The front office does have a lot to weigh in re-signing Wylie. Firstly, we saw the continuity in having all the same starters on the offensive line for the past two seasons. That could again become important for Kansas City in 2023. Secondly, Wylie is the definition of a homegrown player and exactly the type of guy that you want to re-sign based on that fact alone. It’ll send a message to the team that if you’re a team player and do your job, good things will happen. That’s the right message to send to a championship team that will be relying on pieces ranging from first-round picks to undrafted free agents to keep their window open for the foreseeable future.”
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If the Chiefs don’t trade up to take an offensive tackle, then use a non-exclusive tag for Wylie and matching any offers is the way they should go. This is my latest take on the OTs. Considering the cost of trading up? Wylie is a great alternative, even if he is the 3rd OT in 2023.
Mocking It Up
It really doesn’t look good in the draft. For Brett Veach to obtain a top quality OT, he will have to trade up. I ran a 3-round mock, drafting only OTs (straight up, no trades). That’s why I say, “It doesn’t look good.”
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If the Chiefs are wise, they will figure out how to keep Andrew Wylie unless they are trading up. At pick 95, the Haggard choice gets an “F” and the best is the grade “B” for Anton Harrison with the 31st pick (ranked 30th). I delayed picking Harris or Dawand Jones until round two, but neither were available. Jaelyn Duncan got a grade C- as a 2nd round pick. Neither Jones or Harrison is a round one draft pick.
Because of the OT need, I did not delve into other positions in the draft. Certainly other choices could be made. The TE list is pretty good. I don’t think, and analysts agree, that this is not a good draft for WRs. I would not draft a RB in the first 3 rounds and the Chiefs have good depth for the interior OL.
It seems a moot point has been made at this point (an issue that is subject to, or open for, discussion or debate, to which no satisfactory answer is found)… if you get the point.
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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