Chiefs: A Green Eggs and Ham Approach – Do You like Green Eggs and Ham? My Entry Observations: The thing fans, observers, and analysts often fail to take into account is the “big picture view” of how and why the Chiefs might do one thing and not another. We know that the Chiefs had to focus on the Offensive Line when Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz were released, and at the same time, with a Cap set at $182.5M, had to make sense that this would occur since neither player was a sure bet to be able to play in 2021… or ever again. Clearly, the OT position needs total effort by Brett Veach and Co.!
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Warning: Contains much Speculation!
What I am attempting to show is how the existing players fit plus what might happen in free agency and the draft. Here, I’m backing away from my usual idea of a round 1 OT. I think Veach will make a skilled player selection. You can see two of those Mocks below. A 3rd offered up a DL impact player first as well.
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At the same time, attention had to be paid to gaining even more cap space. Patrick Mahomes re-negotiated his deal to provide cap dollars. There are other moves to be made. Ty Hill declined a similar action. The point is, that all the chickens comes home to roost and when you defer current year monies for the future it will cost the Chiefs down the line. Reality strikes.
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Are the moves to bring in Joe Thuney and Kyle Long the right ones? I believe they are. The Chiefs offensive line was “offensive” Left to right. At this point, the biggest worry is at LOT, followed by Center. Previously I looked at moving Allegretti to Center and I’ll stick with that for now. Veach has already tendered Austin Reiter, so we’ll see if he responds. Also note Laddie Morse’s research on Martinas Rankin. He has experience at Center.
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Another thing to pay specific attention to is that Sammy Watkins is leaving in Free Agency. The Chiefs may have good receivers, but they do not have that go-to “X-Man” (unless Sammy comes back). Don’t moan about it. It could happen. This need rises the more positions are solved in Free Agency. It can fall into place with the right X-man. Neither Hardman or Pringle has the skill set, playbook mentality or football moxie (apparently) to assume the duty. I worry also about the #2 TE. We don’t really have that player who is an optional threat nor a standby to take on duty should Travis Kelce lose a game or two, or heaven forbid, sustain a season ending injury. Now that Demarcus Robinson is re-signing, he should als onot be considered that X-man either.
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On the Defensive Line K.C. doesn’t have a solid pass rusher on the interior who can match the thrust up the middle with Chris Jones. This is a top need in the draft and came to attention in the season when the rush from the middle would stall and the outside rush became less than effective. This was obvious to me in several games, but most notably in the Super Bowl.
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I’d have to say a Free Agent solution could fit here as well, but by the same token, we suffered the same fate at DE opposite Frank Clark. It may be that Taco Charlton finally ascends to his draft pick level and is a force at LDE. Great stuff if he does. I still see the Chiefs drafting to the position or even signing a Free Agent. For depth, the Chiefs have players on the roster that more than suffice. I guess I would worry a bit about a DT who is a run-stopper for the 0/1 alignment. Mike Pennel did that well for us in 2019, but was largely a no show in 2020. He is not on the roster.
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At CB, we have lost players to Free Agency, most notably Bashaud Breeland. While I have faith that Deandre Baker can replace Breeland, presuming he gets healthy. Baker is going to be a very good NFL CB. He flashed it almost immediately in K.C., but we’ll have to wait and see how his recovery and rehab goes in order to predict his ability to play in 2021, or whenever.
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At Safety, the Chiefs have the perfect starting duo with Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill. As a third safety, I’m listing Armani Watts, but in my view, Daniel Sorensen has football IQ and willingness to hit opposing ball carriers and that means a lot. His pass defense does not rate, still, captain of S/T’s and hybrid use as up LB, so in the box Safety is a good role for him. I can see drafting a Safety though.
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The LB room has a crew set for the time being with Hitchens, Gay, and Niemann, but looking at the future, the Chiefs must draft the right LB who possesses speed and pass coverage superlatives in his skill set. Hitchens is not a long term solution. This position will need to be revisited in 2022 as well. Still don’t know about Dorian O’Daniel, but definitely need a LB in this draft.
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Along the OL, drafting Nick Allegretti in 2019 and Lucas Niang in 2020, was the right kind of forethought, but no one expected to lose both OT’s at the same time.
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Roster: A Green Eggs and Ham Approach
Existing players, projected Draft Picks and FA signings
Brett Veach prepared for a sequential departure situation of one OT, because he drafted Lucas Niang in 2019, an OT who likely would have been a Round One draft pick had he not had offseason surgery. Then he didn’t get in his break-in season in 2020. Nuts. I personally view Niang as the future LOT, but he has no NFL time. In the meantime, K.C. loses bookend OTs.
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Brett Veach is in a position where he does not have optimum moves for the 2021 draft, but has 8 picks. He needs to bring aboard a Free Agent bridge OT to the point in time where Niang can move to LOT, but see below how it might align with Niang at LOT, out of the gate. One important point is that three players are listed as OT’s who can do duty on the right: Rankin and Durant are listed as OTs and Prince Tega Wanogho is on the roster. Don’t forget Kyle Long either. Rankin is my choice to be the starting ROT. It could be that Veach somehow pulls a rabbit out of a hat, works some of his Maverick genius, obtains the future LOT plus, drafts to the future at the same time.
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The Center role appears to be highly in question and K.C. still needs a #2 (could be Reiter or Kilgore).
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Would You Could You? Sam I Am?
The Chiefs have versatile players on the roster, but Yasir Durant could move to Center #2. The Chiefs thought enough of him to protect him on the Roster 2020 all season. The more I consider what is going on in Free Agency, the less certain I am that the Chiefs will sign a Free Agent LOT.
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Color Key
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LOT#1 Lucas Niang LOG – Joe Thuney Center – Nick Allegretti ROG – LDT ROT – Martinas Rankin
LOT#2 Draft Pick LOG#2 – Andrew Wylie OC#2 Yasir Durant ROG#2 Kyle Long SW/T – Mike Remmers
OG/OT Darryl Williams OG Andrew Wylie IOL Brian WItzmann OT Prince Tega Wanogho
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It seems important to consider that a draft pick who is already a capable LOT is the first pick. I like Liam Eichenberg in this case as an example. In which case, Niang is the ROT. Probably the best case is to sign a Free Agent LOT and draft one, like Eichenberg. Today? I went with Niang at LOT, and the OL is covered.
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If they can put together an offensive line that includes a starting quality draft pick, the Chiefs are in pretty good shape (11 players as I list them below). Still has two draft picks, but also a F/A signing which makes it all fold pieces into the final puzzle. What is shown presumes LDT and Long will be in football shape and ready to rock. As we found out from investigation by Laddie Morse, Martinas Rankin also has some experience as a Center and we know that he played OG well in 2019, a versatile possibility. As Laddie observes.: in 2018, he was a good enough player before dealing with injury to be considered a Round One quality player.
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I also like the return of Mike Remmers. This group adds a lot to the depth of the OL. Every player on this view of the OL is versatile, save the unknown draft pick at Center. There is a lot that can be said about the import in this view of signing the F/A LOT. I can see an OT they believe could be an OT and even capable of playing left or right side.
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So, one way I see the potential draft picks seems very strong and I do not draft an OT in round 1. I don’t know who will be the back at ROT, but I can see various options. This may be something like what happens.
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LOT – Liam Eichenberg LOG#1-Thuney, C#1- Allegretti ROG#1-LDT Or Kyle Long ROT #1-Lucas Niang
LOT#2-Yasir Durant LOG#2-Roter Draft Pick Or Vise Versa ROT #2-Martinas Rankin
Swing Tackle-Mike Remmers
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With a concern at LOT, I’m going to draft a plug-and-play LOT: Liam Eichenberg. I have Niang who should excel quickly at ROT. My depth is very good with the only question remaining being at Center. I have a mock later that drafts an OC, but I’ve seen with the player mix, depth is good at Guard and Nick Allegretti has experience at Center. The player K.. may be missing out on is Martinas Rankin, as I think he could be a quality starter.
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Rankin was a Round One quality player before injury in 2017. ROG has two players with unknown comeback status, a wait and see situation. At LOG, Joe Thuney is one of the best in the business. You play him where he has been best utilized and don’t move him. He is the LOG.
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Center is a question. Yasir Durant should move inside, as he can play there. He becomes a logical progression to a meaningful role in his second season. He can also be a “Swing” IOL. The more I dig into Durant, he can fulfill an immediate need: it could be for Guard, Center or even OT, which is how he is listed on the roster: OL. He’s still a developing player.
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With the players in-house, Veach will still need to obtain a #2 Center and assign backups from the existing roster for the other 4 positions as well as decide upon who will be the SW/T and/or SW/G. Keep in mind the Chiefs will carry 10 players for the OL and have more available on the PS: for example, Darryl Williams.
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If Brett “The Maverick” Veach could continue his genius ways and accomplish something like this, I”d demand you tip your hat! It’s not perfect, but if Veach were able to add a starting OT as I show above, then it all falls into place, the puzzle pieces give great competition and experienced depth.
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Following is a mock done with focus on the OL. It was an either/or choice for Hill or Jenkins. I am looking at this though, I traded out of round 1. First-PIck has not straightened out the fact that the Chiefs have a round 6 pick. Consider that I proposed using Mecole Hardman in a trade to get a 2nd round 3 pick. That would be good for KC and for the player as well. Also note, most do not worry about a DT in the draft so that perspective is mine and Laddies. I want, as Brett Veach revealed, to bolster the DL & LB groups at the same time we focus on the Offensive Line. So I trade out of round 1 if it make sense, or, I obtain the WR in round 1. I see it as solved in round 2 anyway.
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Round 2 Pick 12 (DAL): A Top WR
– Chiefs lose Watkins. Amon Ra St Brown or Tylan Wallace for example. Dyami Brown of UNC is also available and will rise in the draft and he fits as well and is probably moving up in the appraisals.. I am pretty sure I can select an OT with my Round 2 pick, but I chose this case, to go with a top WR. So this pick could be that OT like Liam Eichenberg whom they say as a plug-and-play LOT. You decide. I am still waiting to see if Veach signs a free Agent. Don’t know that Eichenberg, as my example, would be available at the Chiefs pick in round 2.
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Round 2 Pick 31: Jay Tufele, DT, USC
– I missed on my top DT, who is Daviyon Nixon
Round 3 Pick 11 (DAL): Jabril Cox, OLB, LSU
– One of my top choices at OLB to play opposite Willie Gay, Jr.
Round 3 Pick 30: Trey Hill, OC, Oklahoma St
– Gets me a #2 Center or, Teven Jenkins, OT, with Alijah Vera-Tucker on board, I go with Hill in this example, but could easily be Jenkins.
Round 4 Pick 31: Deommodore Lenoir, CB, Oregon
– CB room is stronger
Round 4 Pick 39, Comp, Day Odeyingbo, DE, Vanderbilt
– Opportunistic player
Round 5 Pick 31: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
– You say “huh?”, but an “X” WR is needed.
Round 5 Pick 37, Comp, Cade Johnson, WR, S. Dakota St.
– I like Cade, I really do.
Round 6 Pick 23: Mark Webb, CB, Georgia
– Ditto the CB Room
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Part II of the Green Eggs and Ham Approach is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, March 27th. See you then.
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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