Chiefs: Breaking the Breakout Record

I don’t actually know if anyone keeps track of records like this, but the Kansas City Chiefs appear to have a breakout number of players who could breakout in 2021. Our own David Bell has listed three Chiefs as breakout players this year, and his list includes Clyde Edwards-Helaire, L’Jarius Sneed, Mecole Hardman and Willie Gay. Zane Sweeten, in his first article here at ArrowheadOne, has also said that Trey Smith will have a breakout year while doubling down on David’s picks of, Willie Gay Jr., and Mecole Hardman.

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If you have already taken OC Creed Humphrey for granted, shame on you, because he should turn that position from… pretty darn bad in 2020… to pretty darn good in 2021. Not including him on a list of Chiefs breakout players would only show a lack of appreciation for his skills and abilities. Abilities which may end him up in the Pro Bowl in future years.

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Then we must consider LB Nick Bolton. He may be listed as Willie Gays’ backup on the Chiefs first Depth Chart, but it’s easy to see him having a breakout season when all is said and done. Bolton spent the last two season as the SEC’s best LB, and that counts for something here.

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How about TE Noah Gray? He may be listed as the third string TE on the Chiefs first depth chart, but he’s already gotten loads of press for his ability to catch the ball and has even been called Travis Kelce lite. Like Kelce, Gray played QB in high school and had only three drops in his career at Duke. So, could he have a breakout year? Dang good chance of that. Stagdps at ArrowheadPride had this to say about the Chiefs rookie TE last week:

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“Gray might be the skill player we’re most looking forward to seeing in live action. Whether he’s Kelce’s backup, the true No. 2 tight end or a unique hybrid role player, Gray’s possibilities are endless. His route running and receiving ability were highly touted coming into the NFL — and those skills appear to be legit.”

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Doug Farrar wrote a piece predicting 15 NFL players who will breakout in the 2021 NFL season for Touchdown Wire, USAToday, and three of those were Chiefs second year players: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Willie Gay Jr., and L’Jarius Sneed. Sound familiar. It should… Farrar’s piece came out on August 10^th while David Bell’s piece was published here on ArrowheadOne on July 22^nd. Even though they have listed the exact same players, it just means there’s a better than average chance that those players are going to have breakout years.

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Let’s not forget RT Lucas Niang. Niang opted out last year and while many predicted that he’d sit behind Mike Remmers this year – which h may happen yet – Remmers has been in the medical tent most of training camp (back spasms) and Niang has been knocking it out of the park each day in his absence. In fact, he’s doing so well, that now many are predicting he’ll not relinquish the position as the starting RT, even upon Remmers return. If that happens, it’ll be hard not to call this season, anything but a breakout season for him.

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Training Camp Warriors

The Chiefs have had their share of training camp warriors before, guys who sparkle in camp but fizzle during the season. I’m not saying that will happen this year, but there’s a good chance another breakout player may arise from this group. Players like:

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• Marcus Kemp
• Jody Fortson
• Devon Key

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Each of them appears primed and ready to have the breakout season of their careers.

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Second Year Breakout?

Tershawn Wharton

There’s a distinct possibility that second year UDFA, Tershawn Wharton, has a breakout year as well. He was in on 48% of the defensive snaps in 2020. Even though Jarran Reed has been added to the fold, with the departure of Chris Jones to DE for a large percentage of snaps, Wharton’s roll may get even bigger. Wharton is having an excellent training camp and the mere fact that Steve Spagnuolo relied up an UDFA DT for nearly half the snaps last year, should signal that he’s due for an even larger role. More than once, Wharton has wowed me in training camp, so he could also have one of those breakout seasons.

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Clyde Edwards-Helaire

CEH is having an excellent camp. Many second year players have pointed out that having no formal offseason in 2020, an in person set of OTAs and time with hands-on coaching, has made this year much more meaningful, and more importantly, effective. In Clyde’s own words:

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“[I’ve been] working on my hands and catching. I wouldn’t say it was a problem last year, but just understanding our offense – we move the ball around and we spread the field – so why not work on something that I feel like I can improve on? That was one of my steps as far as improvement goes. That was one of the [reasons] why I chose to work on my hands and to just be more of a threat. It was seen that I can run the ball between the tackles and outside [last season]. So, just being able to also get out — and not just routes out of the backfield, but also spread out in the slot and as an outside wideout — [is a goal of mine].”

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I’m in no way saying that every Chiefs player who has been predicted to breakout, will breakout in 2021. However, even if half, or one third, of them has a stellar season — and there’s no reason to think that this can’t happen — then the Chiefs are going to another Super Bowl this coming February.

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheaOne

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