The Arms Race
The 2022 Season will present fans of the various teams with a “new and improved” offensive outlook–A more high-powered aerial game than what they saw their teams do in the prior 2021 season. It can be said that this is characteristic of the Chief’s opponent teams in the AFC West. As the other teams in the west upped their arsenal, the Chiefs went a different direction, trading away their top WR: Tyreek Hill. Hill was one of the most challenging WRs to defend and QB Patrick Mahome’s most potent weapon.
The Chiefs have used an aggregate approach to replace Hill by adding two Free Agent WRs: Marquez Valdes-Scantling(Green Bay F/A) and JuJu Smith-Schuster(Pittsburgh F/A).
Then in the draft, GM Brett Veach added one of the top WRs: Skyy Moore(Western Michigan).
However, the work in providing tools for the aerial attack did not end there. After the draft, Veach signed UDFA WR Justyn Ross.
By signing Ross aboard, who had a congenital problem with his spine, Veach was willing to gamble on Ross returning to top form, and thus far, in the early off-season, the promise appears to be paying off. Had Ross been a draft pick without the injury/spine concern. Ross would very likely have been a top-20 pick in round one. Instead, we have already seen the Chiefs cheerleading session for Ross in statements by Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
WR Corp – Speed, physicality, and Size
Adding these four WRs to the mix and Chief’s veteran WR Mecole Hardman gives the passing game a different look than in prior years. It will be more physical and has good length with several players.
Another addition may Prove Fruitful
In February, Brett Veach had signed Justin Watson, a 6’3″-205 WR drafted in the 5th round of the 2018 draft by the Buccaneers. Watson struggled with injuries in the 2021 season and was released by Tampa Bay.
The Rest of the Story
Other additions to the corp found Veach taking a flyer on a Free Agent WR, Corey Coleman, who has not played NFL Football since 2018(various problems, including PEDs for which he was suspended). The Chiefs will see returning roster players from 2021 as well:
Things are looking up for the WR Corp, which also has the return, Daurice Fountain, Josh Gordon, and Cornell Powell, among others vying for a roster spot(14 WRs on the 90-man roster).
The real reason the aerial game will be a powerful force is QB Patrick Mahomes. For me, he is the top QB in the NFL. The offense will be highly potent and competitive as long as the Chiefs have PMII at the helm. We have witnessed Mahomes working with his WRs in Texas, and he is now testing out how to distribute passes to multiple WRs on any given snap. The other teams in the AFC West did their best to try to overtake the Chiefs for 2022. The Chiefs have made their commitment to a robust response. How effective that will become the question. No matter how you look at it, the offense will be potent and a Super Bowl Contender.
I’d put my money on the nose of our QB. We go from there.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne