Chiefs Offseason Success: Doses of Striking Gold With Small Doses

David Bell

Resolving the LOT Position

Brett Veach Strikes Gold

The first action by Brett Veach in the ‘official illegal tampering period’ was to acquire OT Jawaan Taylor. Taylor’s Contract cost for a 4 year deal will cost an estimated $80M — not a small cost but in line with other OTs on the market. Veach had offered $23M with guarantees and incentives which Orlando Brown, who turned up his nose once again. At that point, Veach decided not to tag Brown, letting him test out the market place in free agency. Many fans and observers actually breathed a sigh of relief when this happened but they weren’t thinking ahead to what it would me to lose the starting LOT and at the same time, watch the starting ROT, Andrew Wylie leave for a good reward at the same time.

Brett Veach and his staff had to have locked in place a plan to settle the exposure quickly — and it turns out they did. The Brought in Taylor and penciled in Lucas Niang for the ROT role.

Brad Henson observed this about the acquisition: “I love this signing of Jawaan Taylor! He is 6’5 310lbs and has 35 inch arms. He is very athletic and can both right and LT. Looks like they are going to put him on the left side, and sign him to RT money. Brett Veach is playing chess when all the other GMs playing checkers.”

When I was first informed of this transaction which is about to take place officially, I was enthused. I grew more and more positive as the day progressed until I arrived at the point that I became convinced that Taylor was acquired at the cost of a good ROT but was being penciled in by Brett Veach and Andy Reid as the new LOT for the Chiefs. By this time I found some YouTube videos and reviewed them and then consulted a Seth Keysor film review published at “Chiefs in the North”. Keysor ended up being extremely positive about Taylor!

Nate Taylor wrote about the acquisition and 4-year contract providing the details that would finalize after the League Year Starts (Wed. March 15, 4:00 PM, EDT): 4-years, $80M with $60M guaranteed. Jawaan tweeted the following, after the agreement was reached:

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Here is Nate Taylor’s (The Athletic) View about the new player and the fit for the Chiefs:

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“How he fits: The Chiefs believe Taylor is an exceptional and ascending athlete, a durable and consistent blocker who played in a similar offense last season in Jacksonville under coach Doug Pederson, a disciple of coach Andy Reid. Taylor’s arrival helps ensure the Chiefs’ offensive line remains one of the league’s best. As the new left tackle, he’ll be responsible for protecting the blind side of superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who at age 27 is the franchise’s greatest player.”

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Nate Taylor does outstanding work covering the Chiefs and I agree with his assessment of Taylor’s skill set.

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A Smaller Dose About the ROT Role

Pencil In Lucas Niang

In the same article, Nate also wrote about Lucas Niang:

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“Veach confirmed at the league’s scouting combine last month that the projected starter at right tackle is Lucas Niang, the third-round pick in 2020 who lost his starting role in early January 2022 after sustaining a torn left patellar tendon. Prior to his injury, Niang showed promising development, starting nine games.”

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It was during the 2021 Season that I reviewed the 9 games in succession. I wanted to specifically look at the OTs in the game so that included both Brown and Niang. I came away thinking Brown is not as bad as some fans and analysts portray.

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Late Breaking News: Orlando Brown Jr. signs with the Cincinnati Bengals for basically $16M (and change) per year:

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Editor’s Note: Brown just had to get that “largest ever signing bonus” in there, right? My speculation is that his contract never would have gotten done without that added to the deal. Plus, going to the Chiefs rival, Bengals, is not cool either. You can be sure he knows that too. Makes the next Chiefs v Bengals game more intriguing doesn’t it. -Laddie

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From July 15, 2022 (last Summer):

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Niang improved game by game until he was injured in a freaky play where teammate Trey Smith was knocked from his feet. He fell directly onto Niang’s knees. The Patellar Tear was significant. Niang was out for the season and the surgery repair was late in the season. This resulted in Lucas not being available for training camp. In the 2021 season Andrew Wylie was inserted as the starting right tackle which carried into and through the 2022 season and post-season.

Wylie gave the Chiefs great play in the post-season protecting Patrick Mahomes and had the best game of his career in the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Wylie, who I viewed as a solid depth player would exercise his option to gain financial ground due to his own rising appraisal, signing an $8M contract with the Washington Commanders. That’s great news for Wylie but I disliked the idea of his departure because he was a valuable contributor for the OL. He formerly played OG, but could not hold on to a starter’s role. In 2021, he was superceded by Trey Smith as the starting ROT. I am sure that former Chiefs OC, Eric Bieniemy, was a proponent of acquiring Wylie.

Brett Veach provided a positive outlook for Niang emerging as the ROT Tackle, saying at presser at the Scouting Combine: “We feel confident in him. If that’s the case, we’d go into the offseason (program) with Lucas penciled in there, and he’d have to show us that he’s back to his old form.” Thus the team felt secure in signing Jawaan Taylor and at the same time, they gave the nod to Lucas Niang as the starter at ROT.

This transaction from general manager Brett Veach is a significant endorsement for Taylor, whom appears to be the next blindside protector of Patrick Mahomes but also anticipating positive results by returning Niang as a starter. Imagine the shared confidence of HC Andy Reid and Offensive Line Coach, Andy Heck. I grew more enthused as the day rolled along and turned into Day Two of the Tampering period.

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A New View of the Draft

Finding a Refocus on the DL

I wrote about the Chiefs plan previously and includes both OT roles, and indicates to me that the Chiefs will now be more capable of resolving the departure of Edge Rusher, Frank Clark. I remain convinced that the Chiefs will try to bring Carlos Dunlap back for another season. His veteran experience will benefit a young draft pick arriving for his rookie season and provide continued reinforcement of 2022’s rookie Edge Rusher addition, George Karlaftis.

Now the Chiefs can once again on the defensive side of the ball with more fluidity. An OT could still be drafted in Round One – finding a player with collegiate experience playing LOT could well be in the mix. I still favor Broderick Jones, but believe that Brett Veach would have to trade up significantly in order to select him. After Jones, I still like OU’s Anton Harrison (6-foot-4) — who lacks only the length which I like to see for OTs, 6-foot-5 or more. It will depend on how Veach’s draft board is constructed and how the players are rated.

I had originally posited that an Edge player would be the round one choice, but had to check my appraisal against the reality of losing both Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie to Free Agency at the same time. I have been confident of Niang as the starting ROT. Now it appears that this was the “Veach Plan” and on the first day of the Legal Tampering period, Veach apparently struck with a hot iron. My worries about the OTs receded from my thinking. I believe that I am justified in observing the OT exposure is no more.

That doesn’t mean the Chiefs won’t draft an OT, not even in the first round. Fixing problems by using two players is often the way Veach, in coordination with HC Reid and his coordinators approach solutions. Unfortunately the solution that Brown brought to the Chiefs was short lived — and the Chiefs had to “retool” on the fly. BPA remains the best way to build through the draft. Of course, the Best Player is based on the Chiefs evaluation, not the various sites we all refer to.

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A Small Dose Completed

Brett Veach re-signed DT Tershawn Wharton. Wharton blew out a knee in 2022, but should be healthy for camp. He was an integral part of the DL rotation until that injury occurred. That’s good news along the DL as they will resolve one of the needs by bringing Wharton back. Other additions will need to be made, both at Edge and at DT. I can see the Chiefs doubling down on Edge players and I would really like to see someone who can be a force, playing next to Chris Jones.

Small Dose #2 – Brett Veach Tendered A Contract to RFA TE Jody Fortson.

TE/WR Fortson will play a role in the 12 and 13 Sets of the offense. This was expected. Fortson is a known fan favorite and he’s back!

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Small Dose or Striking Gold?

Signing Edge Charles Omenihu

Late on Day Two of the legal tampering period, the Chiefs were set to acquire 49ers’ Edge Charles Omenihu. Omenihu is an ascending talent. He has speed and he is still young. His sack total in 2022 nearly matched Frank Clark’s so I see this as a solid move to acquire an improving talent.

An Expected Big, Not yet Complete — But it Will be Soon

Plus, An Expected WR, Not yet Complete — But it Will be Soon

Also: CJ will be extended.

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David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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