Chiefs: The “Foundation Players”

David Bell

The old axiom is: “reinforce success!” ArrowheadOne has the view that what the task is each off-season is to do just that. We think that applies perfectly to the offense Rebuild on the fly in 2021. What we will and won’t do in the offseason will get covered in the process. Another axiom to keep in mind: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” With this in mind, let’s dig into the subject of the Kansas City Chiefs “Foundation Players.”

The Chiefs have extraordinarily talented players — Foundation Players — such as Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes. So, what do we mean when we are discussing Foundation Players? The construct is to identify the players that can be counted on as “Playmakers.” This also includes those guys whose complete makeup is to win, and they hate losing. These guys play at a pace not seen in other players and they play, balls-to-the-wall football, on every snap from the opening whistle to the end of the game.

Why identify the Foundational Players? To fill in where there is a weakness — at positions — and act accordingly this offseason.

The path to accomplishing the offseason tasks is somewhat daunting and we don’t know how the Chiefs coaching staff sees the existing roster: who is a Foundational Players, and who is not essential. Laddie Morse and I both see veterans being released to gain cap space (see Anthony Hitchens). This is a must in order to address signing key free agents to the reconstruction of the defense. There are advantages to the draft for 2022 since the Chiefs will have 5 picks from the top 135-ish rated players in the draft. It is possible they could trade out of round one in order to get an additional top talent or even trade up if there is a complete crush on a particular player.

Foundation players are also those players that the Chiefs have, or will invest in, for a longer period. For example, they can be forecast to be on the team for the future. We like to see this outlook as being a 5-year term (generalized because of rookie contracts for example, or players who have been on contracts for that type of period of time, such as Travis Kelce).

Current Foundation Players: By Position Group

Wide Receivers

Tyreek Hill is the Team Foundation player for the WRs and the only Foundation Player of the group. The Chiefs have a stable of receivers but the group has grown older and stale. This is a problem because PMII desperately needs a #2 WR.

Offensive Line

I have a great appreciation for the newly constituted OL, including the 2nd tier players (both Laddie Morse and I have written about this recently). Although Orlando Brown Jr. is not yet under contract, I will get out the crystal ball, gaze into the orb, and predict that the plan is to make Brown a foundation player.  The Chiefs are in good shape with the OL. They are set with players on rookie contracts and contracts that ensure the OL is solid for years to come. The foundation players under contract are LG Joe Thuney, OC Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, and I am going to state from the outset, knowing some of you are going to disagree with this: Lucas Niang is a foundation player.

Running Backs

The changes here are weeks away. If it came down to CEH and re-signing Jerick McKinnon and Darryl Williams and adding a RB in a late round of the draft, I’d be good with this group. However, at this point, I don’t believe that Clyde is a foundation player so, the RB group is going to require constant tuning.  I do think that FB Mike Burton needs to return as well.

Tight Ends

Travis Kelce is the key Foundation of the group and more than that, he is a Team Foundation player.

Defensive Ends and Defensive Tackles

The Chiefs have no signed foundation player in 2021 that will return in 2022. The situation for the DL is in dire straits. This has got to be fixed and and should be the first focus of the GM, Scouting Staff, Coaches, and front office personnel. Completely over-hauling the OL was the task completed in 2021 by Brett Veach & Co. and the same success is needed in 2022 for the DL. Not only is the edge in bad shape, but so is the IDL. We have one player who is a foundation player across the defensive front: Chris Jones. That is it. The IDL is woeful. The DE group is in the “emergency fix” status. Brett Veach needs to get the DL fixed, pronto. All of it.

Linebackers

Let’s face it, the multi-year deal for Anthony Hitchens was a mistake but they apparently fixed that by releasing him yesterday. He knew the Defensive sets, but his on-field attributes say it was high time to cut the losses and turn that play calling duty over to Nick Bolton and work from there. Bolton paired with Willie Gay, Jr., the Chiefs have two foundation players at LB. Because the view is from overhead, we see the complete group of players, plus, they to sign a FA LB and then draft a linebacker. Laddie and I have even identified the right player to bring aboard if possible, but that is another subject for another time.

The Secondary

This is another position group that needs a ton of attention. There are two foundation players: CB L’Jarius Sneed and S Juan Thornhill. Certainly, Rashad Fenton has really stepped up as a late-round draft pick, but Fenton is not to be identified as a foundation player. Seeing the overall DB Group in this manner instructs as that considerable work needs to be done with the back end of the defense and must-have additions to the Cornerback and Safety roles.

An Example of what is meant about the 5-year duration period defining the Foundation Players (FP), is best entailed by taking a look at Tyrann Mathieu. Because of the 5-year outlook given as a FP attribute, Tyrann Mathieu can’t be such a player from this point on though otherwise having him as the commander of the secondary is clearly important to the Chiefs. Both Laddie and I have wavered back and forth about the importance of closing a deal that is favorable to both Mathieu and the Chiefs. If the money is too great the Chiefs will simply have to move on and that is going to hurt due to the talent and leadership Mathieu provides the team.

Special Teams

A possible Foundation Player include Kicker Harrison Butker, but we’ll have to see how punter Tommy Townsend progresses.

The bottom line is that the Chiefs have three significant areas of work that GM Brett Veach will be addressing. At the same time, in the article on Sunday, Laddie’s input, a three-phase covert approach, was something with which I heartily agree. Brett Veach needs to hide his plan for the draft and use a covert sleight-of-hand, so other team’s won’t be able to know exactly who (or what position) the Chiefs will ultimately draft! To refer back to the article, click on this link:

Conclusion

The postulates are that the Chiefs are already busy building their roster with specific intentions and have at least evaluated their own free agent group so that they can get the best value vis-a-vis the draft class. Plus, they are measuring that against exposures, signing free agents outside the club roster. However, they must determine who their own Foundational Players will be first.

All of that is going on while building their draft board and at the same time they are also in the process of building every other team’s draft board, so that they know what they are up against come draft day. It is a fluid process, but I have every confidence in the Chiefs head’s football operations will get the job done with a flourish that will be marked with hearty success. Then we can check mark 2022 as we take a look back at what was accomplished when the season is completed. As fans and observers, we all hope that the success of the 2022 offseason exceeds the success of what was accomplished in 2021, but see no reason it won’t work out just a well.

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David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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