Chiefs: Where the Improvement Has Happened

Laddie Morse

The Kansas City Chiefs have won two Super Bowls in a row without the help of Tyreek Hill, one of the league’s best wide receivers. This offseason they have addressed that position in Free Agency and the Draft, but other players have left the team. So, will these Chiefs be improved, or not?

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Quarterback

Yes, Patrick Mahomes improved over the past two offseasons so there’s no reason to believe he won’t be an even better version of himself this coming season. The Chiefs also added a better backup QB in Carson Wentz. So, is this position improved or not? I say yes. If there was a way to attach another star to the QB Position, I would.

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Running Backs

Running Backs, where the Chiefs normally keep three, are: Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and another RB. The current nominees for the other spot are: Louis Rees-Zammit, Le’Michael Perine, Deneric Prince, Keaontay Ingram, and Hasaan Hall. Is this position improved? I say maybe… because while the team may miss Jerick McKinnon’s speed, they may decide to go an different direction other than making their third RB a speed guy.

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Interior Offensive Line

With the Interior of the Chiefs OL the same, including: Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith, their growth together should make them improved. Mike Caliendo is a solid backup here and the addition of Hunter Nourzad (as a 5th round choice with pick #159) will make the loss of IOL all-everything, Nick Allegretti, more bearable.

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Tackles of the Offensive Line

Donovan Smith was an okay LT. Smith did help K.C. win a Super Bowl so that’s a plus. He was better than Orlando Brown Jr., but that’s not saying much. At RT Jawaan Taylor was the most penalized Lineman in the NFL in 2023 so the hope is that he can clean that up and be a better version of himself. We’ll have to wait-n-see if that happens. The LT position is going to be a competition between second year man, Wanya Morris, and rookie Kingsley Suamataia. I’m hoping, like many fans in the Kingdom, that Kingsley Suamataia will win this battle outright. We’ll see.

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Wide Receivers

With Maurquise Hollywood Brown signed in Free Agency and Xavier Worthy drafted in the first round, the Wide Receiver position should be much improved. The pressure is off of Kadarius Toney and the addition of two WRs with similar skillsets may help him in the long run. Same goes for Skyy Moore who I thought would break out in his rookie year, which didn’t happen, and again I thought he might break out in his sophomore campaign, and once again, that didn’t happen. Justin Watson and Rashee Rice (when he returns from his suspension, whatever and whenever that might be) will help to buttress this room. Also in the running — no pun intended — will be: Cornell Powell, Nikko Remigio, Justyn Ross, Anthony Miller, Jacob Copeland, Shi Smith, and Montrell Washington.

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Tight Ends

Travis Kelce has said he’ll play until the wheels fall off. Well, they haven’t nearly approached that status yet, even though he had to sit out the last game of he year (which kept him 16 yards short of an 8th straight season with at least one-thousand receiving yards). The addition of Jared Wiley as pick 131 in the 2024 NFL Draft (he has been known as Baby Kelce prior to the draft) and Irv Smith should help this position in the 2024 season. Where Noah Gray (2021 5th round pick, #162) figures into this group is unknown. The Chiefs are likely only keeping three Tight Ends, so there will be a competition and that sounds like it will be between Noah Gray and Irv Smith. Andy Reid loves to run “13 personnel” with one RB and three TE’s on the field so this competition is crucial to the offense.

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Interior Defensive Line

Re-signing the Monster DT Chris Jones to a long term deal goes a long ways towards securing this positional future. Bringing back Derrick, Nnadi, Mike Pennel and Tershawn Wharton helped in the cause as well. Bringing back Matt Dickerson and Isaiah Buggs should also help.

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Defensive Ends

With George Karlaftis and second year DE, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, are getting tutorial instruction from Tamba Hali, so they both should shine brightly in 2024. With Charles Omenihu set to return sometime in the 2024 season, this position should be better than ever. With Mike Danna re-signed and ready to contribute on day 1 as a rotational piece, this Chiefs should cause constant havoc for most opposing QBs. BJ Thompson needs to step up this year or he could find himself on walking the plank in 2025, if not before.

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Linebackers

Next offseason Nick Bolton (the 58th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft) will need to be re-signed, so this is a contract year for him, but it’s hard to see Bolton having better years than he’s had during his last two. The loss of Willie Gay will hurt as his speed and agility allowed the Chiefs to cover RBs and WRs to the edges of he field when necessary. The re-signing of Drue Tranquill was a brilliant move by Brett Veach (around February 13), near the beginning of Free Agency. The return of Leo Chenal helps stabilize this position. Cole Christianson, Jack Cochrane and Cam Jones sets up a tremendous competition. The possible addition of LB Curtis Jacobs from Penn State could help the Chiefs immeasurably.

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Cornerbacks

The loss of L’Jarius Sneed hurts this position group more than any other loss at any other position during this offseason. What is helpful is that Trent MCDuffie, who made the Pro Bowl in 2023, is back and two other 2022 drafted CBs return as well: Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams. What also helps this group is the coaching with Dave Merritt returning. He helps make this group one of the best in the NFL every year. The growth of Chamarri Conner (a 4th round pick, #119 from 2023) and Nic Jones (a 7th round 2023 pick) plus the return form injury of Nazeeh Johnson (a 7th round pick, #259 from 2022) should make this group of corners/DBs a strong group once again. Rookie addition Kamal Hadden may not see the field this year, but he will push other players with his skills. Ekow Boye-Doe is also a UDFA with promise.

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Safeties

Returning, is Justin Reid, Byron Cook, and Deon Bush. Also in the mix are: Tyree Gillespie and Trey Dean with Chamarri Conner playing with both the Safeties and the CBs. Plus, 2024 4th Round Draft Pick Jaden Hicks could see the field a lot sooner than expected. The loss of Mike Edwards is significant, but the Chiefs have so many options that will not only survive, but excel in the defensive backfield.

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Special Teams

Kicker Harrison Butker returns. Punter Tommy Townsend has gone in free agency, but his replacement will be either Matt Araiza (also known as the “Punt God”) or UDFA Punter, Ryan Rehkow out of BYU. Since Rehkow is from BYU and because he has a big leg (and was voted as the Big 12 Punter of the Year)… he has a legitimate chance. The biggest question mark here is… who will become the Punter because that person will also serve as the “Holder” for Harrison Butker.

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Overall

The team appears to be “Improved” overall. Whether or not they can win another Super Bowl has yet to be seen. I hope GM Brett Veach can find a vet Left Tackle Free Agent to start at that position until either Wanya Morris or Kingsley Suamataia improve enough to take over permanently.

What do you think?

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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