David Bell
We Trust in Veach (WTiV)!
In this offseason thus far, Brett Veach has added significantly meaningful roster pieces. The Chiefs now have their starting LOT, with the signing of Jawaan Taylor. We could pencil in Lucas Niang on the right side, with Darian Kinnard close behind. The point is, the Chiefs can go to war with the Offensive Line as it is now comprised. GM Brett Veach re-signed the versatile IOL Nick Allegretti too. Nick can back up all three positions on the Interior.
.
.
That done, Veach has also added a new LB that fits an exposure by signing Drue Tranquill, giving a perfect fit for the LB group. Tranquill is an excellent pass-coverage player who is also known for blitzing or dropping into short-coverage for passing downs. Veach also added, Safety Mike Edwards who provides an all-around skill set to replace Juan Thornhill. I believe in Charles Omenihu, Edge Defender.
These four players — LT Taylor, ED Omenihu, LB Tranquill, and S, Edwards — are all on an ascending scale of play, according to NFL Talent evaluators… the one’s whom I trust.
Hearken back to Lyle Graversen’s article of a couple of weeks ago called: “Why the KC Chiefs don’t have to re-sign anyone this offseason.” He stated that the Chiefs do not have any “must do’s” in retaining their free agents. Josh Kingsley wrote a piece that identified the flight of players who have departed in Free Agency. Read that piece, here: “Reba and the Chiefs Departure Parade.“
The players who have gone on to other teams underscores what Graversen observed. If I had to finger any players that I would have preferred to return from among all those who have found greener pastures, I would say that I anticipated Veach would try to keep JuJu Smith-Schuster. That didn’t happen and of course, I am not a Chiefs insider.
.
.
The Chiefs staff, from top to bottom, is a multi-faceted, well-oiled, machine that provides solutions to problems, and those solutions, are part of the roster-building effort. One of the ArrowheadOne followers is wont to say: “There is No ‘I’ in Team.” The Kansas City Chiefs football club exemplifies the idea that the whole is a sum of the parts, with Brett Veach along with HC Andy Reid, tooling the effort to accomplish the goals established as the offseason began. It remains a work in progress.
You can reflect on 2022 offseason activities, even those that took place in June with the signing of Jerick McKinnon, and then later in October, when the Toney trade was consummated. I do trust the goals will be accomplished according to the big plan. Some of that will occur after the draft to size veterans and UDFAs who fit the scheme. That is the point where fans and Chiefs observers wait for the next solution to be added.
Even the Chiefs draft wall (board) will have shifted due to the four players added with the Free Agents added.
.
1. With Tackle Jawaan Taylor, the emphasis on drafting an OT probably became somewhat diminished. The OL has the necessary pieces in place to go to War.
2. Adding DL Charles Omenihu does the same to the Edge Rusher player group.
3. LB Tranquill and Safety Edwards strengthen groups for Defense up the middle. The LB group is stronger as is the Safety group. I see the defense overall as having been improved.
.
Sure, the Chiefs need to add key players for the Edge, IDL, and OL. I anticipate draft picks to be found, an end result. The thrust of what I think has happened is that the key players are in place. Other F/A signees and draft picks will fill in the rest. The Chiefs collective eye is still on the prize — another Super Bowl appearance & winning the Lombardi Trophy.
Predicting WR Replacements: A Tough Job
The Chiefs lost three major players, at least, thus far. Both JS-S and Mecole Hardman have signed elsewhere. Justin Watson remains unsigned. The big loss is JuJu. I thought Hardman would end up with the Chiefs once again and while I like Watson, if he doesn’t return to the team, another player will step up and in. Clearly, the WR group is depleted from the key contributors of the 2022 Group. This becomes the place where I see the more crucial need to add players among all the position groups. It’s still March. I will post a common theme image here… which once again is appropriate.
.
– random images credit
.
Will there be a big splash free agent signing for the WR group? Two WRs whose names are bandied about in the rumor mill are DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jr. I have no idea if those are in the Chiefs microscope. My view is that I don’t think Beckham’s diva-ness is a fit for KC. D-Hop, on the other hand, brings skill and toughness to the WR group that could well be the impetus to help insure KC gets back to the Super Bowl. I have always respected Hopkins as one of the best-possession receivers in the NFL. He would give Mahomes the missing ingredient that the team has lacked. Other WRs have been named, but these two players are a constant and there must be a reason for this (from the inside). I can state that Hopkins is a player I can see being added for “persona” reasons.
Who Knows how Veach, Reid, and Co. arrive at an answer? I Trust the Chiefs brain trust. The decision won’t be wasteful, of that I am sure… but a veteran WR won’t be cheap either.
WRs I Expect to Become Key Targets
Laddie thought that Skyy Moore would become WR#1 in 2022. That didn’t happen. Perhaps the setback as a punt returner stymied Moore. Moore broke loose in the post-season with big plays, tallying a huge punt return in the AFC Championship game:
.
.
Moore also scored a huge TD in the Super Bowl to put the Chiefs up by 8 with just over nine minutes to go.
.
.
I was very enthusiastic when Brett Veach traded with the Giants for Kadarius Toney. I expect a lot more production from him in 2023. Last year, he emerged as the season progressed and he earned the trust of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
.
.
Those two players were highlighted in the Scouting Combine pressers by Veach and Reid. They both will be keys to the Kingdom’s aerial game. I am going to add one more name.
Lastly, I expect Justyn Ross to be an important component as well. He is over his surgeries and injuries. Veach and Reid felt he was worth the investment to give him a nod though he wouldn’t be able to play in 2022.
.
MUTE VOLUME
.
.
If these three players fill in the blank spots for JS-S and Hardman’s departures, the sun will have once again broken through the clouds that prognosticators see hovering over Arrowhead Stadium. Justin Watson has an in-game rapport with Patrick Mahomes. He is a Free Agent. I can see him testing the market and if he doesn’t get the big payday, I believe Reid and OC Matt Nagy will snatch him back. We’ll see. Still, I think the Chiefs will provide the insurance for the WR Group by signing a proven veteran WR, even if it is a one-year rental.
Team Needs Remain the Same
I wrote about the Roster and where it stands earlier this week. It’s called “Chiefs: Where the Roster Stands Today” and you can review that article here.
Again, using the list Josh wrote about on Thursday is valid. Things that could solve are numerous as any potential Free Agent signing reveals. For example, The team needs to add another player at both Edge and IDL. I think that could be something that they get done before camp. Re-signing Carlos Dunlap could be a solution. The IDL needs a nose-tackle big man on the Interior. On the OL, an OT needs to be added. I see Veach double dipping for all three roles with an added vet and a draft pick. I also believe that another CB will be added. Many are anticipating a Tight End. That is not my thinking but if the future TE Extraordinaire* is going to be added they need to strike the gold vein when they can.
Two Major Tasks Remain
From my original Brett Veach To-Do List? Extend Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed. I wrote about that three weeks ago. That list is still in effect. Here is my article called: “The Veach “To-Do” List Before the 2023 Draft.“
The Chiefs go from there.
.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
.
.
*Author’s Note: The Chiefs have been fortunate in having two great Tight ends who played for 22 years combined: Kelce has played in his 10th season for the Chiefs and Tony Gonzales was a Chief for 12 years, before adding another 5 seasons with the Falcons.