Josh Kingsley

Let me start with this: apologies for my absence on the comments board. I’ve written here for quite some time now (not exactly sure, being too lazy to look up, thought I saw 104 posts last time I saved something). My record keeping is lax in that’s it’s mostly based on memory. However, I vividly remember my first couple columns. Not for the content, but for the lesson. It quickly became clear that part of the gig was message board interaction. First thought, hard eye roll with aggressive sigh. I pictured another version of a toxic social media gripe session of personal attacks. Second thought, I’m a rule follower at heart, so I guess I’m on comments. I quickly realized this is nothing like social media. This is a forum for a community of fans. I love the comment section and adding to it.

My excuse? I was driving, relaxing and driving.

The last seven days consisted of submitting late, driving to KC, golf with college buddies, a pool day, time with friends, driving to Hays, time with family, and keeping up with work. By the time I was free enough to comment back the thread is in the past. I did read everything. Here are my conclusions:

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• I need to plan a trip to Batumi, Georgia for a food tour
• There are others in my pet, and specifically cat loving camp
• Dust Bowl Brewing needs a hard look
• I’m not the only one following this Hopkins-Jones saga

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Thanks as always for the engagement as I thoroughly enjoy it. I head to Tampa for a long weekend and annual Boys of Summer trip. No guarantees this one is better in the comments department, but I intend to try.

The Hopkins Domino

One of the last major NFL dominos fell early this week when Deandre Hopkins signed a contract with the Tennessee Titans. Reports indicate a two-year $12-13M base with incentives potential of up to $15M annual salary. According to Sportrac this makes Hopkins the 23rd highest paid WR. The contract is large, but not obnoxious assuming DHop has some of the all pro gas left in the tank. Most believe he does and I agree. I wanted Hopkins in KC. All chatter leading up to this deal indicated the CHIEFS were in it until the end. Deandre himself spoke early and often about chasing rings over contracts. The dust is still settling, but I believe one of the following must be true.

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This appears the popular reaction at least in CHIEFS fan speak. Most armchair GM’s (let’s be honest I’m one of them) pegged Hopkins a $10M for one year, and some went as low as $5M max. Given that valuation Hopkins chased the dollars like a bona fide mercenary. Hopkins is a pro athlete, so his paycheck is his body. That body showed signs of impending failure over the last 24 months. It’s not unreasonable to think Hopkins views his ticking clock with intention of a final payday before complete failure. In this scenario he took the money and chalked up the half truths to teams like the Bills and CHIEFS as negotiating fodder. The only real collateral damage is fans of winning teams who would leave their jobs tomorrow for a 10% raise (again, I’ve left companies for less).

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Many credible voices called last year a fortunate dice roll playing the season without a WR1. Please note the CHIEFS won the Super Bowl, so fortunes were pretty high. That said, the commentary is true. The CHIEFS cannot claim a WR1 by any metric other than hope at this point. David Bell displayed that hope impeccably over a thorough series of WR showcases, and I agree with him that we have a solid room. However, stats do not lie. No returning 1,000 yd WR, Toney has zero full NFL seasons, and no guarantee young guys make massive strides. Hopkins feels like more of a need than luxury. The frustration in this scenario is the core concept: Veach could and should have made the space to offer Hopkins $13M.

Chris Jones is in his prime, he’s a top three at his position, he’s an all timer for the CHIEFS, and he’s in a contract year. Furthermore, an extension frees $16M in cap space. What are we doing, Brett? This Jones extension should be almost ancient history by now. Jones is worth the money and so is Hopkins. We should be talking about a roster with both locked up.

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Hopkins valued himself at X, which was below his definition of market value. He wanted KC at that number. Veach valued him at Y with no wiggle room. The collective sides didn’t align, neither budged, and here we are. No one lied to anyone. The numbers simply didn’t work and all parties moved on. This scenario only works because Veach believed DHop was a nice, not need to have. That’s because he, Reid and the rest of the staff share the optimism in the current WR room. Toney, MVS, Moore and Rice look like locks at WR. Justin Watson and Richie James appear close to locks. Justyn Ross and John Ross are the wild cards. Any of the last four last 5 minutes max in FA assuming they make it through waivers.

Veach doesn’t have misplaced arrogance. At the very least call it highly calculated.

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We as CHIEFS fans saw this movie. Tyreek — Elite of the Elite WR 1 Hill — asked for more than Veach was willing to spend and ended up in Miami. The sequel dropped. Our title for this edition is Deandre Former, Not Current All Pro WR1 Hopkins asked for more than Veach was willing to spend and ended up in Nashville. We all know originals > sequels. This is neither surprising nor concerning. Jeff Bezos once said to employees: ‘One day, Amazon will fail’ but our job is to delay it as long as possible. That’s true for about every business especially when you consider failure loss of market spot. Veach has the same goal. One day the CHIEFS will not be a good team. His and the rest of the front office’s job is to delay that. The best tool in his box is financial flexibility.

Veach works with an NFL hard cap, and $10M mistakes cause major problems. It’s impossible to rule out the potential for Hopkins’ contract being a mistake. I trust Veach did the diligence and made a solid call. This is an important mindset.

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Nick Wright, CHIEFS fan and driving for of Fox Sports’ First Things First talked about Hopkins last week. He ribbed Kevin Wildes (Patriots fan) about Hopkins potential to New England. Wright made a comment that essentially said Hopkins to CHIEFS of Bills is no harm as no one can argue their status above the Patriots. However, Hopkins to the Titans indicated New England being in the wasteland of mediocrity. I have to disagree. The Titans still have Henry, who is a stud, and Tannehill, who is a good QB. Their former GM botched the roster giving away AJ Brown. He tried to duplicate Veach without Mahomes, Kelce and Reid. Hopkins rights that ship. The Titans are a good team that just got better.

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The Chris Jones Dilemma

I’m preparing my emotions and logic for a Jones trade. This simply looks and feels like Tyreek Hill all over again. Veach places a value and doesn’t budge. Jones says all the right things about wanting KC for life, his team is family, etc. Grind on Veach at your pleasure. The rub on this situation and Hill is and was based on letting it drag on.

It takes two signatures on a deal. We have no idea how many offers Jones has received and turned down. My assumption is at least a few. Veach set a value, Jones set a target of second highest paid. Sportrac lists Jones at 8th with $20M, Donald tops at $31M and Jets’ Williams 2nd at $24M. Jones is due a raise no doubt. The CHIEFS can’t afford $30M by this armchair GM’s calculations. By Jones’ demand four years, $24.1M, $67M guaranteed is the winner.

I suspect that offer already exists, yet the signed contract eludes KC’s file cabinet. Where do we go? Not sure. I hope it’s an extension soon, but I’m not holding my breath.

The good news? Camp started so we are back in real football!!

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Josh Kingsley — ArrowheadOne and Arrowhead Kingdom

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