Barring a blockbuster trade or a huge pickup at the end of the Preseason Schedule, the Kansas City Chiefs roster appears to be set for 2017. The question is… is this Chiefs team better or not? Of course, there’s still the issue of who makes the final 53-man roster but there has perhaps never been so little turnover in personnel in the history of the franchise than there has been this offseason. With that in mind, let’s take a look at each position group and rate them as either, 1) Way Worse, 2) Worse, 3) Similar, 4 Better or, 5) Way Better (I also sneak a rating of “A Little Better” in there too). I’ll be rating each group in three ways: 1) Compared to 2016, 2) Depth of the Position and, 3) The Starter’s Top Side Potential.
Quarterback Group: Compared to 2016
On the surface, the trio of Alex Smith, Tyler Bray and Patrick Mahomes in 2017, don’t appear to stack up very well against Alex Smith, Nick Foles, and Tyler Bray in 2016. The competition between Patrick Mahomes and Tyler Bray will be interesting but it’s doubtful that Andy Reid goes into this season with a complete unknown in Mahomes as his QB #2.
Quarterback Group: Depth of the Position
With the exit of QB Nick Foles, the backup QB is the big question this season. Whether it’s Bray or Mahomes, it’s doubtful that either one will match up to the experience Nick Foles brought to the table (or to Chase Daniel, 2013, 2014, 2015).
Quarterback Group: The Starter’s Top Side Potential
Alex Smith could have his best year to date with more weapons at his disposal than ever before: Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Kareem Hunt, and hopefully a rejuvenated Jeremy Maclin. Some have pointed out that this may be like a contract year for AS11 in that he’s motivated to get a new one or, because he’s trying out for his next team. I think it’s more likely that Alex is reaching the pinnacle of his career and wants more than ever to reach the Super Bowl and win it.
Running Back Group: Compared to 2016
With the Chiefs drafting Kareem Hunt plus, the addition of C.J. Spiller, the RB group should be an improved group over the 2016 collection of backs. Now, improved may not mean they will be as good as when Jamaal Charles was on the roster but, since he wasn’t healthy and contributing for the better part of two seasons, that may not mean much at all.
Running Back Group: Depth of the Position
If this group has Spencer Ware ramping it up in a second season as the starter, Charcandrick West — if he can return to his 2015 form — Kareem Hunt — if he shows the promise he was drafted for — and C.J. Spiller to replace the seldom used Knile Davis… the depth of this position should be improved..
Running Back Group: The Starter’s Top Side Potential
Although Spencer Ware is a good solid back who can both take linebackers head on up the middle but also catch the ball in the flat, he is probably not even the best back in the AFC West. Although Kareem Hunt has some upside, it’s not likely that he turns into LeSean McCoy in year one. After all, McCoy only had 667 yards his rookie year. Whoever the starter may be, because Andy Reid will be using a “running back by committee” approach, the starter will look about the same as last season.
Tight End Group: Compared to 2016
With the addition of Gavin Escobar, James O’Shaughenessy being traded to the New England Patriots, and Demetrius Harris awaiting a likely suspension or possible release by the Chiefs, this group will probably look a little different this year. The keepers appear to be Escobar, Ross Travis, and the supremely talented Travis Kelce. Since coach Reid will likely keep four tight ends on the roster — including the practice squad — another body will be needed but that person is probably not on the roster yet.
Tight End Group: Depth of the Position
Travis Kelce is the obvious first team TE but the TE ranks get mighty thin after that. With Shaggy gone and Harris on the ropes, John Dorsey may need to make a move or two to get his ensemble-of-oversized-pass-catchers back to respectable. You have to hope JARD are not planning on using rookie draft pick Jehu Chesson as a tight end. He may be 6-foot-3 inches tall, but it would likely be folly to send him over the middle. I’m thinking of twigs snapping. Horrible image.. and sound.
Tight End Group: The Starter’s Top Side Potential
It’s predictable enough to believe that Travis Kelce will have his best year yet. However, the rest of this group is questionable. Even if Demetrius Harris wasn’t facing a suspension by the NFL or release by the Chiefs, his hands and a football are like oil-and-water… they just don’t go together at all. Never have, and it’s hard to see a time when they ever will. The starters get a “meh” rating here because Andy Reid likes to start multiple tight ends so much to the time. Kelce is great… but there’s really no one after that.
Wide Receiver Group: Compared to 2016
Last year I predicted a breakout year for Chris Conley but, that didn’t happen. Maybe 2017 will be that year since he’s had another year to get familiar with quarterback Alex Smith. Jeremy Mclin should have a comeback year. Tyreek Hill’s second season in the offense will be a plus. Andy Reid’s assurance that Hill will be utilized much more in the offense this season… all of that goes a long way in making this group better compared with 2016.
Wide Receiver Group: Depth of the Position
Maclin, Hill, Conley, De’Anthony Thomas, Albert Wilson, Demarcus Robinson, and Jehu Chesson makes this groups depth just about the same as it has been for two years running. There are some very tall WRs on the roster right now but they’re probably camp bodies. It’s been suggested that those unfashionably big and tall wideouts may end up on the Chiefs roster one day to help Patrick Mahomes succeed but for now, they’ll have to live in the Siberia of the NFL rosters: the Practice Squad.
Wide Receiver Group: The Starter’s Top Side Potential
It’s my contention that Tyreek Hill is capable of DeSean Jackson type production and in Jackson’s second season he had 1,156 receiving yards so if Hill comes anywhere close to that, the Chiefs-o-sphere will explode in glee. I say the odds of Hill reaching 1,000 receiving this year are excellent, barring injury. Jeremy Maclin’s upside is to be even better than he was last year and you shouldn’t be
Offensive Line Group: Compared to 2016
General Manager John Dorsey didn’t take a single offensive lineman in the 2017 draft… not that there were any to take that could crack the starting five. That means the makeup of the offensive line this year is essentially a mirror image of the 2016 band of brothers. While the starting five may be a carbon copy (I know, I’m dating myself), the backups could be different… naw… probably not.
Offensive Line Group: Depth of the Position
With second-year man Parker Ehinger returning to his Left Guard position and both Jah Reid and Zach Fulton returning to their backup roles, the offensive line is deeper than it’s been in 10 years. With help needed toward lowering the cap number (see Frank Leggio’s piece, “Kansas City Chiefs Versus the Cap” for more info on dealing with the cap this year), OL newcomer Andrew Tiller, may displace either Fulton or J. Reid but, I doubt it. The experience that Reid and Fulton got filling in for injured O-linemen in 2016 makes this line even better… even if it’s only by a small margin.
Offensive Line Group: The Starter’s Top Side Potential
The popular word here is continuity. If the 2017 version of this middle of the road 2016 offensive line is to take a big step forward it will not come from new blood. You have to seriously doubt that UDFA Damien Mama or Andrew Tiller will make this line better. The only solution… and I mean the one and only solution… to improving this line in 2017 is the reliance on… a united common effort. However, the actual potential is there for this line to be better and with the line being young yet having had experience together in Andy Reid’s offense, the developmental qualities have a lot of upside. Can’t ignore that C Morse is very good and RT Schwartz is top of the line.
Tune in tomorrow, same time, same place, same station, for the “Pre-Training Camp Positional Ratings: DEFENSE.”
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