Chiefs News: Chiefs offensive line rank high in new PFF list

The latest

2024 NFL offensive line rankings: Lions take top spot, led by Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow | PFF

7. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Joe Thuney might be the best pass-blocking guard in the league, while Creed Humphrey is now often considered the best center in the NFL. Right guard Trey Smith could also be the league’s most underrated offensive lineman despite being the 10th-highest-graded guard in 2023. Those three form arguably the NFL’s top interior trio.

Whereas the interior is stout, there are many questions surrounding the Chiefs’ offensive tackles, including whether Jawaan Taylor can bounce back after a disappointing 2023 season.

Ranking NFL division winners’ odds of suffering first-to-worst fall | USA Today

1. Kansas City Chiefs

A team chasing the first-ever Super Bowl three-peat is also riding a stretch that includes eight consecutive AFC West crowns … and may have markedly improved its roster coming off an 11-6 regular season in 2023 that was below par relative to the organization’s recent success. Then factor in that no division rival reached the playoffs last season, the Las Vegas Raiders (Antonio Pierce) and Los Angeles Chargers (Jim Harbaugh) are breaking in new coaches, and the Denver Broncos appear to be in a full-fledged rebuild. Barring an injury to Mahomes, K.C. looks especially safe – and potentially a speed-infused juggernaut if the offense, now boasting quick-strike WRs Hollywood Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy, returns to its explosive form of the Tyreek Hill years.

CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase and one player contract worth watching for every NFL team | The Athletic

Kansas City Chiefs

Trey Smith, guard

The Chiefs have one of the best trios of interior offensive linemen in the league with center Creed Humphrey, All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney and Smith. But this upcoming season could be their final season together. Smith is entering the last year of his rookie contract. The Chiefs, understandably, could prioritize retaining Humphrey and linebacker Nick Bolton over Smith, similar to the team re-signing pass rusher Chris Jones over cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. If Smith excels this season, with consistent production while limiting his penalties, he could be the top free agent at his position next season, potentially earning an annual average of more than $20 million. — Nate Taylor

Ranking the Top 10 Cornerbacks In NFL History | The 33rd Team

4. DARRELLE REVIS

There might not be a better man-to-man cornerback in NFL history. If you wanted a defensive back that could wipe away an opposing team’s No. 1 receiver, Darrelle Revis would be your top pick. Revis didn’t have a super long career, starting “only” 142 games. Still, he was as good as it gets during his prime.

Revis was an All-Pro selection four times, including three straight nominations from 2009 to 2011. His best season came in 2009 when he recorded six interceptions and a league-high 31 pass deflections.

During that season, he faced Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Andre Johnson, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, etc. He never allowed more than 49 yards to any of them and gave up only two touchdowns despite the Jets never giving him any safety help.

Kansas City Chiefs have a major competition brewing for final wide receiver spots | Arrowhead Addict

Skyy Moore – 5’10” – 195 lbs – 23 years old (24 in September)

Brett Veach may have invested a valuable draft pick in Skyy Moore just a few years ago, but Moore may also be running out of chances to prove he can live up to his draft capital. Moore is entering his third NFL season, but has averaged just 21.5 receptions and 247 receiving yards through his first two seasons despite KC’s shortage of wide receiver talent during that time. Moore also struggled as a return man when given that role with just a 6.1 punt return average and several fumbles.

I felt obligated to include Moore on this list, but unless he makes major strides as a reliable short to intermediate pass catcher, it’s getting harder and harder to see his role on the roster next season with KC having so many other options out of the slot that are better options to contribute in the return game.

Around the NFL

Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb expected to skip training camp without new contract, per report | CBS Sports

The Dallas Cowboys will kick off 2024 training camp on July 25. Just don’t count on star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb showing up. Eligible for a long-term contract extension, the Pro Bowl pass catcher is expected to skip the start of camp without a new deal in place, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Lamb, 25, has “been engaged” with the team this offseason, coach Mike McCarthy revealed recently. Still, the former first-round draft pick skipped all of Dallas’ mandatory minicamp, absorbing more than $100,000 in fines after also forgoing the Cowboys’ voluntary spring workouts. The three-time Pro Bowler is seeking a pay raise after a slew of fellow wideouts cashed in with lucrative long-term contracts this offseason.

Lamb is due close to $18 million in 2024 under the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, but he’s scheduled to hit free agency following the season. He could conceivably command at least $30 million per year on a new deal, with three other pass catchers — the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson ($35 million), Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown ($32 million) and Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30 million) — eclipsing that mark.

Top Storylines That Will Determine Winner Of Each NFL Division for 2024 Season | Bleacher Report

AFC West: Can Jim Harbaugh Quick-Fix the Chargers, Too?

With the exception of the San Diego Toreros, Jim Harbaugh’s teams (college and pro) have won more games in his first year than in the campaign before his arrival.

In 2009, the San Francisco 49ers went 6-10 and finished third in the NFC West. The following year—Harbaugh’s first at the helm—they went 13-3, won their division and made it to the NFC Championship Game. They advanced to the Super Bowl the following season.

Harbaugh could have a similar impact on the Los Angeles Chargers, who finished last in the AFC West with a 5-12 record in 2023.

After winning a national championship with the 15-0 Michigan Wolverines this past season, Harbaugh is now taking over a roster that features a Pro Bowl quarterback in Justin Herbert and a few Pro Bowl/All-Pro-caliber defensive players in Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Derwin James Jr. and Denzel Perryman.

Former No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell fired as coach, faces lawsuit | ESPN

Former No. 1 NFL draft pick JaMarcus Russell was fired as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama, and is facing a lawsuit accusing him of taking a $74,000 check meant as a donation to the school.

“JaMarcus Russell was relieved of his volunteer coaching duties at Williamson High School during the fall of last year,” Mobile County Public School officials told WKRG Sports.

A local business owner, Chris Knowles, wrote the $74,000 check, saying Russell approached him about a donation to help the Williamson football team purchase weight room equipment. The school allegedly never received the check, and Russell reportedly deposited it in a credit union and promptly withdrew $55,000 of it.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs Roster: Left tackle is only position where we’re uncomfortable

Xavier Worthy might be injury-prone

I think we’re getting some recency bias here.

Suffering from a hamstring strain, Kansas City’s first-round pick sat out the team’s mandatory minicamp as a precaution. But during his three-year tenure at the University of Texas, Worthy didn’t miss a single game.

That isn’t to say the speedster didn’t have a couple of bruises here and there. During the 2022 season, Worthy played half the season with a broken hand. In 2023, he battled through an ankle sprain.

Despite his small stature, I think it’s safe to say Worthy is tough — and is willing to play through some pain.

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