Chiefs News: Questions remain over the tackle positions
The latest
The Chiefs revamped their receiver depth this offseason, and the player who should receive plenty of targets next to tight end Travis Kelce is Brown. Kansas City wants to regain its potency when Patrick Mahomes throws deep. Known for his speed and improved route running, Brown should be able to be effective in the intermediate and deep areas of the field. He was impressive during the offseason program by establishing a strong connection with Mahomes. The Chiefs will likely need to rely on Brown early in the season, too. Second-year player Rashee Rice could be suspended to start the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Rookie Xavier Worthy will be adjusting to the league, too. — Nate Taylor
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Well, we have already included a rookie quarterback and a rookie running back. Might as well continue the theme.
In best-ball leagues, speed kills. Leagues are won with huge stat lines. And while high-catch, low yards per reception guys can have significant value, it’s the vertical threats whose value is higher than in season-long formats.
The Kansas City Chiefs made major moves at the wide receiver position this season, signing Marquise Brown in free agency and using their first pick on Texas speedster Xavier Worthy.
Worthy is fresh off running the fastest 40-yard dash in the history of the NFL Scouting Combine, and Saints running back Alvin Kamara said on the Happy Hour podcast that he can’t wait to see what Worthy can do catching passes from the NFL’s best quarterback.
Who is the staring RT?
No, I didn’t forget about Kansas City’s receiving corps, which underwent another facelift this offseason. Patrick Mahomes, though, has proven that he can win with just about any receiving corps as long as Travis Kelce is still in uniform, so I’m not terribly concerned about K.C.’s wideouts. The offensive line is another matter, however, specifically at tackle.
Left tackle is the big question on the Chiefs’ offensive line. Wanya Morris, who has just four career starts, is currently tabbed as the starter. He’ll be entrenched this summer in a position battle against second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia, a massive man at 6-foot-5 and 326 pounds with a 34-inch arms. Rest assured the Chiefs are hoping that Suamataia shows enough in camp to be their Week 1 starter.
Pre-Camp Breakdown: Evaluating the Chiefs Group of Defensive Backs | The Mothership
Deon Bush
Bush, who re-signed with the Chiefs in mid-March, returns for his third season with Kansas City after appearing in six games last season. He was a core special teams contributor when he played, recording at least 70 percent of the Chiefs’ special teams snaps in each of his final five regular-season games.
Bush then matched the team-lead with 85 special teams snaps during the postseason, and when called upon defensively, he hauled in a critical interception against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Championship Game.
What are Chris Jones’ chances of making the Hall of Fame? | Arrowhead Addict
Bryant Young
Bryant Young was a great all-around defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers. He had 89.5 sacks over 14 seasons (6.4 sacks per season). He made the Pro Bowl four times, was a First Team All-Pro team once, and won one Super Bowl.
How Does Chris Jones Stack Up?
Chris Jones’ 9.4 sacks per season is currently only behind Page and Randle, but the odds of him maintaining that level until he retires is extremely low. The question is how high he can keep that number by the time he retires?
If he can get to 100 total sacks (5 sacks per season for 5 years would do it), or keep that sacks per season number over seven he has great odds of getting in. Jones could also stand to add a couple more Pro Bowls and one more First Team All-Pro to his résume. If you were to mix those things in with his postseason success, I think he’ll be a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Around the NFL
Bengals’ Tee Higgins to play on tag in 2024 as deadline passes | ESPN
The Bengals and Tee Higgins did not reach a long-term deal ahead of Monday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, leaving the wide receiver to play for Cincinnati on the one-year franchise tag in 2024.
It also puts Higgins in a unique category. Of the eight NFL players who were designated as franchise players in March, Higgins is the only one who did not receive a multiyear deal by Monday’s deadline for players who received the franchise or transition tag to reach long-term deals. Two of those players were traded before reaching deals — Brian Burns to the New York Giants and L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans.
Bears’ Caleb Williams on unsigned rookie contract: ‘I’m not handling that’ | NFL.com
The quarterback told reporters over the weekend in South Chicago during an event for his Caleb Cares Foundation that he’s not fretting about a deal getting done.
“I’m not handling that,” Williams said, via the Chicago Tribune. “My lawyers and attorney and everybody, the head of the Bears, everybody up there up top is handling that. That’s not my position that I’m handling.”
Williams does not have an NFL Players Association-certified agent.
With the NFL’s slotted rookie contracts, there are few negotiating points, the most prominent being signing bonus payment schedules and potential offsets.
Sources: Browns, Dustin Hopkins reach 3-year, $15.9M extension | ESPN
The Cleveland Browns and kicker Dustin Hopkins reached agreement on a three-year, $15.9 million extension, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday, making him one of the NFL’s top five highest-paid kickers.
In 2023, Hopkins made a franchise-record 33 of 36 field goal attempts, including a career-long 58-yard field goal. Hopkins also set an NFL record with five consecutive games in which he made a field goal of at least 50 yards.
Hopkins, 33, was set to enter the final year of his contract with a base value of $2.875 million.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Training Camp: Patrick Mahomes, KC’s rookies report Tuesday
The Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterbacks and rookies will report to the campus of Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph on Tuesday.
Once again, the media has been invited to see a handful of team members walk in with their belongings. Head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are scheduled to speak to the media around 3 p.m. Arrowhead Time. This is when Reid typically provides a comprehensive injury update.
Mahomes, his fellow quarterbacks and the Chiefs’ rookies will undergo three days of practices. These sessions will be closed to the public as Reid ensures his first-year players get a necessary refresh on the playbook before adding veterans to the mix. Those veterans are due to report to St. Joseph on Friday.
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