With the NFL’s legal version of Tampering set to begin at 11:00 AM CST today, the Kansas City Chiefs have already made noise about retaining two key defenders; now they can improve the offense.
Over the weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Drue Tranquill and Chris Jones to contract extensions that preserve one of the NFL’s best defenses. The jury is out on their ability to re-sign Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, but I would not rule it out.
Regardless of what happens today through Wednesday, General Manager Brett Veach won’t sit back and wait until the new league year begins. By giving Jones a five-year deal with $95 million in guarantees, he means business this off-season.
As stated, the Chiefs have a legitimate shot at winning three straight Super Bowls, and if they retain Sneed, they will be the heavy favorite to do just that. However, Veach must address some offense gaps.
Wide Receivers Calvin Ridley, Gabe Davis, and KJ Osborn will likely be in the mix for the Chiefs. Of the three, Osborn is the best fit, though Ridley is the better wide receiver. Why the Vikings aren’t pushing to retain Osborn makes no sense. Davis is basically MVS, and perhaps he can become the deep threat Mahomes covets with better coaching. A dark horse candidate could be the LA Chargers Receiver, Mike Williams. If he’s not traded, he could hit the market soon.
Running Backs Austin Ekeler and DeAndre Swift would perfectly fit Head Coach Andy Reid’s offense. Swift could become Jamaal Charles 2.0, but Ekeler might be cheaper. Either way, Kansas City must get help for Isiah Pacheco, who must improve his vision at the line of scrimmage. Too often, he runs straight ahead and doesn’t see open lanes to his left and right. His inability to cut back consistently is one of the reasons he struggles in some games. Adding Ekeler or Swift would solve that dilemma.
Left Tackle will be a massive goal for Veach over the next three days. The consensus among NFL insiders suggests that former Dallas Cowboys’ Left Tackle Tyron Smith could be a top candidate for the Chiefs. At 33, it would be foolish to think the injury-prone Smith can play an entire season. Though Kansas City likes 2023 draft pick, Wanya Morris, I’m not sure he’s ready to be the starter this season. The Free agent tackle market is thin so that Veach might get his new LT in the NFL draft.
If rumors are true, the Chiefs’ defensive line could get a considerable boost with the addition of San Francisco 49ers’ defensive tackle Arik Armstead. He was brilliant last season, and perhaps because he’s lost twice to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, he doesn’t relish it happening a third time. If he’s cut, the combination of Armstead and Chris Jones would significantly upgrade KC’s defensive front, with or without retaining Sneed. The pressure they could get up the middle would be impressive to watch.
In summary, so many variables could happen, but Veach intends to be as aggressive as possible in rebranding his team for the Three-Peet Run!
