Finally, we have arrived at the start of another historic football season for the Kansas City Chiefs. Now that the dust is settling on the final roster, we can begin seeing how all the parts will combine. As in any construction, the gears must turn correctly for the engine to turn. This new engine with some fresh gears looks poised to be one of, if not THE strongest, roster of the Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes era.
A New and improved receiving corps, bolstered run offense, reliable defense, and excellent play-calling will all contribute to another appearance in the Super Bowl. Too early? No. We’ll all speculate throughout the season, but I am confident in what I see. This team has gotten to a new level.
Even though the preseason didn’t give us the kind of chills you would like to feel, it opened some eyes to the potential. This potential is what I’m going to talk about.
Offense –
Let’s start with the receivers. Xavier Worthy has got wheels, for sure. What he also brings is precise route running. Watch Andy Reid open the playbook once Mahomes gets comfortable with him in real-game situations. Hollywood Brown. It’s another jackrabbit for Mahomes. Brown will stretch the field and be a consistent target, primarily on the edge. Rashee Rice will likely be Mahomes’ top target early in the year. I expect he will pick up from where he left off last season. He can potentially be a 1,000+ yard receiver and a touchdown machine. Hopefully, he’ll stay out of trouble, and the NFL will wait until the legal process is completed in 2025 before suspending him.
I was high on Skyy Moore last season, but I will temper my expectations this year. He is and should be, Matt Nagy’s slot guy and occasional gadget man. Mecole Hardman. The jet has wheels, but I expect Nagy and Reid will use him outside and in the slot, much like Moore. Justin Watson will be all things for Reid. He’s reliable in the middle and the red zone. JuJu Smith-Schuster brings a familiarity to this offense that Mahomes needs. If he still has some gas left in the tank and can limit any injuries, he will be a great gap guy and occasional outside threat.
All-World Travis Kelce will do anything and everything to help Mahomes and the team. He’s starting to get long in the tooth, but I don’t believe it diminishes his game. He’s a baller and will be reliable, as always, especially in the postseason. Rookie Jared Wiley could become Kelce’s heir apparent. Under the tutelage of the best tight end to ever play the game, Wiley has a chance to be the next Travis Kelce. I think Noah Gray and newly arrived Peyton Hendershot will be used as blockers more than anything, but you never know with Reid’s playbook. Three or four tight-end sets are part of what Reid likes to do, so we’ll see how he uses all four of them.
Overall, the receiving corps has improved over last year’s group. Can they make the leap that Andy Reid needs for his style of offense? It remains to be seen, but we’ll see some unexpected playmaking down the stretch.
On to running backs, I need to start with the emergence of undrafted free agent Carson Steele. Brett Veach is a master at this part of roster building. A running, driving, pounding beast is the best way to describe him. Though slotted as a fullback, Steele can launch when a rocket is needed. I expect a one-two punch in the running game and many tough yards ground out by the “Man of Steele.” Isaiah Pacheco. Of course, Pop will be the feature back, and he won’t fail to bring it to every play. The only question is why Reid is hanging on to Clyde Edward-Helaire. CEH is coming close to being a draft bust (if not already). With the late addition of former Denver RB Samaje Perine, the backfield will get a reliable third-down blocking back at a great price point.
How about quarterbacks? There is only a little to expand on here. Patrick Mahomes is the best football player in the league and likely G.O.A.T. after his career. He is all that and has a bag of chips. Veach brought in Carson Wentz as the backup, which was a masterstroke. If, in the unlikely event of an issue with Mahomes, Wentz can command this offense and make it work.
Moving on to the protectors on the offensive line, let’s begin with Creed Humphrey. The best and highest-paid center in the league anchors the best line in football. Offensive Line Coach Andy Heck will have no problem getting the absolute most out of this line this year. Joe Thuney. Barring any injuries, Thuney is one of the best guards in the game. Trey Smith. I believe he is the best guard in football, period. Watching him work on running plays is a thing of beauty. Jawaan Taylor. The only thing I worry about with Taylor is penalties. If he can settle down his happy feet, he will do an excellent job in right-side protection.
Rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia will be charged with protecting the backside of Mahomes now and in the future. He is learning his position in the pro game at an accelerated rate. His faster-than-expected progress has shown his ability to understand and execute his role at a high level. Heck has a knack for getting the most out of rookies who are willing to take and employ the instruction. Wanya Morris, Mike Caliendo, Hunter Nourzard, Ethan Driskell, and CJ Hanson. Hopefully, these guys can be inserted where needed. All have skills, and Heck will have them ready for every game.
Defense –
First, look at the tackles of Chris Jones, Turk Wharton, Derrick Nnadi, and Mike Pennel. These four can be critical elements based on Steve Spagnuolo’s different schemes. The Chairman of Sack-Nation is in a league of his own. Expect a big year from Jones after signing his hefty extension. Let’s go home. Nnadi can stay healthy. Turk and Big Mike will take care of the business.
George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Malik Herring, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Cam Thomas, Charles Omenihu and BJ Thompson. Karlaftis should be taking the next step after intense training with Tamba Hali during the off-season. Same with FAU, but he didn’t do much in three preseason games. Felix needs to take his game to the next level even to be considered a former first-rounder and not a bust.
Unfortunately, Omenihu and Thompson will start the season on PUP until medically cleared. Missing Omenihu is a big deal, so let’s hope Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen and his assistant Terry Bradden will ensure they have this group ready for the first part of the season.
The linebackers return a solid group to 2024 action with Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, and Cam Jones. Bolton and Tranquill are the lynchpins in the middle of the defense. As Spag’s main defensive signal callers, they bring a steady hand and ferocious tackling to every down they play.
Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, and Cam Jones have excellent skills and bring them every time they’re up.
On to the defensive secondary. The cornerback group comprises Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, Nazeeh Johnson, Eric Scott Jr., and Chris Roland-Wallace. This unit’s lone rookie is Roland-Wallace, so he’ll be in learning mode most of the season. Trent McDuffie is quietly becoming one of the best cornerbacks in the league. The rest of the group flashes routinely, so watch Watson, Williams, and Johnson.
The safety room looks like a sweet spot for Spagnuolo with Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner and rookie Jaden Hicks. Hicks has had a brilliant camp and is the lone rookie in this group. Conner constantly flashes; however, Reid and Cook are the best SS and FS in the NFL.
Regarding specialists, Harrison Butker, James Winchester, and off-season addition punter Matt Araiza will lead special teams with their top-flight capabilities.
All in all, this roster has all the markings of a championship team. Can this group go all the way for a third straight time? I’m not going to speak in platitudes because I’m a fan of this team, but because the leadership at the top has proven, year after year, that they can do it. My colleagues and I have lived through some lean periods in Kansas City Chiefs history, so we enjoy every minute of the Reid/Mahomes era. I expect this organization to compete at the highest levels into the late ’20s and early ’30s. This I am sure of.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Patrick Mahomes, with or without Andy Reid, doesn’t go on to win five more championships and surpass Tom Brady as the G.O.A.T. He might even get two more rings before Travis Kelce retires! We can always dream, but first up, the 2024 season.
