The Kansas City Chiefs finally hit the pads on Sunday, and some interesting developments are starting to emerge on this roster. In fact, with a high-end, cap-heavy veteran presence, some young players are rising faster than expected.
On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs will hold their second padded practice. If it’s anything like Sunday’s session, it’ll be interesting to see what unfolds on day two. With the Chiefs’ first preseason game just 12 days away, it may feature some young players.
So, who has stood out?
LT Josh Simmons continues to be the standout of the draft class. Although Right Tackle Jawaan Taylor returned to practice on Sunday, Simmons remained the starting left tackle. At this point, since Taylor and free agent signee Jaylon Moore rotated on the right side, it seems Simmons is still on track to be the Week One starter at left tackle.
DT Omar Norman-Lott has received praise from his coaches and teammates. The Chiefs’ second-round draft pick has already moved up to first-team reps, and his consistent play could create opportunities for Chris Jones to have a big season. The young defender suffered a minor injury on Sunday but returned to the field and appears fine.
WR Jalen Royals has been a big surprise at the start of camp. He looked great without pads, but the added weight on Sunday didn’t slow down his game in the slightest. It seems that he and Patrick Mahomes are already beginning to build some chemistry, which is an interesting early development in camp.
RB Brashard Smith has a promising future with the Chiefs, but it seems he needs more time to join the offense fully. Although he’s caught a few wheel routes from Mahomes, he faces competition in a crowded running back room, but he should get plenty of playtime in the first preseason game. So far, his performance has been mixed.
WR Tyquan Thornton has also made an impact on the Chiefs’ offense. Already a favorite of quarterback #1, Thornton has continued his off-season success and is making a push for the 53-man roster. However, the former second-round pick looked good in the Patriots’ early camps but didn’t make the jump once the games went live.
CB Nohl Williams seems to be finding his footing in training camp. The tall, ball-hawking cornerback has some of the best closing skills among any rookie coming out of college. He still needs time, and it’s uncertain how quickly he can adapt to the NFL’s speed, but he’s someone to watch closely this week.
In other Chiefs news, the team continues exploring options to add to the roster. Former Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons has had discussions with Kansas City, but it seems he prefers to avoid the peak of training camp and sign closer to the end.
Tight End Noah Fant has met with the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints. His representatives reached out to the Chiefs, and there seems to be some interest. However, with Jake Briningstool’s hamstring injury during camp, Fant could receive a more serious look from the Chiefs. Further, Jared Wiley is coming off a torn ACL, so this is a position to keep an eye on as camp unfolds.
The Chiefs have also reached out to one of their former players, safety Kendall Fuller. He was part of the trade that sent Alex Smith to Washington years ago, but he is the kind of veteran who fits well with the Chiefs. However, so far, talks have been more probing than substantive.
