Finally, the preseason has been denied us, and in 13 days, the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Baltimore Ravens. Still, before cuts are announced on Tuesday, we must answer the big offseason question: Did the preseason indicate how good this team can be in 2024?
As I said in last night’s column, I think I place more value in preseason games than most. After all, the number of football games you play in a season is limited, and for the Kansas City Chiefs, that’s a cherished commodity.
Granted, Head Coach Andy Reid did the right thing by resting his starters on Thursday night and keeping them fresh and ready for the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens in less than two weeks. Still, the film does not lie in evaluating the preseason’s success or failures.
Some players stood out, others disappointed me, and some shocked me by how quickly they adapted to the NFL’s speed.
So, who stood out?
Running Back Carson Steele was the most pleasant surprise of August. The UCLA product was the brightest offensive spark next to Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs displayed in the preseason. He scored two touchdowns, which should be a good sign that the Chiefs’ short-yardage woes under Andy Reid have ended. Steele can run, catch the ball, and block. As an undrafted rookie free agent, he was one of Kansas City’s best pick-ups post-draft. He has a bright future with the Chiefs.
Wide Receiver Kadarius Toney has never found a firm footing in a Chiefs uniform, and I can’t see a roster spot for him this season in Kansas City. Toney has so much talent, but it’s unrealized talent. I’m not sure what went wrong during his time in Kansas City, but I suspect the passion to play the game simply didn’t burn bright enough. It’s possible the Chiefs keep him, but they’d have to sacrifice Skyy Moore or Nikko Remigio to leapfrog him ahead of the receiver log jam. I don’t see it.
Safety Jaden Hicks might be a superstar in the making. He was by far the Chiefs best defender in August. He was everywhere on the field, and the fourth-round draft pick appears to be the type of playmaker this defense needs in the backfield. With Justin Reid missing most of camp, Hicks took his shot and proved he’s deserving of significant playing time this season. Further, with Reid a free agent after this season, Hicks can slide right into a starting role next year.
Left Tackle Kingsley Suamataia certainly made an impact from day one of training camp. Though he had some rough moments, he corrected a few flaws in his footwork, and the Chiefs are banking on him as the primary protector for Patrick Mahomes. The BYU rookie is already an accomplished run blocker, but he has work to do in pass protection. If he can improve his leverage when defenders split the tackle and guard, he could be the Chiefs starting left tackle for the conceivable future. With the injury to Wayna Morris, who should be ready as a backup in the opener, his maturation on the field is offense-critical.
Wide Receiver Xavier Worthy is an obvious standout for the Chiefs in August. He’s the fastest player in the NFL but has yet to show top gear on the field (that’s not a knock on him, but rather the fact he still gets open without it). Mahomes has a weapon that could be as productive as Tyreek Hill in dialing up big-time plays when he does. Worthy will need to be brought along slowly, but he already understands the offense, and with teachers like Hollywood Brown and Travis Kelce, he has the chance to be very special.
Punter Matt Araiza has an exceptional leg, and after a turbulent path to the NFL that began in Buffalo and ended in Kansas City with the Chiefs, Special Teams Coach Dave Toub has an exceptional talent to work with this season. Araiza is a good punter because he can boom the ball when needed or drop it on a dime inside the twenty. I marveled at his ball, adjusting off his foot to accomplish both effortlessly. He’s also an exceptional athlete taking on the holding duties, but he can also throw the rock.
