With a lot of luck, the Kansas City Chiefs reached Super Bowl Lix. There, Patrick Mahomes and Co. from the Philadelphia Eagles were shown their limits. For a new attack on the NFL crown, the chiefs now have to set a few softness.
The Kansas City Chiefs basically had no chance in the Super Bowl against the Eagles (22:40) and only ensured a little result cosmetics in the Garbage Time. The causes of failure were by no means mysterious or surprising. Rather, their large construction sites were dragged through the entire season and ultimately got the receipt.
Of course, we are primarily talking about the offensive line. Even before the start of the season it was actually clear that Left Tackle in particular would become a problem. Neither Wanya Morris nor Rookie Kingsley Suamataia seemed to be an ideal solution for this positioning position. And since Right Tackle Jawaan Taylor was not a particularly great help, we’re talking about the epicenter of the problems of the chiefs – both Tackle positions! In the Super Bowl, Patrick Mahomes conceded six sacks for the first time in his career and saw 22 pressures – without a single flash of the Eagles!
Problem zone number 2 was once again the receiving corps. There was a lot of bad luck here, because new signing Hollywood Brown injured himself before the start of the season, failed late in the Regular Season and then found only to a limited extent. Rookie Xavier Worthy was green behind the ears, but convinced in the context of his possibilities and showed in the Super Bowl at the latest that he can be expected as a big play weapon in the future.
NFL career end of Travis Kelce in sight
But otherwise? Rashee Rice missed the entire season injured and the Damocles sword of a punishment from the judiciary and the NFL for his illegal car racing in the Dallas area, including mass crash and driver flight, continued to miss him. So he could not be available in the coming season. Behind this year there were at most approaches by Deandre Hopkins, Juju Smith -Schuster or Justin Watson – Skyy Moore also made three games due to injury.
To make matters worse, it was also evident that Tight End Travis Kelce was approaching the end of the trip – he put his weakest season since the 2013 rookie season and was basically no longer a factor in the playoffs to the Wild Card Game against the Texans. All of this, consequently, then led to the statistically weakest season of Patrick Mahomes.
Nevertheless, they won 15 games and reached the Super Bowl for the third time in series, which had a lot to do with luck, and the fact that the defense was usually a big factor. But that could also lose the Free Agency with LineBacker Nick Bolton and Safety Justin Reid.
The chiefs are currently at $ 5,783 million of Cap Space. Not exactly for a general overhaul in this offseason. But the chiefs have the scope to ensure significantly more cap space with two or three simple tricks. Above all, you should restructure Patrick Mahomes’s contract. It currently has a Cap Number of $ 66.26 million. If you take the majority of your annual content ($ 16.65 million), its roster bonus (33.35 million) and your workout bonus (1 million) and make a signing bonus, the Chiefs Cap Space would free up almost $ 39 million.
More Cap Space for the Kansas City Chiefs
If that’s not enough, it would be Chris Jones. His cap hit is currently $ 28.75 million. Here you could transform up to $ 12.495 million of your annual content and your upcoming bonuses (15.1 million) into a signing bonus and thus win another around $ 20.7 million of CAP Space. And with a similar maneuver, Jawaan Taylor would have another $ 9.4 million in it.
In the end, the chiefs could create Cap Space with these three moves alone of around $ 77 million and would therefore be extremely competitive on the free agent market.
And with that, the Free Agency would be about improving the offensive line first. Position 1 on the agenda is Right Guard Trey Smith. He is one of the four players this season with at least 1000 snaps who have not approved a single sack (according to “PFF”) in the regular season and would have been one of the most sought -after free agents. However, he will get the franchise day and does not come onto the market. His content is $ 23.4 million.
Now you have time until mid -July to extend Smith in the long term what the desired goal is.
Chiefs: New Left Tackle from the Free Agency
Then there would be enough money in the war treasury to fish a new Left Tackle. The biggest name in the candidate group is certainly Ronnie Stanley from the Ravens. The Ravens would certainly like to keep him, but there should be some interested parties. Otherwise, people like Cam Robinson (most recently Vikings), Tyron Smith (Jets) or Alaric Jackson (RAMS) can be considered upgrades.
Realistically, one should look for a replacement for Taylor, but that is guaranteed $ 20 million this year, which is why a separation makes no sense. However, the problem in general is that Tackle is not a particularly well -occupied position in this year’s draft class, which is why this path probably does not promise a big yield, especially not with pick 31.
Then you should look for better allusion stations for Mahomes again. The draft offers more opportunities here, but this poses the risk that you have to go through the season again with a limited playbook, as was the last thing for Rice (2023) and Worthy. Both had limited route trees and were more dangerous with short passes than YAC artists.
In the Free Agency, in turn, there is actually only one premium option – tea highgins. But he will very likely receive the franchise day a second time and are therefore not available. In addition to Hopkins and Brown, people like Amari Cooper, Chris Godwin or Stefon Diggs would be the most promising names that would once have gone through as number 1 receiver. Emphasis is on “once”.
Kelce exit would also have advantages
It is now clear that Kelce continues. However, it is no longer the old one and only to a limited extent as a safety net for mahomes. A perspective upgrade would be desirable. Tight End is also a position with a certain depth in this draft.
Meanwhile, one should trust the draft defensively when it comes to strengthening the defensive line. Defensive Tackle Tershawn Wharton, next to Chris Jones, should still be replaced adequately on day 2 in a deeply occupied DT draft class, as well as the three players from series 2, who also become free agents.
A loss of Free Agent Bolton, which is also an important factor against the passport, would be quite painful. Dre Greenlaw seems to be the biggest name in the position in addition to Zack Baun. An interesting name, however, would also be Tyrel Dodson from Bills, who is probably the best LB on the market in terms of coverage – besides Bucs veteran Lavonte David. But here too you could find what you are looking for in the draft. And Reid, on the other hand, is still likely to be replaced via Free Agency, after all, there are some good safeties for probably little money.
But no matter what the chiefs ultimately do in detail, nothing will be more important than stocking the offensive line with at least one better Left Tackle after holding Smith. Only those who protect their quarterback have a real chance to win the Super Bowl. The Eagles made it clear – on both sides of the ball.