The hype of free agency has come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 16th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s talk about the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City Chiefs
Key acquisitions: S Justin Reid, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Marquez Valdez-Scantling, RB Ronald Jones, LB Jermaine Carter, OT Geron Christian, WR Corey Coleman, DT Taylor Stallworth
Re-signed: OT Orlando Brown Jr. (franchise), DT Derrick Nnadi, G Andrew Wylie, FB Michael Burton, QB Chad Henne
Departures: WR Tyreek Hill (Dolphins), S Daniel Sorensen (Saints), LB Anthony Hitchens, CB Charvarius Ward (49ers), DT Jarran Reed (Packers), WR Demarcus Robinson (Raiders), CB Mike Hughes (Lions), WR Byron Pringle (Bears), S Armani Watts (Colts), C Austin Blythe (Seahawks)
Remaining free agents: S Tyrann Mathieu, DE Melvin Ingram, RB Darrel Williams, RB Jerick McKinnon, LB Ben Niemann, DE Alex Okafor, OT Mike Remmers, G Kyle Long
Analysis: The Kansas City Chiefs have had a weird offseason, something you don’t really see from a typical successful franchise. They made a couple big signings for good players, but made two very surprising moves, including trading one of the best players in the league, and in franchise history.
In a shocking and scaringly fast developing trade, the Chiefs traded star receiver Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins for a first, second, two fourths, and a sixth. He also signed a $120 million extension. This happened so quickly it still doesn’t feel real. The morning of the trade, it was reported that contract extension talks between the Chiefs and Hill had stalled and that he was given permission to seek a trade. An offer was on the table to make him one of the highest-paid wide receivers, so it doesn’t appear to be a contract issue. I think Hill legitimately did not want to play in Kansas City, which is utterly shocking. You have the best quarterback in the league on a very good team, why leave? My best guess is, they pushed him out.
I have heard a theory that I really like. The Chiefs offense was becoming too predictable. It struggled at the start of last year, and they had to make adjustments to win games, but they made one of the biggest adjustments in getting rid of their best player. By getting rid of Hill, you’ve removed his speed and talent from the game plan, so Andy Reid will have to get creative with some new weapons. It’s almost like Reid was bored of using Hill and wanted a challenge, and because the AFC West is becoming a juggernaut, it was time to make the change so teams don’t have a book on this potential new offense. It’s an interesting theory, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
To aid in the offensive revamp, the Chiefs signed wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdez-Scantling. JuJu has dealt with injuries recently and hasn’t been the star player he showed in 2018 with 1,426 yards, but he was also in a crowded Steelers wide receivers room. He gets paired with MVS, the speedster who’s been solid, but hasn’t broken out like the Packers had wanted. A fresh start in Kansas City should help both players, and will be the starters. The team is now without Hill and Demarcus Robinson, who signed with the Raiders after six seasons.
They also added reinforcements at running back with Ronald Jones. The former Bucs starter will compete with Clyde Edwards-Helaire for starting snaps, but knowing the Chiefs both players will be equally and heavily involved. Jones was starting to fall out of favor in Tampa with the emergence of Leonard Fournette, now he gets another shot at a lot of playing time.
The big signing on defense was safety Justin Reid, who signs a three-year, $31.5 million contract. Reid has had an up-and-down career, really flashing his first two seasons with Houston, then was one of the worst safeties the last two seasons. The talent is for sure there, I think he was just on some very bad Texans teams which affected his play, but he is now the clear starting safety. This move signaled the end of the Tyrann Mathieu era of the last three years. The All-Pro came out and said if the Chiefs offered the same deal they gave to Reid, he would’ve stayed, so it wasn’t a money thing. More evidence pointing to the Chiefs looking to change things up.
The other signing on defense is linebacker Jermaine Carter. A full-time starter last year for the Panthers, Carter will be a starter alongside Nick Bolton and Willie Gay, replacing Ben Niemann. They also brought back starting nose tackle Derrick Nnadi.
Conclusion: You never see a move like this from a perennial playoff contender. Trading a franchise legend in his prime to mix it up, it’s unheard of, but nothing is impossible in this league. I’m interested to see what Mahomes does without Hill and the additions of JuJu and MVS, it’ll be exciting, but we’ll miss the bombs to Tyreek. This division is tough, it’s no longer the Chiefs world, everyone will be competing, and there’s a real chance the Chiefs could miss the playoffs.
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