Chief's Prospects 2021

 Chiefs Prospects 2021-22 - run it back mark two

Well if a week is a long time in politics then six months is a very long time to shake off the shellacking that the Chiefs suffered at the hands of the Buccaneers in Super Bowl 51.  That particular bad taste will take some time to go away.  And, quite rightly so.  We got murdered.

We move on to the next season with the cut down to the 53 man roster to be made today. 

One thing is certain, the O-line will be very, very different on opening day - very different from the Super Bowl and very different from last season’s opener.  According to reliable reports, after the Super Bowl Brett Vietch, the GM, told Patrick Mahomes that the team would fix the O-line, and fix it they have,  The season’s opener may well feature two rookies and some big-name signings who will revitalise the ruin game and keep St Patrick from getting murdered while running for his life from what was a good, but not spectacularly good Buccaneers defense.

Much has been made of the Bucs decision to bring back all their Super Bowl starters. I much prefer the Chiefs strategy. Keep your core of great players, add some excellent experienced lineman,,, both on offense and defence and use your draft picks wisely, mostly on defense. Let's not forget that the opposition in February scored more than 30 points. Shoring up the defense may be the most important outcome of the super bowl thrashing. Patrick Mahomes is on record as predicting an undefeated season. Very unlikely, but that should be the goal of every team in August. In order to even get close the Chiefs will have to improve significantly in a number of areas.

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks:  Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne, Shane Buechele

This is a tough one, believe it or not.  The Chiefs seem committed to Henne as the back-up to Mahomes, but Buechele had an excellent pre-season.  In the Covid era it may be that they decide to keep three quarterbacks.  My guess?  They will.
Roster spots left: 50

Running backs: CEH, Derrick Gore, Jerrick McKinnon, Darrel Williams. 

That’s too many.  Gore and McKinnon looked excellent in the pre-season, but Williams is the primary back-up.  I look for three of four to make the final roster and McKinnon to make the practice squad.

Fullback:  Michael Burton

Looks like the job is his, unless the team decides to go with other blocking options from some other multi-skilled players.  My guess - he gets a practice squad place only.
Roster spots left 50

Wide Receivers:

Gehrig Dieter, Daurice Fountain, Mecole Hardman, Tyreek Hill, Marcus Kemp, Cornell Powell, Byron Pringle, Demarcus Robinson, A.N. Others
My guess, Chiefs keep only 7 wide-outs and Powell is the odd man out

Roster spots left:  43

0-LINE:

Allegretti, Blythe, Brown, LDT, Humphrey, Long, Niang, Smith, Thuney, Williams

My guess, they can keep only eight:  LDT gets traded, Allegretti and Williams go. 
That’s seven with Long to come back from injury they may decide to keep eight so, Williams may get in.  Allegretti could make the team

Roster Spots:  35

Tight Ends:  Travis Kelce, Blake Bell, Noah Grey, Jody Fortson

One has to go and I think it’s Fortson to the practice squad
Roster spots:  32

Specialists: 

Tommy Townsend (punter) Harrison Butker (kicker) James Winchester (long snapper)

Locks  That’s 29 left

DEFENSE

D-line:  Danna, Jones, Kaindoh, Nnadi, Reed, Saunders, Ward

That’s seven with Wharton Harrris and Okafor to the practice squad (if we’re lucky)

Roster spots:  22

Linebackers:  Bolton, Cobb, Gay, Harris, Hitchens, Niemann, O’Daniel, Smith

Three have to go either cut or to the practice squad.  I’m losing: Cobb, O'Daniel and Smith

Roster Spots:  17

Corner Backs:  Baker, Fenton, Hughes, Lammons, Sneed, Ward

It’s Lammons out for me and keep five.

Roster Spots:  12

Safeties:  Mathieu, Sorenson, Thornhill, Watts

I’m guessing they keep all four

Roster Spots:  8

That’s where I finish, yes with still eight spots to fill.  The coaches will have their work cut out for them.  But, following my advice has a lot of slack in the system, but relies heavily on players clearing waivers and still leaves spots to sign players released by other clubs.

I like it!