Discount Kiper 2023 Mock @ Q1 of Season

[kccrow]

Spitballing some early ideas.

Release: DE F. Clark (19.6m savings)

Extend: DT C. Jones 3y 70.0m in new money converting 16.0m to signing bonus of 2023 salary, add 20m in new bonus money, and fully guarantee 3.5m 2023 and 13.25m 2024 salaries for net guarantee of 42.75m on an overall 4y 97.0m deal (approx hits: 20.0, 22.5, 25.0, 29.5)

Let walk:
LT O. Brown, Jr., WR J. Smith-Schuster, ER C. Dunlap, QB C. Henne, RB R. Jones II, TE B. Bell, WR M. Hardman, RB J. McKinnon, CB C. Lammons, CB R. Fenton, OG N. Allegretti, RB J. Ealy, DT D. Nnadi, S J. Thornhill

Re-sign:
DT K. Saunders - 1y 1.1m - Saunders has flashed ability to be a quality rotational 1-tech but availability has been an issue so anything more than vet min area is probably off the table for one more season. He's 3rd in PT at the position after Jones and Wharton as it seems Nnadi is falling out of favor.
DT T. Wharton - RFA tag 1y 2.6m ROFR - Wharton has seen a surprising majority of snaps at DT over Saunders and Nnadi so retaining him is probably on the docket.
RT A. Wylie - 1y 3.0m - Wylie is backup grade as a RT, honestly, but he's a quality guy to keep around.
FB M. Burton - 1y 1.3m - Reid's going to have his FB wasting a spot.
S D. Bush - 1y 1.1m - If he can continue to be solid on STs, he's got a good shot of coming back.
WR J. Watson - VSB 1y 1.3m - Watson keeps flashing breakout ability.
LB D. Harris - ERFA tag 1y 870k - Always sign your ERFAs if they aren't total shit, and none of KC's are garbage.
TE J. Fortson - ERFA tag 1y 870k
P Tommy Townsend - 3y 9.0m - Going rate contract for re-signing punters, and Townsend has come around pretty well.
QB S. Buechel - ERFA tag 1y 870k
OT P. Tega-Wanogho - ERFA tag 1y 870k

FA Sign:
WR Darius Slayton (NYG) - 1 yr 1.1m - Slayton looked really good in years 1 and 2 then regressed a bit in production in year 3. He's been buried down the chart. Something tells me he could be a plus signing as a free agent. He might get a team 600 yards as a #3, and I have him coming in a cheap get to replace Hardman plus he brings solid speed.
WR Nelson Agholor (NE) - 1 yr 9.0m - Agholor is a solid but unspectacular player. He should be a better fit in Reid's offense than Smith-Schuster as he at least brings some speed and vertical threat. A guy that can function as a #1-type while young guys come up to speed.
OT George Fant (NYJ) - 2y 20.0m - Fant has a penchant for ending up on the injury list but he's a solid player. He's a better RT than LT, and that's the reason to bring him in - be the starting RT unless your rookie draft pick can't hack it yet.
DE Dawuane Smoot (JAX) - 2y 13.5m Smoot is a solid player that can get pressure on the QB and should come at a relatively modest price tag where a Samson Ebukam type of contract seems likely.

Chiefs Draft

R1: Trade Seattle R1 pick, 2022 R3 pick, and 2023 R2 pick to move up into the top 15.

1. OT Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland (6'5" 320)
Duncan can move and looks like the next great LT in the NFL to me. He has to iron out some technique warts but I lean a bit more toward the physical needs and he has them in spades.
2. WR Rashee Rice, SMU (6'1" 189)
Rice has been spectacular for SMU and could go higher than this if he takes the doors off at the combine, but as of right now he's a smaller-school superstar and they tend to end up in round 2.
3. DT Zacch Pickens, South Carolina (J2 for Poles)
Pickens has sometimes flashed some pass rush but isn't a stud there. He stands out as a quality run stopper though. He fits as a Jarran Reed type at the 1.
4. TE Josh Whyle, Cincinnati (6'6" 245) (f/MIA)
Whyle reminds me an awful lot of Kelce coming out aside from sharing an alma mater, and that's not a bad thing. He's been really productive at Cincy.
4. DE Keion White, Georgia Tech (6'4" 260)
White was outstanding at Old Dominion. He was injured last year but has looked really good in his return in 2022.
5. OT Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse (6'5" 322)
I like me some Matt Bergeron and I think he's a RT of the future. He definitely has some swing potential.
6. RB Roschon Johnson, Texas (6'1" 225) (f/ MIA)
Johnson might go higher on potential alone but he projects as a 3rd down back that lacks some power (similar to Pacheco coming out) so I'm not setting the ceiling on his draft position overly high.
6. FS Jordan Howden, Minnesota (6'0" 205)
Howden is criminally underrated in my opinion and could be at least a nice piece on the cheap, especially as a rotational backup and special teamer.
7. OG TJ Bass, Oregon (6'4" 318)
Bass won't survive in the NFL as a tackle so he'll need to move inside to guard. He needs some strength work for that move but he has good movement skills and Power 5 experience.

QB: P. Mahomes, S. Buechele
RB: C. Edwards-Helaire, I. Pacheco, R. Johnson, M. Burton (FB)
WR: N. Agholor, D. Slayton, M. Valdez-Scantling, S. Moore, R. Rice, J. Watson, J. Ross
TE: T. Kelce, J. Whyle, N. Gray, J. Fortson
OT: J. Duncan, G. Fant, A. Wylie, M. Bergeron, L. Niang, P. Tega-Wanogho
OG: J. Thuney, T. Smith, D. Kinnard, T. Bass
OC: C. Humphrey

DE: G. Karlaftis, D. Smoot, M. Danna, K. White, M. Herring, J. Kaindoh
DT: C. Jones, Z. Pickens, T. Wharton, K. Saunders
LB: N. Bolton, L. Chenal, W. Gay, D. Harris, J. Cochrane
CB: T. McDuffie, W. Sneed, J. Watson, J. Williams, N. Johnson
DB: J. Reid, B. Cook, D. Bush, J. Howden