Mock (10/16)

[Direckshun]

Assumptions:

1. The Chiefs do very well in the 2024 season. HC Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach are retained.

2. During the 2024 season, the Chiefs trade their own 3rd round pick for WR Dionte Johnson (Panthers).

3. TE Travis Kelce retires.

4. The Chiefs re-work QB Patrick Mahomes contract, partially extending him and lowering his cap number from his currently-gargantuan $66.2m cap hit.

5. The Chiefs re-sign: OG Trey Smith 4 years, $85m; DE Charles Omenihu 2 years, $20m

6. The Chiefs re-sign to minimal deals: QB Carson Wentz, RB Kareem Hunt, WR Justin Watson, WR Mecole Hardman, TE Jody Fortson, DT Mike Pennel, P Matt Araiza

7. The Chiefs tender the following RFAs: DE Malik Herring, LB Jack Cochrane, OG/C Mike Caliendo, CB Nazeeh Johnson

8. The Chiefs let walk: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Samaje Perine, WR Marquise Brown, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, OT Lucas Niang, DT Tershawn Wharton, DT Derrick Nnadi, DT Marlon Tuipulotu, LB Nick Bolton, S Justin Reid, LS James Winchester

9. The Chiefs sign the following free agents: DT Benito Jones (Dolphins), S K'Von Wallace (Seahawks)

10. The Draft:

1. LB Barrett Carter, Clemson
2. S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
3 (Sneed). DT Jaheim Oatis, Alabama
4. RB Jadyn Ott, California
5. DT Rylie Mills, Notre Dame
7 (Smith-Marsette pick swap). DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
7 (Hardman pick swap). QB Riley Leonard, Notre Dame

The roster:

QB: Mahomes, Wentz, Leonard
RB: Pacheco, Hunt, Steele, Ott

WR: Rice, Johnson, Worthy, Remigio, Watson, Hardman
TE: Gray, Wylie, Fortson

LT: Suamataia, Morris
LG: Thuney, Nourzad
C: Humphrey, Hansen
RG: Smith, Caliendo
RT: Taylor, Morris

DE: Omenihu, Danna
DT: Jones, Mills, Jones
DT: Pennel, Oatis
DE: Karlaftis, Anudike-Uzomah, Powell-Ryland

WLB: Carter, Jones
MLB: Tranquill, Cochrane
SLB: Chenal, Cochrane

CB: McDuffie, Watson, Williams, Johnson, Roland-Wallace
S: Cook, Conner, Emmanwori, Hicks, Wallace

K: Butker
P: Araiza
LS: some guy

[Direckshun]

The is the very, very first time ever, ever, that I have mocked a LB to the Chiefs in the 1st round. I have never done that before.

And I may never do it again. But it's premised on several things.

1st: I actually think the Chiefs have a Super Bowl offense, if Kingsley figures it out. It's not the Chiefs' fault they've been wracked by injury and suspension.

Even losing Kelce, I think this team can put up major points by December, with Rice back from injury and off suspension with Dionte Johnson with Gray and Fortson eating receptions.

The bigger issue is that we're just bleeding players in the back seven over the next two seasons. At linebacker in particular, we've let Gay and Bolton walk in consecutive offseasons, which means the Chiefs need some primo talent at the LB position.

It's possible going forward, I will need to be more aggressive in mocking receiving talent? But in this scenario, they've got the Bengals formula: good WRs in Dionte/Rice/Worthy by December, with decent TEs playing opportunistically.

[kozzman555]

Rice coming back 100% from his injury, both physically and mentally, is not guaranteed. I'd be shocked if we don't snag another wide receiver in the draft. Maybe with our 3rd, I think

[O.city]

Johnson is also a pending FA.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by O.city

Johnson is also a pending FA.

Oh, crap. I don't know why I didn't catch that.

At least that would lessen the draft compensation.

[chiefforlife]

I dont see them letting Bolton out of the building. He is the heart/brains of the Defense.

Him behind Chris Jones, bringing it all together is so valuable to what Spags does.

[chiefforlife]

Originally Posted by O.city

Johnson is also a pending FA.

I think if Veach is able to pull off a trade for Dionte he extends him, bringing his cap number down in order to fit our current salary cap limitations without having to restructure anyone.

This would be smart for the team and give Dionte some security. Hollywood is not under contract after this year so even more reason to extend Dionte.

[Couch-Potato]

Too early for me to know any of the prospects, but I like the addition of a 4th round RB! I'd love to see us get a top-tier star RB to pair with Mahomes, we took our shot with CEH and it just didn't work out.

[Dante84]

WR situation makes me super nervous w/ Rice's injury and Johnson's free agency.

- I think Brown gets a mulligan and comes back again next year, as his injury (SC joint) is not a career impacting one (legs).

I also think Veach tries again to solve the WR problem after two years of surviving deficiencies, also with Kelce taking his final lap. Pat needs weapons.

[Tribal Warfare]

IMO, Emeka Egbuka will be a draft target considering the need and replacing Skyy Moore.