The Chiefs are coming off a very disappointing Super Bowl loss, and although they’re coming off back to back AFC titles, they know they’ve got some work to do this offseason. GM Brett Veach met with the media on Monday, and dished on what lies ahead.
Perhaps most notably, Veach provided an update on Patrick Mahomes. Everything appears to have gone smoothly with Mahomes’ foot surgery, as the GM said he’ll definitely be ready for training camp and the team is hoping he can participate in mandatory minicamp in June. Mahomes was hobbled down the stretch, but it doesn’t sound like this is going to be an issue of much importance for 2021.
Kansas City’s offensive line (deservedly so) took a lot of blame for the Super Bowl loss, and Veach acknowledged it’s a priority. He highlighted the two COVID-19 opt-outs the team had on the O-line, as well as the loss of left tackle Eric Fisher in the AFC Championship Game, but made it clear the team wasn’t going to stand pat.
“From the offset here, the draft looks to be really talented on the offensive line. So I think it’ll be a combination of what we have in-house and blending that in with some new talent. Potentially in free agency and potentially in the draft,” Veach said, via Charles Goldman of the Chiefs Wire.
Speaking of the offensive line, Veach said that right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who was limited to six games in 2020, had disk surgery on his back and the team is hopeful he’ll be ready for training camp as well. He said the same thing about Fisher, although that might be a bit of a reach considering he’s coming off a torn Achilles at 30.
Finally, Veach talked about the receiving corp and specifically Sammy Watkins. He said it would take more work than it did last year to bring Watkins back, which could be GM-speak for the team being likely to move on. Veach said the team feels good about Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, and Byron Pringle and that “I can’t see us running out of the gates in the first week of free agency and signing a receiver,” via Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link).
The last we heard was right before the Super Bowl, when there was apparently mutual interest between Watkins and the Chiefs in sticking together, but it sounds like it might be an uphill battle to get it to work financially. Watkins took a pay-cut last April to stay with the team for 2020.
The line hurt in the Super Bowl, but that poor clock management leading to halftime really doomed them.
Andy has a long history of poor clock management.
Chiefs are going to learn the cost of paying Mahomes. Not that it’s bad or he doesn’t deserve the money, but in a salary cap league sacrifices will be made. You can’t pay to improve WRs oline and defenders all at the same time. They are going to have to adapt to either a lesser line, weaker weapons, or need the offense to carry the load.
Exactly right, someone should tell Russell Wilson that.
Main focus should be on the oline why give him that big contract just to let him get crushed?
Well said! But with the amount of guaranteed money on mahomes contract I would not skim money off the O line that’s for sure. With pass elite pass catching options in kelce and hill, what I envision is the defense will pay the ultímate price of so much cap invested on offense.
True. Mahomes’ stake in the Royals will pay huge dividends though. Despite the MLB teams’ dropping value, major sports teams are still hugely valuable long term and his endorsements deals are still lucrative. Mahomes likely will be okay soon with renegotiating his cap hit once it becomes obvious that the team needs more space. This Super Bowl disaster will likely be a long term influence on that as well.
Much easier to find WRs or RBs then QBs or LTs.
They always did need better o-line play as it’s been a long time having a good running game. I don’t get it as it seems every year they are looking for money. I really don’t think they have much at WR after Hill.Hardman is not a #2WR,hes more like a 3,and Pringle is a # 3,so they really need a good receiver in free agency