The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to reload their roster for a potential 2019 Super Bowl run. They’ve completely revamped the defensive side of the ball, adding a new coaching staff, a new scheme and tons of new personnel to go with it.
The 2019 NFL draft has helped the Chiefs inch a little closer towards the goal. The early indication seems to be that several position groups have improved, and that this class could have a lot more early contributors to the 2018 class.
Here’s a look at which position groups have improved the most for the Chiefs following the draft:
Running Back
This time last year it’d be hard to imagine that the Chiefs running back group would have changed so drastically. Many thought after cutting Kareem Hunt, the Chiefs would prioritize a running back early in the draft. Instead, the Chiefs took the route of searching for value.
They came away with Utah State’s Darwin Thompson in the sixth round. The way Brett Veach talks about this kid, he seems really excited for the skill set that he brings to the offense.
The Chiefs also attacked the position in undrafted free agency. While they haven’t officially announced any signings yet, Veach has already spoke on a few players, including Washington State RB James Williams. Pass-catching is a huge emphasis with Patrick Mahomes running the offense, and that is what Williams brings to the table.
So in the span of a weekend the Chiefs managed to add potential contributors, and at the very least competitive depth to push the players they already have. The competition in that room will be one of the most intriguing groups to follow this offseason.
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Safety
The Chiefs spent one of their second round picks to select UVA’s Juan Thornhill, who happened to be one of their top-rated players at the position. That one move was all they did for the safety position during the draft, yet it feels like an enormous upgrade for the Chiefs.
Adding Thornhill allows the team some flexibility when it comes to managing their safety group. The Chiefs won’t be forced to keep players from the 2018 season that failed to get the job done. It’s going to really heat up the competition between some players already on the roster, and that will only help the unit improve as a whole.
Thornhill is an athletic and versatile player, which makes him a great pairing with Tyrann Mathieu, who was the Chiefs top free agent acquisition. They’ll likely be able to switch up coverage on the fly, which can help confuse offenses quite a bit.
The more options the Chiefs have at this position the more likely they’ll be able to come out with the right group of guys in September.
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Wide Receiver
It’s hard to imagine that the wide receiver group will be any better this season with the expectation that Tyreek Hill won’t play. The Chiefs still attacked the position in the draft, which I thought they’d do regardless of how things played out with Hill.
They traded up for Mecole Hardman in the second round, and it’s a move that fans have been critical of. The reaction around the league seems to be that this was a smart move for the Chiefs. Other teams wanted him and targeted him around the same spot the Chiefs drafted him. Adding another speed threat to the offense in the absence of Hill will help mitigate that loss.
The Chiefs also attacked the position in undrafted free agency. They’ve reportedly added undrafted receivers Cody Thompson, Jamal Custis and Felton Davis III. Most of these guys were given draftable grades by a lot of talented evaluators. They’ll all have a shot to compete and make the team as the Chiefs look for new weapons for their star quarterback.
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Defensive line
The Chiefs have completely overhauled their defensive line group this offseason. They did a lot of work in free agency, but they also used the 2019 NFL draft to add two more pieces.
First up is Frank Clark, who the Chiefs acquired in a trade with the Seahawks just before the draft. He’s instantly become their top defensive end in terms of production, and he’s well on his way to taking up a role as a defensive leader. This could be the move that helps this unit improve the most this season.
Next, the Chiefs added Western Illinois DT Khalen Saunders in the third round of the draft. It might be hard for fans to get excited for a player from FCS football, but I think Saunders is less of a project than people will expect. At the very least he provides another big body for the Chiefs to plug into the middle of the field. He’s flashed some pass rush ability, but we’ll see if he can continue that at the NFL level.
These two pieces certainly help the Chiefs get better in the immediate future. Clark will do so in a starting capacity, while Saunders will be part of a healthy rotation.
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