The Kansas City Chiefs can point to last season’s success as a key reason not to panic despite losing - and not replacing - their best wide receiver in the offseason.
Ahead of the 2023 NFL season, Patrick Mahomes conducted a preseason workout with the Chiefs receivers. While some fans point to the perceived lower quality of the Chiefs' receiving corps now that JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman signed with the New England Patriots and New York Jets in free agency, the franchise has been in this position before.
Last offseason, the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill - one of the best receivers in the NFL - to the Miami Dolphins and their offence didn’t miss a beat. Mahomes was named MVP for the second time in his career after setting a new record for yards in a single season, while the Chiefs won the Super Bowl with an epic 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Kansas City offence was arguably better without Hill, with Mahomes using his remarkable talent to spread the ball around.
However, the Chiefs let both Smith-Schuster and Hardman walk in free agency - but it makes sense. Hardman was injured and totalled just 17 yards while the Chiefs went 11-1 without him, and while Smith-Schuster had 78 catches for a team-high 933 yards, he was hardly an X-factor en route to his first ring.
Across his final 11 games of the campaign - including the all-important playoffs - Smith-Schuster put up just 440 yards while he scored one touchdown. As a result, perhaps the Chiefs not acting desperate to add another weapon is right as the franchise looks for the right price.
The replacements for Smith-Schuster and Hardman? Kansas City re-signed Justin Watson while the franchise also added former New York Giants wideout Richie James on a one-year deal. James stars in the slot where Hardman thrived, and he enjoyed his best career season in 2022 as he caught 57 balls for 569 yards and four touchdowns.
The Chiefs also have Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the books, as well as Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney. Toney arrived in Kansas City in Week 8 via a trade with the Giants, and still found some production despite a lesser understanding of the playbook. Toney is trusted by head coach Andy Reid to step up without Smith-Schuster as well as further time to familiarise himself with the Chiefs' offence, while the same can be said of Moore. Both men scored touchdowns in the second half of Super Bowl LVII.
Ultimately, Mahomes makes his receivers play at a higher level thanks to his remarkable ability. The Chiefs clearly feel good about their situation as long as he is piloting the offence and guru Reid is calling the shots.
Heading into the 2023 season, Mahomes - who won his second MVP award - revealed he is still recovering from his ankle injury sustained against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the playoffs. In the second quarter of Super Bowl LVII, Mahomes writhed in pain and was slow to his feet while backup Chad Henne began warming up only for the Super Bowl MVP to inspire his team with a courageous performance.
Since then, the 27-year-old has had two months to recover - but the issue is still nagging him. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mahomes said: “I wouldn't say I'm 100 per cent, but I've had no, necessarily, limitations. It's just that when you go through the grind of a week of training and you're trying to push it and go through the rehab process, but at the same time you want to make sure you're still building.
“You might be a little sore on the weekends, but we've done a great job of pushing it to the right limit to where now I'm throwing and stuff like that and having no limitations there. I think running and cutting there will still be a little limitations going the next few weeks but I'm happy with where I'm at. We will keep pushing it and getting me to the right spot for the beginning of the season.”
Whether it is the quality of their receiving room or Mahomes’ ankle, there could be a lot on the mind of a Chiefs fan. Neither should weigh too heavily, though.
