Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
It's tough, but it's probably also time.
The roster, more critically the lockerroom, may well be getting stale. If they flame out again, that's 5 years with no meaningful progression. They'll be effectively the same team they were at the end of Andy's first season in terms of results.
Teams like that need to get a significant shakeup or they'll go south quickly. And there's a chance we're seeing a little of this already.
It won't be easy, but with a new quarterback and a new 'core' with Hunt, Hill and Kelce as the new lead dogs, you can just close the window on the DJ/Hali/Smith era Chiefs and move forward.
Part of that can easily mean cleaning house of some fringe guys that never really got better or who's backloaded contracts have caught up to their production.
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I wouldn't get rid of many more guys than the obvious Smith/Hali/DJ, personally.
Those releases alone signal the turning of a new leaf. Those are three of the current leaders on the Chiefs, and two guys who are going in the ring at Arrowhead. Add on top the fact that Mahomes starts next year and it is a clear start from scratch IMO.
I don't think the 2018 Chiefs are dead in the water just because Mahomes will be in his first year though. If they don't completely purge the roster, there's still going to be A LOT of talent on the team. It's not like DJ and Hali are still incremental pieces of success, so losing them is more of a leadership void than anything.
I would keep guys like Bailey and Parker, those middle of the roster role players. Just use some of the newfound cap space to plug some holes and nail 2 or 3 draft picks, and I believe the Chiefs can go to the playoffs in Mahomes' first year as a starter.