Super Bowl Champs Offseason Mock 2.18.23
 

Restructures
QB Patrick Mahomes: Restructure of $34.40m roster bonus to signing bonus (-27.52m)
ER Frank Clark: Reduction of 2023 salary from $20.5m to $4.75m fully guaranteed, $1.275m in per-game bonuses, and remaining bonuses for a total cap charge of $16.0m ($7.675m of prorated bonus), and a savings of $12.675m

Extensions
DT Chris Jones: 4-yr/$116.5m extension, $31.5m signing bonus, $69.0m guaranteed at signing, $16.0m 2023 salary to bonus. Cap hits of 21.8, 28.0, 29.0, 32.0, and 34.0. Total contract AAV becomes $28.9m. (-6.50m)
CB L'Jarius Sneed: 3-yr/$42.0m extension, $12.0m signing bonus, $19.5m in total guarantees. Cap hits of 4.17, 11.0, 13.0, 15.0. (+3.0m)

Free Agent Re-signings
LT Orlando Brown, Jr.: 6-yr/$139.5m, $31.25m signing bonus, $65.25m guaranteed at signing (cap hits of 15.5, 18.5, 24.0, 27.0, 26.0, 28.5).
P Tommy Townsend: 4-yr/$12.0m, $2.0m signing bonus, $3.5m guaranteed at signing. (cap hits of 2.0, 2.5, 3.5, 4.0)
WR Justin Watson: 1-yr/$1.22m, $137.5k signing bonus, VSB deal (cap hit 1.08m)
RB Jerick McKinnon: 1-yr/$2.25m deal, $835k signing bonus
DT Khalen Saunders: 1-yr/$1.08m deal
DB Deon Bush: 1-yr/$1.17m deal
FB Michael Burton: 1-yr/$1.17m deal
TE Jody Fortson: ERFA tag 1-yr/$870k
QB Shane Buechele: ERFA tag 1-yr/$870k

Free Agent Additions
DT Greg Gaines (LAR age 26 6'2" 313) 4-yr/$35.0m, $12.0m signing bonus, $14.75m guaranteed at signing (cap hits 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, 11.0)
DT Armon Watts (CHI age 26, 6'5" 298) 2-yr/$5.5m, $1.0m signing bonus, $2.25m guaranteed at signing (cap hits 2.0, 3.5)
WR Ashton Dulin (IND age 25, 6'1" 215) 1-yr/$1.08m
QB C.J. Beathard (JAX age 29, 6'2" 219) 2-yr/$6.50m, $2.0m signing bonus, $3.25m guaranteed at signing (cap hits 2.75, 3.75)

Chiefs Let Walk
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, FS Juan Thornhill, OT Andrew Wylie, DE Carlos Dunlap, DT Brandon Williams, DT Derrick Nnadi, DT Tershawn Wharton, OT Prince Tega Wanogho, WR Mecole Hardman, TE Blake Bell, RB Ronald Jones II, LB Darius Harris, QB Chad Henne (Retired), OG Nick Allegretti

Draft
1(31) WR Tyler Scott, Cincinnati (5'11" 185)
Electrifying receiver in the mold of DeSean Jackson that Reid can use in multiple spots and matchups
2(63) RT Wanya Morris, Oklahoma (6'5" 317)
Athletic tackle with experience on both sides of the line that will help eliminate speed up the arc from the right side
3(95) ER Dylan Horton, TCU (6'4" 275)
Long, bendy edge that plays the run and pass well and can develop as a future starter
4(123) FS Kaevon Merriweather, Iowa (6'0" 212)
Coverage safety with outstanding single-high capabilities in a similar mold to Thornhill
4(134) TE Payne Durham, Purdue (6'5" 255)
Outstanding TE in all facets whose game and physical ability mirror Kelce's coming out of Cincinnati
5(168) DT Dante Stills, West Virginia (6'4" 289)
Disruptive, pass-rushing interior defensive tackle that can be multiple in several alignments
6(198) ER Tavius Robinson, Ole Miss (6'6" 265)
Long, fundamentally sound, and smart defensive end with good linear close to the QB
6(217) CB Nic Jones, Ball State (6'0" 191)
Twitchy corner with the agility to stick with underneath receivers and enough length and speed to carry them deep
6(219) OT Isaac Moore, Temple (6'6" 305)
Another athletic tackle that can develop as a swing reserve and potentially more at LT
7(227) IOL Spencer Anderson, Maryland (6'4" 320)
Mobile tackle that best projects inside that also has starting experience at center
7(251) RB Xazavian Valladay, Arizona State (6'0" 198)
Smooth runner and an extremely talented pass-receiving option out of the backfield to eventually take over for McKinnon
7(257) LB Isaiah Moore, NC State (6'2" 232)
Quick linebacker with a great burst to the ball carrier who's shown aptitude as an attacking player but needs to develop in space

TC Roster
QB: P. Mahomes II, C. Beathard, S. Buechele
RB: I. Pacheco, J. McKinnon, C. Edwards-Helaire, X. Valladay
FB: M. Burton
TE: T. Kelce, N. Gray, P. Durham, J. Fortson
WR: M. Valdes-Scantling, T. Scott, K. Toney, S. Moore, J. Watson, A. Dulin, Ju. Ross, Jo. Ross
OT: O. Brown Jr., W. Morris, L. Niang, I. Moore
IL: J. Thuney, C. Humphrey, T. Smith, D. Kinnard, S. Anderson

ED: G. Karlaftis, F.Clark, M. Danna, D. Horton, T. Robinson, M. Herring, J. Kaindoh
DT: D. Jones, G. Gaines, A. Watts, K. Saunders, D. Stills
LB: N. Bolton, W. Gay, L. Chenal, J. Cochrane, I. Moore
CB: T. McDuffie, J. Williams, L. Sneed, J. Watson, N. Johnson, N. Jones
DB: J. Reid, B. Cook, K. Merriweather, D. Bush

ST: H. Butker, T. Townsend, J. Winchester

There is nobody to backup Humphrey? Got to bring Allegretti back

My 7th round guy, Spencer Anderson
He started games at center at Maryland and he can play anywhere on the Oline.
I might have him too low when all ends up said and done but we'll see.

I don't like the DE situation. I think it needs more attention than that.

Idk... If we can negotiate with F Clark and assuming coaches like him in his role, we only need a guy that can learn behind him and play a rotational role.

Dylan Horton had x4 sacks, x1 FF, and x1 PBU in the Fiesta Bowl!

Dude is 265 lbs and is projected to run a 4.45 40 yrd dash, squats 700 lbs.

I'm assuming the contract structure for OBJ would be in a way that would allow for the team to get out of the contract out of 3 or 4 years? Because him making $27/28 million a year those last few years probably isn't going to be pretty.

Here's another nugget I love from this mock... "Merriweather saw action in 12 games while playing 806 snaps. He logged 42 tackles, 6 assists, and made 17 stops. In coverage Merriweather had 4 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, and surrendered an outstanding QB rating when targetted of 11.7."

Don’t like the lack of pass rush. If Chris Jones misses any time, we’re ****ed. An early pick on a pass rusher will provide a lot of protection

"In my eyes, Morris was one of the biggest winners of the Reese’s Senior Bowl. He was dominant during the week of practice, showing punch and poise in one-on-one team drills. At 6-foot-4 and 317 pounds, he’s consistently providing movement in the run game and anchoring in pass protection. Should the Chiefs be unable to make a commitment to RT Andrew Wylie, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, adding Morris would be a wise move. He’s plug-and-play ready on the right side of the line."

Austin Reiter was signed to a future contract.

And….?

I really hope Reiter isn’t our answer there

Id be shocked to get Saunders back for 1 year 1 mill

That’s a bit of a meh dl

He can kick ****ing rocks for a penny more.

Hmmm.

You'd have, arguably, the best two DTs at their respective positions in the NFL.
3 of the top 4 pass rushers from 2022 back and add a quality day 2 prospect in Horton and a fundamentally sound guy in the 5th.
Also, add a guy that was a quality starter just a year ago (2021) in Watts at DT that showed some pass rush.
Add a pass-rushing DT in Stills to replace Wharton.

I fail to see how it would not improve upon what we had in 2022.

Outside of taking a DE in round 1, I'm not sure what the expectations are.

I feel like you guys might end up disappointed this off-season.

The free agent class is pretty horrendous at DE, so I wouldn't get hopes up of some major play there. The only good DE is Ngakoue. That's the list. If Za'Darius Smith gets cut, you got one there. Both are going to be expensive, most likely. I'd actually offer Minnesota a 4th for Smith with his current deal over the next two years. If they bite, I'd cut Frank Clark. That's about the only thing I could forsee being realistic on the edge.

In either case of keeping Clark or trading for Smith, you aren't locked into taking a round 1 edge rusher. You can take a shot a bit later like I have, and if it doesn't look like it'll work then take one in round 1 next year.

I'm not locked into saying KC has to take a RT in round 1 or 2 either, but I feel like upgrading Wylie is more important than adding an edge. You're not upgrading Wylie in FA. Pick your poison of bring him back or replace him. I like replacing Wylie more than I don't.

As for DT, you can approach it differently but this is a team that has used a more traditional NT and not a guy like Hargrave there. I think Gaines makes the most sense. He's a stud. I think Payne is going to go somewhere to be the guy as a 3-tech. I don't think he's going to want to come to KC to play NT. He's also going to likely get a really big bag of cash.

Altogether, taking a WR is mostly a luxury pick. Smart money says take a RT or DE and worry about WR later. I just think the explosive ability that Scott has is pretty special and I want that on this team.