Discount Kiper 2023 Mock @ Q3 of Season

[kccrow]

Chiefs Offseason

Two things are clear:
1) The offensive tackles are abysmal and it's time to change the guard
2) The defensive line is horrendous and it's time for a complete overhaul

With that...

Release Frank Clark ($19.6m savings)
Yeah, Frank, you're garbage.

Franchise Tag Orlando Brown Jr and trade to New York Jets for a 2023 2nd-round pick.
Orlando has little use to the Chiefs in my opinion and you're certainly not giving him top-of-the-position money. He's probably worth tagging and just trading for what you can get, and I can foresee that being a reasonable pick. The Jets feature a bit more of a ground game than KC and need an LT so it could be a good fit there. If you don't get a trade partner, cut bait on the tag and just move on.

Internal Signings:
DT Chris Jones to a 3-yr, $80.5m extension that includes a $24.0m signing bonus, $41.0m guaranteed at signing, and salary guarantees the last two years that trigger on the 5th day of the league year that could fully guarantee the contract, a conversion of 16.0m of 2023 salary to additional signing bonus with a full guarantee of the remaining 3.5m (cap hits of 21.0, 27.5, 28.5, and 30.5)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster to 3-yr, $60.0m deal that includes a $21.0m signing bonus and $38.5m guaranteed at signing (cap hits of 14.0, 20.0, 26.0)
P Tommy Townsend to 4-yr $12.0m deal that includes a $2.0m signing bonus and $3.5m guaranteed at signing. (cap hits of 2.0, 2.5, 3.5, 4.0)
OG Nick Allegretti to 1-yr, 1.1m deal
DT Khalen Saunders to 1-yr, 1.1m deal
DB Deon Bush to 1-yr, 1.1m deal
FB Michael Burton to 1-yr, 1.2m deal
WR Justin Watson to VSB 1-yr, 1.3m deal
LB Darrius Harris ERFA tag 1-yr $870k
TE Jody Fortson ERFA tag 1-yr $870k
QB Shane Buechele ERFA tag 1-yr $870k
OT Prince Tega-Wanogho ERFA tag 1-yr $870k

Free Agent Additions:
OT Andre Dillard (PHI) to 2-yr $10.0m deal that includes a 3.0m signing bonus and annual performance escalators of up to 3.0m (cap hits of 4.0, 6.0)
Dillard performed okay when he did get his shot but Mailata ended up being the better player. Dillard still holds a lot of value as a capable swing tackle and he should get a shot to start somewhere, which will likely drive his value up a bit. I look to bring him in to hedge bets against letting OBj go here so the Chiefs wouldn't be walking into the draft with an absolute need.
DE Charles Omenihu (SF) to 2-yr $8.0m deal that includes a 1.0m signing bonus and guaranteed base salary in 2023 (cap hits of 3.5, 4.5)
Omenihu has flashed some ability and is a solid rotational piece. I look to pry him away from San Francisco for the same role.
DE Dawuane Smoot (JAX) to 2-yr $15.0m deal that includes a 6.0m signing bonus and guaranteed base salary in 2023 (cap hits of 6.0, 9.0)
Smoot is unheralded but he's a very solid player that can get you 7-8 sacks and be a plus player against the run. In a class that lacks superstar talent, just loading up might be the way to go.
NT Greg Gaines (LAR) to a 2-yr $12.0m deal that includes a 3.0m signing bonus (cap hits of 5.0, 7.0)
Gaines is one of the better nose tackles in the NFL but he doesn't get much recognition. The Rams would be wise to re-sign him but I have my doubts they will. A good player to pry away.
RB D'Ernest Johnson (CLE) to a 1-yr $1.1m deal
Johnson has done some damage when given a shot but he's been buried behind two very good RBs in Cleveland. I have KC snagging a good rotational back on the cheap once again.

Chiefs Let Walk:
OT Andrew Wylie, FS Juan Thornhill, DE Carlos Dunlap, DT Derrick Nnadi, WR Mecole Hardman, TE Blake Bell, RB Ronald Jones II, OT Geron Christian, DT Taylor Stallworth, RB Jerick McKinnon, DT Tershawn Wharton, DB Chris Lammons, QB Chad Henne

2023 Draft

1. OT Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse (6'5" 320)
I'm giving Bergeron the chance to take the LT position and never look back, but if that fails I have Dillard in the fold and I move Bergeron to RT where he should flourish.
2. (f/NYJ) DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin (6'4" 317)
Benton is one of my favorites already in this draft class. He gets a great push up the middle and commands extra attention, which the Chiefs need desperately next to Jones.
2. DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State (6'3" 255)
I really like Felix and think he could end up higher than this at the end of the day, but for now, I have him down here at the bottom of round 2. He's looking like a great situational rusher that will eventually give you a lot more.
3. DT DeWayne Carter, Duke (6'3" 300)
Carter is a stud, honestly, and gets zero recognition. I'd love to see him be an under-the-radar get for the Chiefs as a 3-tech rotational player and passing down specialist next to Jones.
4. WR Josh Vann, South Carolina (5'11" 190)
I'd have Vann a lot higher than this if not for his knee injury this year that ended his season early. Vann is an outside receiver that makes a ton of plays and could come cheap given he likely won't work out.
4. (f/MIA) TE Josh Whyle, Cincinnati (6'5" 255)
I love Whyle as a future guy as Kelce continues to age. They come from the same program with similar pedigrees and play styles.
5. CB Rejzohn Wright, Oregon State (6'2" 200)
Wright has continued to develop into a better and better corner. The more he learns to be disciplined and keep from being too physical and drawing flags, the better he gets. He's a definite Spags type on the outside.
6. QB Aidan O'Connell, Purdue (6'3" 210)
I think O'Connell doesn't get enough praise in the circles but he's a pretty solid QB with a fairly solid resume. He's the type of guy I could see Reid working his magic on and flipping, plus this kid is smart which Andy definitely values.
7. (f/ATL) OG Nick Broeker, Ole Miss (6'5" 315)
Staying outside is probably not in the cards as he lunges too much and is a little too susceptible to giving away the inside, but he's mobile and a good player. He reminds me a lot of Royce Newmann who the Packers took in the 4th.
7. DB Avery Young, Rutgers (6'0" 205)
Avery is a guy I think you can work in a role very similar to Sneed, which is much the reason I see him being on the radar. He's been good inside/outside and he's a good tackler.
7. (Comp) RB Xazavian Valladay, Arizona State (6'0" 199)
I look to replace McKinnon with another speedy back that can catch it out of the backfield. This is a reaaaaally good RB class so some gems could slip through.
7. (Comp) DT Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina (6'4" 340)
I might have Clark way too low as he's a beast at Coastal. This is another guy that can force his way into the backfield on sheer size and strength.
7. (Comp) DE Jamal Hines, Toledo (6'3" 260)
Hines is a guy that was relatively productive that I'm just throwing a dart at. Way too many 7th rounders...


QB: P. Mahomes II, S. Buechele, A. O'Connell
RB: I. Pacheco, C. Edwards-Helaire, D. Johnson, X. Valladay
FB: M. Burton
TE: T. Kelce, N. Gray, J. Fortson, J. Whyle
WR: J. Smith-Schuster, M. Valdes-Scantling, K. Toney, S. Moore, J. Watson, J. Vann
OT: A. Dillard, M. Bergeron, L. Niang, P. Tega-Wanogho
IL: J. Thuney, C. Humphrey, T. Smith, N. Allegretti, D. Kinnard, N. Broeker

ED: G. Karlaftis, D. Smoot, C. Omenihu, F. Anudike-Uzomah, M. Danna, M. Herring, J. Hines, J. Kaindoh
DT: C. Jones, G. Gaines, K. Benton, D. Carter, K. Saunders, J. Clark
LB: N. Bolton, W. Gay, L. Chenal, D. Harris, J. Cochrane
CB: T. McDuffie, J. Williams, L. Sneed, J. Watson, N. Johnson, R. Wright
DB: J. Reid, B. Cook, D. Bush, A. Young