Brown is expected to sign a one-year deal worth up to $11 million with the Chiefs, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The Chiefs are going all in on a three-peat quest but knew heading into free agency that upgrading the receiver position was a must. The acquisition of Brown accomplishes that to a degree, particularly if the speedster can play a full season for the first time since 2020. Brown will only be 27 during the 2024 campaign, so the one-year experiment could work well for both sides.
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Tuesday that Worthy will be expected to contribute immediately during his rookie season, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Worthy is being eased into training camp after tweaking his hamstring during OTAs, though that hasn't reduced the expectations for him. The 2024 first-round pick has a strong chance to be on the field during all three-receiver formations and will provide a needed field-stretching element to Kansas City's offense if he proves to be reliable during training camp and the preseason.
Coach Andy Reid said Tuesday he had not heard anything from the league about a possible suspension for Rice, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Rice has allegedly been involved in two incidents this offseason, the first a high-speed crash in Dallas and the second an assault at a nightclub. The legal process regarding the former incident has been slow to play out, meaning the league could opt to wait to hand out any potential suspension until 2025. However, Reid also said the team will be ready to handle any absence for Rice, and Kansas City did reinforce its wide receiver corps this offseason by signing Marquise Brown and drafting Xavier Worthy.
Nate Taylor of The Athletic lists Moore as one of eight Chiefs players to watch during training camp.
Moore couldn't take the sophomore leap in 2023, finishing the regular season with just 21 catches on 38 targets for 244 yards and one touchdown across 14 games. He missed the Chiefs' Super Bowl run due to a knee injury, and with Kansas City adding Marquise Brown in free agency and Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Moore will be primarily competing with Kadarius Toney for regular-season snaps if both end up making the roster. If Moore fails to stand out during training camp, Taylor posits that the Chiefs could move on from the 2022 second-round pick, with a trade creating $1.29 million in salary-cap space.
Nate Taylor of The Athletic believes Remigio could earn a spot on the Chiefs' 53-man roster with a strong showing in training camp, coupled with weak performances from Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore.
Remigio caught on with Kansas City as an undrafted rookie in 2023. He made a good first impression during last year's training camp before suffering a season-ending dislocated left shoulder in the preseason opener. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy praised Remigio in May, noting that the wide receiver "is an absolute professional every day...guys like him find a role. And they've got to make an impact on special teams." Remigio saw his minicamp reps split between the projected starters and top backups, and his ability to serve as a kickoff returner could give him the edge to make the Chiefs' 53-man roster over Toney and Moore.
Wiley stood out in spring practices and impressed Patrick Mahomes with his mix of athleticism and playmaking ability, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic. "The more he gets down the field, he can really make those tough, contested catches," Mahomes said of Wiley. "I want him to play even more physical. I know it's hard in OTAs. You can't really bump, but I think he can make those tough catches in the middle of the field. He's faster than people think he is."
Wiley has a chance to supplant Noah Gray as the top backup to Travis Kelce in 2024. The 6-foot-6, 249-pound tight end was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of TCU.
Rees-Zammit will have the opportunity to earn a roster spot with the Chiefs in training camp, and Nate Taylor of The Athletic describes him as the most fascinating player on the 90-man roster. "He wants to be great, and he's a great athlete," special teams coordinator Dave Toub said of Rees-Zammit. "He's just got such a long way to go, mentally-wise. But he's on the accelerator program, and he's doing well."
Rees-Zammit is a former rugby player who offers an enticing mix of speed, ball skills and vision, but Kansas City's preseason opener against the Jaguars on August 10 will mark the first football game of Rees-Zammit's life. He will likely need more time to acclimate to football before challenging for consistent playing time at running back, but Rees-Zammit's skill set could help him carve out a roster spot as a return man on special teams.
Jones is poised to top his 2023 regular-season totals of 10.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits, according to Nate Taylor of The Athletic.
Jones held out for a new contract last offseason and didn't join the team until Week 2, so he was playing catchup for much of the season in terms of reaching peak game shape. Perhaps in part due to the late start, Jones saw his sack total dip from 15.5 in the 2022 regular season to 10.5 in 2023. Only Aaron Donald has a higher pass-rush win rate from the interior over the past two seasons, and Jones has had a smoother offseason after landing a five-year, $158 million extension. The Chiefs could also give Jones more opportunities to rush the passer by spending more time playing from ahead in 2024 after their 11-6 regular-season record in 2023 represented a down year by the team's lofty standards.
Pacheco was drafted 15th overall in Friday's eight-team PPR fantasy football mock draft among analysts from ESPN.com.
Pacheco surprisingly went in the second round of the mock draft to researcher Kevin Pulsifer, coming off the board before big-name running backs such as Jahmyr Gibbs, Derrick Henry and Travis Etienne. After rushing for 830 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season as a rookie in 2022, Pacheco posted 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns during the 2023 regular season. He will likely have to improve on those marks significantly to justify being a second-round fantasy selection in 2024, though he's well positioned to receive a heavy workload as the lead back on a Chiefs team that figures to spend plenty of time playing from ahead.
Conner is expected to play every secondary position for the Chiefs in 2024, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Conner played a versatile role during his five years at Virginia Tech, picking off a total of four passes while also tallying 7.5 sacks. He played a significant role on special teams as a rookie for the Chiefs in 2023, but he could find more time in the secondary in 2024. The safety positions in particular look to be a weakness, so that could ultimately be where Conner settles in, giving him the chance to both rack up tackles and potentially interceptions.
Pacheco's role should grow during the 2024 season, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Pacheco has served as Kansas City's lead back in each of his two seasons as a pro, but that could prove to be his floor rather than his ceiling. Two things suggest his role could increase, the first of which is that he had a normal offseason, something that couldn't be said heading into 2023, as he was rehabbing from shoulder surgery. In addition, the defending Super Bowl champions have parted ways with Jerick McKinnon, leaving Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the only two experienced backs on the roster. Taylor projects that Pacheco will surpass his 205 regular-season carries from 2023, giving him a good shot at topping 1,000 rushing yards for the first time.
Kansas City could rely upon Hardman's rapport with Patrick Mahomes early in the season, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
The defending Super Bowl champions revamped their receiving corps this offseason, which doesn't bode well for Hardman in the long run. However, Taylor suggests that the speedster will have a regular role in the offense early on, primarily to free up space underneath for Travis Kelce and Marquise Brown. Also helping Hardman's case for a starting role to begin the season is that Rashee Rice will likely be facing a suspension from the league due to his role in a multi-vehicle crash in March.
Smith could be the top free-agent guard available next offseason, positioning him for a contract worth more than $20 million per season, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
The 2021 sixth-round pick is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and has emerged as the starting right guard on Patrick Mahomes' offensive line, earning two Super Bowl rings in the process. Another strong campaign from Smith would set him up to cash in, but it might also price him out of Kansas City's plans, as the team could prioritize signing center Creed Humphrey to an extension instead.
Jones recently relayed a desire to get some time off during training camp to head coach Andy Reid after not taking part in any practice last summer due to a contract holdout, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.
The star lineman, who secured a five-year, $158 million extension this offseason after notching a fifth straight Pro Bowl nod and 10.5 sacks in 2023, was serious in his request to Reid. Jones is now 29 and has played in 39 total games since the start of the 2022 season, when factoring in postseason contests. "If I'm able to do a day on, a day off, or a day on and a half a day off, I can do that," Jones said. "I think it's pretty fun."
Morris ceded the majority of first-team reps at left tackle to 2024 second-round draft pick Kingsley Suamataia during mandatory minicamp, according to Nate Taylor of The Athletic.
Morris and Suamataia will compete for the starting left tackle role in training camp. While it's possible Suamataia saw more opportunities in minicamp because he's a rookie who's more in need of the extra reps, the two tackles' usage suggests Morris isn't the clear leader in the job battle. Morris primarily filled a reserve role as a rookie in 2023, notching four starts after being drafted in the third round.
Suamataia received the majority of first-team reps at left tackle during mandatory minicamp and will compete with Wanya Morris for a starting position during training camp, according to Nate Taylor of The Athletic.
Morris struggled in pass protection at times as a rookie in 2023, prompting the Chiefs to draft Suamataia in the second round this April. The winner of the training camp battle will protect Patrick Mahomes' blind side while serving as a replacement at left tackle for Donovan Smith, whom the Chiefs didn't re-sign. Suamataia may have the early edge in the competition based on his usage in minicamp, but it's also possible the Chiefs were prioritizing the rookie being given more reps so he could acclimate faster to the NFL.
Remigio worked with the first-team offense during Kansas City's OTAs and minicamp, Adam Teicher of ESPN reports.
An undrafted free agent out of Fresno State in 2023, Remigio missed his rookie season with a wrist injury, but he's been healthy this offseason and making a surprisingly good impression. Kansas City's wide receiver depth chart has a lot of names ahead of him but few truly established playmakers, so if Remigio can continue to shine into training camp, he could carve out a role for himself. His ability to contribute on special teams as a kickoff returner could also help him earn a roster spot.
Mahomes said head coach Andy Reid has already been pushing him to throw the ball downfield more this offseason, an approach the All-Pro quarterback is looking to continue in the regular season, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Mahomes gained two very fast new weapons this offseason in veteran free-agent addition Marquise Brown and rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy, so a more aggressive approach would arguably be expected. Mahomes averaged a career-low 7.0 yards per attempt in 2023 and his 50 passes of 20-plus yards were the second fewest of his career, but a concerted effort to throw more downfield could get Mahomes back in the area of the 5,000-yard threshold, which he eclipsed in 2022.
Pacheco said Tuesday that he has slimmed down to 207 pounds, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic. "I'm 207 and feeling good," Pacheco said. "No offseason surgeries this time around."
Pacheco is excited to be healthy entering his third NFL season, as he needed surgeries on his hand and labrum after his rookie campaign in 2021. He recovered from those injuries to post 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in 2023. Pacheco is listed at 216 pounds, but he claims to be nine pounds lighter than that heading into the 2024 season.
Kelce plans to continue his career beyond the 2024 season, Adam Teicher of ESPN reports.
Rumors have swirled regarding Kelce's future in football thanks to his relatively advanced age and the personal and team-level success he's already experienced. However, he's reiterated his love for football and is ready to play until his body can no longer hold up. While Kelce battled a knee injury for much of 2023, he was still one of the most productive tight ends in the league by posting 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns across 15 regular-season games.
Thompson, who suffered a seizure and cardiac arrest during a special-teams meeting at the Chiefs' facility Thursday, has regained consciousness in an area hospital, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
The second-year defensive lineman's scary incident led to him suffering cardiac arrest for up to a minute and a half according to Rick Burkholder, Kansas City's vice president of sports medicine and performance, and Thompson was then sedated and on a ventilator overnight after being transported to a local hospital. However, Burkholder told reporters Friday that Thompson regained consciousness and was back to breathing without assistance, although an official diagnosis has yet to be made.
Hardman, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl LVIII, is returning to the Chiefs on a one-year contract, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Teicher points out Hardman is returning to a considerably revamped receiving corps, one that's seen the additions of Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy this offseason. However, Kansas City also released deep threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling, theoretically creating opportunities for the speedy Hardman to carry out some of those downfield routes in 2024.
The Chiefs are considering Reid as a kickoff specialist for this coming season, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.
The new kickoff rules the NFL is adopting from the former XFL could involve kickers being involved in tackles much more frequently than in seasons past. Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub confirmed he wouldn't want placekicker Harrison Butker involved in that level of physicality over the course of a season, and Reid, who has proven both a capable kicker and proficient tackler from his safety position, could therefore be a candidate to handle kickoffs.
Mahomes will face off with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to open the 2024 season Thursday night, Sept. 5, Matt McMullen of the team's official site reports.
Mahomes will get another crack at the Ravens team he helped upend in the AFC Championship Game in January at M&T Bank Stadium to earn Kansas City an opportunity to garner a second straight Super Bowl title. Mahomes' 241-yard, one-touchdown effort against what had been an elite Baltimore defense played a critical role in KC garnering the AFC crown, and for this season-opening rematch, the perennial Pro Bowler will be working with several new pass-catching weapons, including rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy.
Rice is considered a suspect in an alleged assault that injured a man at a Dallas nightclub earlier this week, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Area police confirmed Rice's status to the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday after officers were dispatched early Monday morning to a nightclub following reports of an assault. A man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and although no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon, that could eventually change. The incident is the second for Rice this offseason after his involvement in a six-car crash in Dallas in March, one that's led to the Chiefs wideout facing eight charges.
Matt Miller of ESPN.com believes Worthy will win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2024.
Worthy didn't hear his name called until the 28th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, but Miller believes Worthy will earn the award over the likes of first overall pick Caleb Williams, second overall pick Jayden Daniels and fourth overall pick Marvin Harrison. Worthy set an NFL Scouting Combine record by running the 40-yard dash in 4.21 seconds, and the wide receiver out of Texas will have reigning Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball in 2024.
Adam Teicher of ESPN.com posits that the Chiefs took Wiley in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 131st overall, to be the eventual successor to Travis Kelce.
With Kelce set to turn 35 in October, adding the 6-foot-6, 250-pound frame of Wiley gives quarterback Patrick Mahomes another big target in the passing game, particularly in the red zone. General manager Brett Veach said that Wiley's two-way ability as a pass catcher and blocker will be valuable in a rotation with Kelce and Noah Gray, while Irv Smith figures to slide into the fourth spot on the depth chart. In his final season at TCU, Wiley posted 47 catches for 520 yards and eight touchdowns.
Speaking to reporters Saturday at the Chiefs' rookie minicamp, Worthy said that he's not concerned about his lighter frame and has been modelling his game after retired wide receiver DeSean Jackson, Bobby Kownack of NFL.com reports.
Worthy weighed in at 169 pounds at rookie minicamp, four pounds heavier than what he measured ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine. He surged up draft boards after setting the combine record for the 40-yard dash, clocking in a 4.21 seconds. Worthy noted that he won't "go and try to hit a 215-pound linebacker," and quarterback Patrick Mahomes will ensure the Texas wideout stays out of harm's way.
Toney had his fifth-year option declined by the Chiefs on Thursday, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
The Chiefs' decision makes Toney a free agent after this coming season, which will be his second full one in Kansas City. Both general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid recently indicated Toney is in the Chiefs' plans this coming season, but the decision to not commit beyond 2024 stems largely from the wideout's checkered injury history and sub-standard production last season.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach believes Kelce could continue playing for another few years, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports. "The odds of someone playing this far into the thirties are very low, but it does happen, and it happens with just unicorns in the profession, and Travis is one of those," Veach said. "So, we'll just have to wait and see. But I've seen no signs of [Kelce] slowing down."
Veach's comments came after the team adjusted Kelce's deal, with his two-year, $34.25 million contract making him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. The 34-year-old Kelce is still the gold standard at his position, as he came 16 yards shy of an eighth consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2023 before adding 355 yards and three touchdowns in four playoff games. Veach and the Chiefs are hoping that Kelce will still have more football in him after the expiration of this two-year contract.
Worthy is set to catch passes from Patrick Mahomes after being drafted 28th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by Kansas City.
Worthy gets an ideal landing spot to begin his career, going to the team that won both of the last two Super Bowls. Kansas City didn't get much production from its wide receivers other than Rashee Rice in 2023, but the Chiefs have addressed the position in the offseason by signing Marquise Brown and drafting Worthy out of Texas. Mahomes' strong and accurate arm should allow Worthy to make the most of his blazing speed on deep throws. Worthy set an NFL Combine record by running the 40-yard dash in 4.21 seconds.
Nate Taylor of The Athletic posits that the Chiefs used their picks in the 2024 NFL Draft to plug holes in the offense to help Mahomes' bid for a three-peat.
After drafting Texas wideout Xavier Worthy in the first round, the Chiefs spent three of their remaining six picks on offensive linemen. Kansas City took BYU tackle Kingsley Suamataia late in the second round before spending two day-three picks on Penn State's Hunter Nourzad and guard C.J. Hanson out of Holy Cross. Inconsistent play on the offensive line and at wideout nearly hampered the Chiefs' Super Bowl run, and Mahomes will look to prepare his rookie teammates to contribute right out of the gate this coming season.
Rice is expected to face league discipline and a suspension due to his involvement in a multi-vehicle crash outside of Dallas last month, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The wide receiver is facing eight criminal charges as well, but any suspension from the league office likely wouldn't be imposed until after his legal issues are settled. Rice led Kansas City in receiving yards as a rookie last season before catching 26 passes during the team's four playoff games, but his questionable availability for the 2024 campaign will give the Super Bowl champs even more incentive to invest resources at his position in this year's draft, perhaps as high as the 32nd overall pick.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Friday that the team is "lucky" to have been able to sign Brown to a one-year deal this offseason, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.
Veach characterized being able to add a receiver of Brown's pedigree on a one-year deal as a blessing to the Chiefs, who were looking to augment their wideout corps as they begin a quest for a third straight Super Bowl title. The fact Brown is committed to the team through only 2024 isn't a detriment in Veach's eyes, either, with the GM noting Brown could "set himself up nicely moving forward" in terms of earning a lucrative long-term deal in Kansas City or elsewhere with a big season.
Danna has agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal to remain with the Chiefs that will become official once he passes a physical, ESPN.com reports.
Danna picked a good time to put together a career season in 2023, when he started 16 games and recorded a career-high 50 tackles and 6.5 sacks. The 2020 fifth-round pick also started all four of Kansas City's postseason contests and has been a key rotational piece, at minimum, on the defensive line since his rookie campaign.
Wentz, who signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs on Monday, noted Thursday that former Eagles teammate Nick Foles' past endorsement of Kansas City head coach Andy Reid impacted his decision to join the defending champions, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Wentz and Foles were teammates in Philadelphia during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and the latter had also started his career with the Eagles as a third-round pick in 2012. It was during that first tenure when Foles had a chance to initially work under Reid, then Philadelphia's head coach. Wentz noted Foles spoke glowingly of Reid and current Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy when Wentz and Foles were teammates, noting "he loved working with those guys, and those things he said to me back then definitely still rang true in my head as I was making this decision."
Mahomes will have a speedy new receiver addition for 2024 in Marquise Brown, who's expected to sign a one-year deal with the Chiefs per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Mahomes has become renowned for making proverbial lemonade from lemons in terms of what he's mostly had to work with at receiver since the Chiefs traded away Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins prior to the 2022 season. However, 2023 first-round pick Rashee Rice showed plenty of promise in terms of his ability to serve as a true No. 1 receiver, and the addition of the experienced but still speedy Brown brightens the star quarterback's outlook for 2024 further.
Brown is expected to sign a one-year deal worth up to $11 million with the Chiefs, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The Chiefs are going all in on a three-peat quest but knew heading into free agency that upgrading the receiver position was a must. The acquisition of Brown accomplishes that to a degree, particularly if the speedster can play a full season for the first time since 2020. Brown will only be 27 during the 2024 campaign, so the one-year experiment could work well for both sides.
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Tuesday that Worthy will be expected to contribute immediately during his rookie season, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Worthy is being eased into training camp after tweaking his hamstring during OTAs, though that hasn't reduced the expectations for him. The 2024 first-round pick has a strong chance to be on the field during all three-receiver formations and will provide a needed field-stretching element to Kansas City's offense if he proves to be reliable during training camp and the preseason.
Coach Andy Reid said Tuesday he had not heard anything from the league about a possible suspension for Rice, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Rice has allegedly been involved in two incidents this offseason, the first a high-speed crash in Dallas and the second an assault at a nightclub. The legal process regarding the former incident has been slow to play out, meaning the league could opt to wait to hand out any potential suspension until 2025. However, Reid also said the team will be ready to handle any absence for Rice, and Kansas City did reinforce its wide receiver corps this offseason by signing Marquise Brown and drafting Xavier Worthy.
Nate Taylor of The Athletic lists Moore as one of eight Chiefs players to watch during training camp.
Moore couldn't take the sophomore leap in 2023, finishing the regular season with just 21 catches on 38 targets for 244 yards and one touchdown across 14 games. He missed the Chiefs' Super Bowl run due to a knee injury, and with Kansas City adding Marquise Brown in free agency and Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Moore will be primarily competing with Kadarius Toney for regular-season snaps if both end up making the roster. If Moore fails to stand out during training camp, Taylor posits that the Chiefs could move on from the 2022 second-round pick, with a trade creating $1.29 million in salary-cap space.
Nate Taylor of The Athletic believes Remigio could earn a spot on the Chiefs' 53-man roster with a strong showing in training camp, coupled with weak performances from Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore.
Remigio caught on with Kansas City as an undrafted rookie in 2023. He made a good first impression during last year's training camp before suffering a season-ending dislocated left shoulder in the preseason opener. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy praised Remigio in May, noting that the wide receiver "is an absolute professional every day...guys like him find a role. And they've got to make an impact on special teams." Remigio saw his minicamp reps split between the projected starters and top backups, and his ability to serve as a kickoff returner could give him the edge to make the Chiefs' 53-man roster over Toney and Moore.
Wiley stood out in spring practices and impressed Patrick Mahomes with his mix of athleticism and playmaking ability, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic. "The more he gets down the field, he can really make those tough, contested catches," Mahomes said of Wiley. "I want him to play even more physical. I know it's hard in OTAs. You can't really bump, but I think he can make those tough catches in the middle of the field. He's faster than people think he is."
Wiley has a chance to supplant Noah Gray as the top backup to Travis Kelce in 2024. The 6-foot-6, 249-pound tight end was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of TCU.
Rees-Zammit will have the opportunity to earn a roster spot with the Chiefs in training camp, and Nate Taylor of The Athletic describes him as the most fascinating player on the 90-man roster. "He wants to be great, and he's a great athlete," special teams coordinator Dave Toub said of Rees-Zammit. "He's just got such a long way to go, mentally-wise. But he's on the accelerator program, and he's doing well."
Rees-Zammit is a former rugby player who offers an enticing mix of speed, ball skills and vision, but Kansas City's preseason opener against the Jaguars on August 10 will mark the first football game of Rees-Zammit's life. He will likely need more time to acclimate to football before challenging for consistent playing time at running back, but Rees-Zammit's skill set could help him carve out a roster spot as a return man on special teams.
Jones is poised to top his 2023 regular-season totals of 10.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits, according to Nate Taylor of The Athletic.
Jones held out for a new contract last offseason and didn't join the team until Week 2, so he was playing catchup for much of the season in terms of reaching peak game shape. Perhaps in part due to the late start, Jones saw his sack total dip from 15.5 in the 2022 regular season to 10.5 in 2023. Only Aaron Donald has a higher pass-rush win rate from the interior over the past two seasons, and Jones has had a smoother offseason after landing a five-year, $158 million extension. The Chiefs could also give Jones more opportunities to rush the passer by spending more time playing from ahead in 2024 after their 11-6 regular-season record in 2023 represented a down year by the team's lofty standards.
Pacheco was drafted 15th overall in Friday's eight-team PPR fantasy football mock draft among analysts from ESPN.com.
Pacheco surprisingly went in the second round of the mock draft to researcher Kevin Pulsifer, coming off the board before big-name running backs such as Jahmyr Gibbs, Derrick Henry and Travis Etienne. After rushing for 830 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season as a rookie in 2022, Pacheco posted 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns during the 2023 regular season. He will likely have to improve on those marks significantly to justify being a second-round fantasy selection in 2024, though he's well positioned to receive a heavy workload as the lead back on a Chiefs team that figures to spend plenty of time playing from ahead.
Conner is expected to play every secondary position for the Chiefs in 2024, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Conner played a versatile role during his five years at Virginia Tech, picking off a total of four passes while also tallying 7.5 sacks. He played a significant role on special teams as a rookie for the Chiefs in 2023, but he could find more time in the secondary in 2024. The safety positions in particular look to be a weakness, so that could ultimately be where Conner settles in, giving him the chance to both rack up tackles and potentially interceptions.
Pacheco's role should grow during the 2024 season, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Pacheco has served as Kansas City's lead back in each of his two seasons as a pro, but that could prove to be his floor rather than his ceiling. Two things suggest his role could increase, the first of which is that he had a normal offseason, something that couldn't be said heading into 2023, as he was rehabbing from shoulder surgery. In addition, the defending Super Bowl champions have parted ways with Jerick McKinnon, leaving Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the only two experienced backs on the roster. Taylor projects that Pacheco will surpass his 205 regular-season carries from 2023, giving him a good shot at topping 1,000 rushing yards for the first time.
Kansas City could rely upon Hardman's rapport with Patrick Mahomes early in the season, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
The defending Super Bowl champions revamped their receiving corps this offseason, which doesn't bode well for Hardman in the long run. However, Taylor suggests that the speedster will have a regular role in the offense early on, primarily to free up space underneath for Travis Kelce and Marquise Brown. Also helping Hardman's case for a starting role to begin the season is that Rashee Rice will likely be facing a suspension from the league due to his role in a multi-vehicle crash in March.
Smith could be the top free-agent guard available next offseason, positioning him for a contract worth more than $20 million per season, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
The 2021 sixth-round pick is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and has emerged as the starting right guard on Patrick Mahomes' offensive line, earning two Super Bowl rings in the process. Another strong campaign from Smith would set him up to cash in, but it might also price him out of Kansas City's plans, as the team could prioritize signing center Creed Humphrey to an extension instead.
Jones recently relayed a desire to get some time off during training camp to head coach Andy Reid after not taking part in any practice last summer due to a contract holdout, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.
The star lineman, who secured a five-year, $158 million extension this offseason after notching a fifth straight Pro Bowl nod and 10.5 sacks in 2023, was serious in his request to Reid. Jones is now 29 and has played in 39 total games since the start of the 2022 season, when factoring in postseason contests. "If I'm able to do a day on, a day off, or a day on and a half a day off, I can do that," Jones said. "I think it's pretty fun."
Morris ceded the majority of first-team reps at left tackle to 2024 second-round draft pick Kingsley Suamataia during mandatory minicamp, according to Nate Taylor of The Athletic.
Morris and Suamataia will compete for the starting left tackle role in training camp. While it's possible Suamataia saw more opportunities in minicamp because he's a rookie who's more in need of the extra reps, the two tackles' usage suggests Morris isn't the clear leader in the job battle. Morris primarily filled a reserve role as a rookie in 2023, notching four starts after being drafted in the third round.
Suamataia received the majority of first-team reps at left tackle during mandatory minicamp and will compete with Wanya Morris for a starting position during training camp, according to Nate Taylor of The Athletic.
Morris struggled in pass protection at times as a rookie in 2023, prompting the Chiefs to draft Suamataia in the second round this April. The winner of the training camp battle will protect Patrick Mahomes' blind side while serving as a replacement at left tackle for Donovan Smith, whom the Chiefs didn't re-sign. Suamataia may have the early edge in the competition based on his usage in minicamp, but it's also possible the Chiefs were prioritizing the rookie being given more reps so he could acclimate faster to the NFL.
Remigio worked with the first-team offense during Kansas City's OTAs and minicamp, Adam Teicher of ESPN reports.
An undrafted free agent out of Fresno State in 2023, Remigio missed his rookie season with a wrist injury, but he's been healthy this offseason and making a surprisingly good impression. Kansas City's wide receiver depth chart has a lot of names ahead of him but few truly established playmakers, so if Remigio can continue to shine into training camp, he could carve out a role for himself. His ability to contribute on special teams as a kickoff returner could also help him earn a roster spot.
Mahomes said head coach Andy Reid has already been pushing him to throw the ball downfield more this offseason, an approach the All-Pro quarterback is looking to continue in the regular season, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Mahomes gained two very fast new weapons this offseason in veteran free-agent addition Marquise Brown and rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy, so a more aggressive approach would arguably be expected. Mahomes averaged a career-low 7.0 yards per attempt in 2023 and his 50 passes of 20-plus yards were the second fewest of his career, but a concerted effort to throw more downfield could get Mahomes back in the area of the 5,000-yard threshold, which he eclipsed in 2022.
Pacheco said Tuesday that he has slimmed down to 207 pounds, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic. "I'm 207 and feeling good," Pacheco said. "No offseason surgeries this time around."
Pacheco is excited to be healthy entering his third NFL season, as he needed surgeries on his hand and labrum after his rookie campaign in 2021. He recovered from those injuries to post 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in 2023. Pacheco is listed at 216 pounds, but he claims to be nine pounds lighter than that heading into the 2024 season.
Kelce plans to continue his career beyond the 2024 season, Adam Teicher of ESPN reports.
Rumors have swirled regarding Kelce's future in football thanks to his relatively advanced age and the personal and team-level success he's already experienced. However, he's reiterated his love for football and is ready to play until his body can no longer hold up. While Kelce battled a knee injury for much of 2023, he was still one of the most productive tight ends in the league by posting 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns across 15 regular-season games.
Thompson, who suffered a seizure and cardiac arrest during a special-teams meeting at the Chiefs' facility Thursday, has regained consciousness in an area hospital, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
The second-year defensive lineman's scary incident led to him suffering cardiac arrest for up to a minute and a half according to Rick Burkholder, Kansas City's vice president of sports medicine and performance, and Thompson was then sedated and on a ventilator overnight after being transported to a local hospital. However, Burkholder told reporters Friday that Thompson regained consciousness and was back to breathing without assistance, although an official diagnosis has yet to be made.
Hardman, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl LVIII, is returning to the Chiefs on a one-year contract, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Teicher points out Hardman is returning to a considerably revamped receiving corps, one that's seen the additions of Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy this offseason. However, Kansas City also released deep threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling, theoretically creating opportunities for the speedy Hardman to carry out some of those downfield routes in 2024.
The Chiefs are considering Reid as a kickoff specialist for this coming season, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.
The new kickoff rules the NFL is adopting from the former XFL could involve kickers being involved in tackles much more frequently than in seasons past. Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub confirmed he wouldn't want placekicker Harrison Butker involved in that level of physicality over the course of a season, and Reid, who has proven both a capable kicker and proficient tackler from his safety position, could therefore be a candidate to handle kickoffs.
Mahomes will face off with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to open the 2024 season Thursday night, Sept. 5, Matt McMullen of the team's official site reports.
Mahomes will get another crack at the Ravens team he helped upend in the AFC Championship Game in January at M&T Bank Stadium to earn Kansas City an opportunity to garner a second straight Super Bowl title. Mahomes' 241-yard, one-touchdown effort against what had been an elite Baltimore defense played a critical role in KC garnering the AFC crown, and for this season-opening rematch, the perennial Pro Bowler will be working with several new pass-catching weapons, including rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy.
Rice is considered a suspect in an alleged assault that injured a man at a Dallas nightclub earlier this week, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Area police confirmed Rice's status to the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday after officers were dispatched early Monday morning to a nightclub following reports of an assault. A man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and although no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon, that could eventually change. The incident is the second for Rice this offseason after his involvement in a six-car crash in Dallas in March, one that's led to the Chiefs wideout facing eight charges.
Matt Miller of ESPN.com believes Worthy will win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2024.
Worthy didn't hear his name called until the 28th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, but Miller believes Worthy will earn the award over the likes of first overall pick Caleb Williams, second overall pick Jayden Daniels and fourth overall pick Marvin Harrison. Worthy set an NFL Scouting Combine record by running the 40-yard dash in 4.21 seconds, and the wide receiver out of Texas will have reigning Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball in 2024.
Adam Teicher of ESPN.com posits that the Chiefs took Wiley in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 131st overall, to be the eventual successor to Travis Kelce.
With Kelce set to turn 35 in October, adding the 6-foot-6, 250-pound frame of Wiley gives quarterback Patrick Mahomes another big target in the passing game, particularly in the red zone. General manager Brett Veach said that Wiley's two-way ability as a pass catcher and blocker will be valuable in a rotation with Kelce and Noah Gray, while Irv Smith figures to slide into the fourth spot on the depth chart. In his final season at TCU, Wiley posted 47 catches for 520 yards and eight touchdowns.
Speaking to reporters Saturday at the Chiefs' rookie minicamp, Worthy said that he's not concerned about his lighter frame and has been modelling his game after retired wide receiver DeSean Jackson, Bobby Kownack of NFL.com reports.
Worthy weighed in at 169 pounds at rookie minicamp, four pounds heavier than what he measured ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine. He surged up draft boards after setting the combine record for the 40-yard dash, clocking in a 4.21 seconds. Worthy noted that he won't "go and try to hit a 215-pound linebacker," and quarterback Patrick Mahomes will ensure the Texas wideout stays out of harm's way.
Toney had his fifth-year option declined by the Chiefs on Thursday, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
The Chiefs' decision makes Toney a free agent after this coming season, which will be his second full one in Kansas City. Both general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid recently indicated Toney is in the Chiefs' plans this coming season, but the decision to not commit beyond 2024 stems largely from the wideout's checkered injury history and sub-standard production last season.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach believes Kelce could continue playing for another few years, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports. "The odds of someone playing this far into the thirties are very low, but it does happen, and it happens with just unicorns in the profession, and Travis is one of those," Veach said. "So, we'll just have to wait and see. But I've seen no signs of [Kelce] slowing down."
Veach's comments came after the team adjusted Kelce's deal, with his two-year, $34.25 million contract making him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. The 34-year-old Kelce is still the gold standard at his position, as he came 16 yards shy of an eighth consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2023 before adding 355 yards and three touchdowns in four playoff games. Veach and the Chiefs are hoping that Kelce will still have more football in him after the expiration of this two-year contract.
Worthy is set to catch passes from Patrick Mahomes after being drafted 28th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by Kansas City.
Worthy gets an ideal landing spot to begin his career, going to the team that won both of the last two Super Bowls. Kansas City didn't get much production from its wide receivers other than Rashee Rice in 2023, but the Chiefs have addressed the position in the offseason by signing Marquise Brown and drafting Worthy out of Texas. Mahomes' strong and accurate arm should allow Worthy to make the most of his blazing speed on deep throws. Worthy set an NFL Combine record by running the 40-yard dash in 4.21 seconds.
Nate Taylor of The Athletic posits that the Chiefs used their picks in the 2024 NFL Draft to plug holes in the offense to help Mahomes' bid for a three-peat.
After drafting Texas wideout Xavier Worthy in the first round, the Chiefs spent three of their remaining six picks on offensive linemen. Kansas City took BYU tackle Kingsley Suamataia late in the second round before spending two day-three picks on Penn State's Hunter Nourzad and guard C.J. Hanson out of Holy Cross. Inconsistent play on the offensive line and at wideout nearly hampered the Chiefs' Super Bowl run, and Mahomes will look to prepare his rookie teammates to contribute right out of the gate this coming season.
Rice is expected to face league discipline and a suspension due to his involvement in a multi-vehicle crash outside of Dallas last month, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The wide receiver is facing eight criminal charges as well, but any suspension from the league office likely wouldn't be imposed until after his legal issues are settled. Rice led Kansas City in receiving yards as a rookie last season before catching 26 passes during the team's four playoff games, but his questionable availability for the 2024 campaign will give the Super Bowl champs even more incentive to invest resources at his position in this year's draft, perhaps as high as the 32nd overall pick.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Friday that the team is "lucky" to have been able to sign Brown to a one-year deal this offseason, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.
Veach characterized being able to add a receiver of Brown's pedigree on a one-year deal as a blessing to the Chiefs, who were looking to augment their wideout corps as they begin a quest for a third straight Super Bowl title. The fact Brown is committed to the team through only 2024 isn't a detriment in Veach's eyes, either, with the GM noting Brown could "set himself up nicely moving forward" in terms of earning a lucrative long-term deal in Kansas City or elsewhere with a big season.
Danna has agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal to remain with the Chiefs that will become official once he passes a physical, ESPN.com reports.
Danna picked a good time to put together a career season in 2023, when he started 16 games and recorded a career-high 50 tackles and 6.5 sacks. The 2020 fifth-round pick also started all four of Kansas City's postseason contests and has been a key rotational piece, at minimum, on the defensive line since his rookie campaign.
Wentz, who signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs on Monday, noted Thursday that former Eagles teammate Nick Foles' past endorsement of Kansas City head coach Andy Reid impacted his decision to join the defending champions, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Wentz and Foles were teammates in Philadelphia during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and the latter had also started his career with the Eagles as a third-round pick in 2012. It was during that first tenure when Foles had a chance to initially work under Reid, then Philadelphia's head coach. Wentz noted Foles spoke glowingly of Reid and current Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy when Wentz and Foles were teammates, noting "he loved working with those guys, and those things he said to me back then definitely still rang true in my head as I was making this decision."
Mahomes will have a speedy new receiver addition for 2024 in Marquise Brown, who's expected to sign a one-year deal with the Chiefs per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Mahomes has become renowned for making proverbial lemonade from lemons in terms of what he's mostly had to work with at receiver since the Chiefs traded away Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins prior to the 2022 season. However, 2023 first-round pick Rashee Rice showed plenty of promise in terms of his ability to serve as a true No. 1 receiver, and the addition of the experienced but still speedy Brown brightens the star quarterback's outlook for 2024 further.
Brown is expected to sign a one-year deal worth up to $11 million with the Chiefs, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The Chiefs are going all in on a three-peat quest but knew heading into free agency that upgrading the receiver position was a must. The acquisition of Brown accomplishes that to a degree, particularly if the speedster can play a full season for the first time since 2020. Brown will only be 27 during the 2024 campaign, so the one-year experiment could work well for both sides.
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